Symbicort

[Emerald52]

Hi everyone,

Im just new on here. I have severe emphysema.

Can anyone please tell me why most sites on internet say people with asthma can use

Symbicort up to 8 times a day but with copd you have to stick to morning and evening

doses?

doesnt make a great deal of sense to me.

thanks for your time.

[Yumz199725]

I found out from my doctor when I was admitted to hospital last month for an asthma attack that, that's misinformation you can't use it more then twice in morning and twice at night, symbicort is wasn't a very good match for me so I'm on fostair x

[peege]

The former is the MART regime whilst the later isn't. MART stands for Maintenance and Reliever Therapy.

My Fostair100/6 MDI (spray type) is 100% on the MART regime.

Using MART depends on the dose and which inhaler type - powder or spray type.

Do a bit of UK (or wherever you live) Googling to check which Symbicort inhalers are MART . Also read your leaflet from the package

I dont think its anything to do with which lung diseases you have, many many inhalers are used by different lung patients (*but anyone correct me if I'm wrong)!............

Fostair MDI or Nexthaler (MART)

Symbicort Turbohaler (SMART)

DuoResp Spiromax (MART)

Fobumix Easyhaler (MART)

frimley.icb.nhs.uk › ...PDF

Asthma Aide Memoir – MART (Maintenance and Reliever Therapy) Regimens for Adults aged 18 and over - NHS Frimley

PS welcome to the forum 🙂

[Ern007]

Symbicort is not a reliever, It's a preventer and shouldbe taken two puffs AM and PM - In between use relievers.

Fostair is the same, 2 puffs twice a day, Max.

Both contain formoterol and it that I think is the problem, not the steroid,

I am posting a link that may explain.

I think you will fine Asthma the same as COPD, a preventer would not help in an attack, and if you take eight, I doubt it would be safe to take the reliever you need.

You need you GP really to tell you what is a safe dose for you.

Welcome to the forum.

medicalnewstoday.com/articl...

[O2Trees in reply to Ern007]

Don't think that is right Ern. With Symbicort you have a regular dose and if you have asthma and need more in the day you can use it again. While not strictly speaking a reliever, Symbicort has steroid (Budesinide) and a bronchodilator in it and this dilates the airways. I take up to 4 'puffs' a day (currently down to 3) but my consultant told me to take more if I need it for asthmatic breathing.

[Ern007 in reply to O2Trees]

Fostair has the same formoterol , just a different steroid - must be then that consultants can up the dose. I have just been told to up my dose of Atrovent. Thank's for the info 03 Trees,

[PaulineHM]

Hi there,

Asthma and COPD are quite different conditions and some us have both.

We are all individuals and respond to each condition in a very different and variable way when it comes to medication.

The best person to assist with medication is very often the surgery pharmacist or community pharmacist- they in my experience, know their stuff and it is always worth asking them for advice and information when I have medication questions.

Go well

Pauline

[Emerald52]

Thanks to all for your helpful replys. Hope you are all going well.

Take care