Moving to Symbicort from Budesonide and Salbutomol

[shat1]

Hi this is a simple question, I have had seasonal allergic Asthma for about 15 years, but in the last 5 years or so it was really under control and I was able to cut way down on medication, this year though the pollen has been off the scale her in the South West and I have been struggling, had a couple of asthma episodes for the first time in years, so asthma nurse got me to take two puffs of budesonide twice a day, for the last 3 weeks, and to blow into a peak flow meter twice a day. So I went back, and she has now recomended that I switch to Symbicort one puff twice a day, I asked her a few times if this was ok seeing as I would be dropping the dose, but she said it would work really well. So my question is has anyone swapped like this and did it go well?!

[Poobah]

You don't indicate the strength of your old and new inhalers, so it could be that one dose of Symbicort is equal to 2 doses of Budesonide. Symbicort also contains a long acting bronchodilator. It could be that your asthma nurse thinks that this added bronchodilator will be more effective than the inhaled steroid alone. It takes a few weeks for new inhalers to build up their full effectiveness, but you should start to feel a difference after 3 weeks. If you're finding no improvement in your symptoms after 6 weeks or so, it would be good to go back to the asthma nurse to review your lack of progress.

[shat1 in reply to Poobah]

Hi Poobah, thank you for your response, no actually the strength is exactly the same 200 , so I would go from 4 puffs a day to 2, in the middle of high allergy season, I just don't want to risk it actually, I will call my doctor on Monday for a 2nd opinion.

[Poobah in reply to shat1]

I think that's very wise. Good luck.

[suzy-lou]

Agree with you, I live in the South West and the pollen count has ben very high this year. I was changed from Budesonide to Symbicort a few years ago and the difference has been remarkable. For reasons best known to themselves, the surgery suggested I changed to Fostaire a year ago and it didn't suit me at all, so I asked to be changed back. I also have COPD and the bronchodilator element helps keeps me stable.

Agree with Poobah, it would be a good idea to go back to your asthma nurse to discuss your progress and to ask any questions about your care plan. Hoping you continue to keep well in this heat down here in the SW. ( I live near farmland and certainly don't look forward to the hay-making!)

[shat1 in reply to suzy-lou]

Hi suzy-lou, thank you for your reply, yes I have checked my apps every day and the South West has definitely been the worst in the country, I haven't dared move to symbicort yet I only collected from the chemist yesterday, so still on the higher dose of budesonide and that isn't working that well today! I need to live near the sea!

[Superzob]

Symbicort contains budesonide and formoterol (which is longer-lasting than salbutamol), but the main issue is whether you’re changing from an aerosol to a dry powder inhaler. I cope better with the latter, but with others it’s the other way around. My experience with Fostair was similar to yours, and it’s simply about cost (it’s cheaper than most aerosol inhalers). There’s no harm in trying, but it might be a good idea to keep your existing inhaler in reserve (ie, don’t exhaust it), in case you need to change back and need to allow time for a follow-up appointment.

[Shaft1952]

I was changed to symbicort many years, due to an increase in my symptoms. This was partly due to an allergy to ventolin. But I have been on 2 puffs twice a day, with provision to go up to 12 puffs but would need to seek medical attention. But I have never got that bad I hope this helps you.