Symbicort

How do people find symbicort? Just been prescribed it. Nurse has told me to stop ventolin and my preventer sereflo, and to use symbicort only. Said she loves it... 😂 hoping i have the same enthusiasm soon. Anyone find that it’s been a help?

[twinkly29]

I hope she's given you more advice than just "only use Symbicort". It can be used on the mart system (which usually has a set number of regular puffs morning and night and then the option to have extra puffs during the day) but it should be given with specific advice for you regarding this. Maybe she's done this though.

Some will say symbicort is great, others will say it's rubbish. But that's because everyone is different.

I take symbicort and it's good for me. I tried the mart system and that wasn't right for me so I was switched back to am/pm symbicort and ventolin reliever. So if symbicort as mart doesn't work it might be worth asking about it as a normal preventer + ventolin. But also bear in mind you'll need about 8 weeks to see if it's working on properly on any regime.

[LeiLey]

I haven’t tried it. Hope it works for you 🤞It’s all trial and error I’m finding isn’t it! We’ll get there. I’m on Fostair twice a day but also been told I can use as a reliever or use my ventolin so I’ve stuck to the ventolin for now. Let us know how you get on x

[Poobah]

I was on Symbicort, both with Ventolin as a reliever and on MART where I used Symbicort as the reliever instead of Ventolin over and above the morning & evening doses of Symbicort. It wasn't great for me and MART was a disaster, however my friend found it was very good and ditched her Ventolin. After several years on Symbicort I'm now on Fostair and I get better relief from my asthma symptoms but I still use Ventolin as my reliever. So the only way to find out if it's the right medication for you is to give it a good 2 to 3 month trial. But don't delay in going back to your asthma nurse if you find that your symptoms are worse.

[Wheezycat]

I was on Symbicort Mart, and loved it. However the DPI gave me regular thrush so I have been changed to Fostair with a spacer. I can’t say I notice much difference. Using Symbicort as a reliever, say, during a walk when you suddenly need one didn’t work fo me. It was just not quick enough. Also, it seemed that my PF went down at first after taking it, while it it was mostly doing brilliantly a couple of hours later, so it was excellent for me. I have never so far had Ventolin taken away thank goodness.

[Hidden]

Ah ok. Started it yesterday. This morning I did my best peak flow ever of 700. Though that kinda means nothing, as I stillHave SOB, which is my main symptom at the moment. No wheeze, or tightness at all. Will see how I get on, thanks. 👍

[LeiLey in reply to Hidden]

Good luck with it. Do you have shortness of breath all the time? Must be so frustrating for you x

[twinkly29 in reply to Hidden]

Hopefully it will be good for you and over the next 6-8 weeks you'll see a big improvement 🙂

[Blue-Breeze]

I was on Symbicort Mart 200/6 but found I couldnt take it properly on bad exacerbations as couldnt suck. The hospital on admission changed it to MDI so I could use it with my spacer. Trouble was for some reason I got terrible side effects with it this way so was put on Fostair Mart. This was my only problem.

[Nansheen in reply to Blue-Breeze]

Just wondering what were your side effects? I used it for about two months but had to stop. I was having a strange feeling in my chest like I was having no control on my breathing also felt a real uneasiness in my lungs then about two months on it I started to get chesty and needed antibiotics . I went back to just preventer and ventolin when need. Just wondering if your side affects were similar to mine. Thank you.

[Blue-Breeze in reply to Nansheen]

Hello so sorry for the late reply. Side effects from MDI were very different from the powder which I didn't have. MDI from what I remember was terrible headache.

[PaulRosedene]

I have been on symbicort for years. It certainly works for me without any problems. I don't need ventolin. But recently I have also been taking montelukast.

[stevego26]

Been on a year now much better still not used to taking it though

[Beetle53]

I've been on symbicort for years and find it ok... Changed to MART system last year and am taking less ventolin... As others say trial and error but you're best to try it for a while to see if it suits.I always have ventolin around for quick relief.

Good luck.

[alchemilla12]

I was put onto Symbicort after finding that Clenil - steroid only med -didnt really stop nighttime SOB and whilst the Symbicort was fantastic for asthma and didnt need Ventolin at all it gave me terrible restless legs and cramps.was changed to Sirdupla which again helps asthma but still getting leg jerks