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Symbicort Patient Tips

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Aug 12, 2025.

1. How it works

2. Upsides

3. Downsides

If you are between the ages of 18 and 60, take no other medication or have no other medical conditions, side effects you are more likely to experience include:

Note: In general, seniors or children, people with certain medical conditions (such as liver or kidney problems, heart disease, diabetes, seizures) or people who take other medications are more at risk of developing a wider range of side effects. View complete list of side effects

4. Bottom Line

Symbicort is used to treat asthma in adults and children 6 years of age and older, and for the maintenance treatment of airflow obstruction and to reduce exacerbations in COPD. It is a combination inhaler that contains budesonide (a corticosteroid) and formoterol (a long-acting bronchodilator). Throat irritation, sinusitis, nasopharyngitis (runny or stuffy nose, sneezing), headache, and oral thrush are the most common side effects reported. Symbicort should not be used to relieve acute bronchospasm (breathlessness).

5. Tips

6. Response and effectiveness

7. Interactions

Medicines that interact with Symbicort may either decrease its effect, affect how long it works, increase side effects, or have less of an effect when taken with Symbicort. An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of the medications; however, sometimes it does. Speak to your doctor about how drug interactions should be managed.

Symbicort interacts with over 660 medications; the majority of these interactions are considered major or moderate. Common medications that may interact with Symbicort include:

Alcohol can increase the likelihood of side effects of Symbicort such as nausea and vomiting, dizziness, and dry mouth.

Note that this list is not all-inclusive and includes only common medications that may interact with Symbicort. You should refer to the prescribing information for Symbicort for a complete list of interactions.

Related/similar drugs

Frequently asked questions

References

Further information

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use Symbicort only for the indication prescribed.

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

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