Ventolin & Symbicort

Is it normal for someone to be using both of these?

I thought they were both reliever treatments? (but I don't have any proper knowledge!)

Thanks!

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Hi Kendall,

Symbicort is a combination inhaler, which combines budesonide, an inhaled steroid (a preventer), and formoterol, a quick onset, but long acting (approx 12 hours) beta-2 agonist (a reliever/protector).

Salbutamol (Ventolin) is a reliever which is quick onset but is short acting - it lasts for about four hours in most people.

Traditionally, Symbicort was given twice a day as a combination inhaled steroid/long acting beta-2 agonist (protector) preparation, similar to Seretide. When it is used in this way, it would be perfectly reasonable to use salbutamol as the main reliever for use in between doses of Symbicort.

However, the drug company that make Symbicort have now got a license for it to be used in a new way - it's essentially the same inhaler, marketed as Symbicort SMART. Because the long acting beta-2 agonist, formoterol, works as quickly as salbutamol, it is possible to use Symbicort as your main reliever as well as preventer (as opposed to salmeterol, in Seretide, which works too slowly to be good as a reliever). This has two main advantages - it means that many people only have one main inhaler to worry about, and it means that whenever you are less well controlled, and are using more of your reliever, you will automatically have to increase the amount of steroid preventer that you are taking. Studies do appear to show that Symbicort SMART may give advantages in asthma control over other methods of taking combination inhalers.

People who use Symbicort SMART can take upto 12 puffs a day, as needed. If someone was regularly requiring more reliever than this, they might have a salbutamol inhaler as well, to 'top up' the extra doses of reliever. However, if someone was using that much reliever, they should consult their doctor, as it would suggest that their asthma was poorly controlled.

Hope this makes sense - I have just realised how late it is, and I may not be at my most coherent - I will read it again in the morning and edit as necessary!

Take care

Em H

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I use both, however i am allowed to take upto 8 puffs of symbicort a day if i feel that my asthma is getting worse, so forexample if i am sick id increase it to 4 puffs in the morning and 4 at night. Then i decrease it slowly until im back at the 2 puffs in the morning and 2 at night. I dont think this is a ""traditional"" way of treating asthma, but thats what my consulant told me to do. Then i use the ventolin whenever i need it.

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I take ventolin and symbicort too. After seeing cons I was advised to start Symbicort SMART, however my doctor and my mum disagreed and I find it very hard to use the turbohaler when I'm tight chested so I was advised to use the symbicort morning and evening and the ventolin/ salbutamol when needed.

Becca

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I take both symbicort and ventolin - i take 2 puffs twice a day and 2 at lunch if i am having 'one of those' days and use ventolin when i need it - symbicort can be used in the new SMART way - you can use upto 12 puffs of the 200/6 dose inhaler instead of ventolin, it works for some and not other but i agree with becca i find it too hard to use the turbohaler when bad so i wouldnt do the SMART - aslo i am already taking the max dose in as i am on the 400/12 inhaler!!

[ibugor81]

I take Xopenex which is like Ventolin, it help 15% max with breathing, not with POTS. Symbicort is a combo inhaler pillcomparer.com/ventolin-v... I've had the inhaled steriod pulmicort, I've been too chicken to try the long-active beta but I have a huge supply of it. When I'm off the prednisone in a month I'll try it. But I've heard good things from people on here who use it for breathing issues, but they didn't mention any improved POTS from it, sorry...