How to deal with side effects from Symbicort

Posted by jackiet @jackiet, Nov 28 10:28am

I have gone back on Symbicort (160/4.5) after having been off maintenance inhalers for about six months. I had been on Wixela for six months, and before that, Symbicort for 10 months.

I went off the Wixela because of bad side effects. I don't recall having had any serious side effects from the Symbicort back when I was taking it before. (I had to go off it because it was no longer on my formulary for 2024.) However, two days ago I started back on Symbicort. The first day I took two puffs in the a.m., two in the p.m. The next day(yesterday) I felt all stuffed up in the sinus area so I reduced the dosage to one puff twice that day. Then this morning I have been sneezing, with headache and pressure around the eyes, and an irritated nose. So I didn't take any Symbicort today.

The Symbicort leaflet says it may take a couple of weeks for it to take effect. So I'm thinking that my body needs to get adjusted to it. So maybe I should take lower doses, perhaps every other day, for awhile until things calm down.

I am looking for a new pulmonologist, so right now am without one. Yesterday I saw my PCP. Though I didn't ask him directly what to do, he gave me his general opinion: That it's ok to monitor your own dosages of an inhaler depending on how you think it's working.

Anyone got any ideas on what I should do going forward? I have mild to moderate intermittent asthma, allergic rhinitis, and GERD. I know I need a maintenance inhaler because after that six-month period without one my cough began to come back.

Thanks for any input you can offer.

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anna17 | @anna17 | Nov 29 1:30pm

I love my symbicort! I don't know what I'd do if VA insurance stopped paying for it. ($500) I tried a few of the powder inhalers and hated them. I do have albuterol as an emergency back up.

lluth412 | @lluth412 | Nov 30 9:16am

I also love Symbicort and been on it for 8 months. I use it for maintenance and as my rescue per my Mayo pulmonologist so it’s replaced albuterol and airsupra. The only side effect was thrush so wash out your mouth after each use. I do find that it took a month to get going and about 4 months in it felt like it wasn’t working anymore, but then after two weeks it kicked back in. I think that’s just how it works. Its my lifeline so hope you get the same relief!

jackiet | @jackiet | Nov 30 9:19am

In reply to @lluth412 "I also love Symbicort and been on it for 8 months. I use it for maintenance..." + (show)

Thanks for your input. I didn’t know Symbicort was used as a rescue inhaler.

lluth412 | @lluth412 | Nov 30 9:59am

Yes there’s a new study in the EU that shows the efficacy of symbicort type inhalers as rescues. My local pulmonologist who works with Mayo pulm both cited the study. My PFTs also show it works better for me than albuterol. Once you find a new pulm you could ask if it will work for you.

jackiet | @jackiet | Nov 30 12:51pm

Thank you! I’ll remember that.

britelite | @britelite | Nov 30 1:36pm

This is the thread I’ve been watching for. My previously well controlled asthma flared up after getting Covid Feb. 2023. The Advair stopped working so I was put on Trelegy once a day. It didn’t hold me all day so I was started on
Breyna, the generic Symbicort (160 mcg/4.5 mcg) 2 puffs twice a day. Been on it for 4 months. It took a while to kick in but I still need a hit of Albuterol by midafternoon. I’d like to get off the Albuterol and was thinking of trying 1 puff of Breyna in the morning and 1 puff midafternoon. I have a pulmonologist appt. coming up so I’ll ask but it was interesting to note that monitoring your own dosage might work well. Thanks to everyone for your input.

Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Nov 30 4:40pm

In reply to @britelite "This is the thread I’ve been watching for. My previously well controlled asthma flared up after..." + (show)

My pumonologist told me thet I can use Breyna (1-2 puffs) up to 4 times a day if needed. I hav asthma that didn't respond anymore to levalbuterol.

lluth412 | @lluth412 | Dec 1 8:46am

If you are into reading the science articles about it - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9940146/#:~:text=SMART%20in%20Moderate/Severe%20Asthma&text=A%20recent%20meta%2Danalysis%20showed,in%20this%20population%20(79).

crn | @crn | Dec 1 11:02am

It never hurts to have an allergist in the picture. I have one, plus a pulmonologist.

jackiet | @jackiet | Dec 1 11:24am

In reply to @lluth412 "If you are into reading the science articles about it - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9940146/#:~:text=SMART%20in%20Moderate/Severe%20Asthma&text=A%20recent%20meta%2Danalysis%20showed,in%20this%20population%20(79)." + (show)

Yes. Thank you. Very helpful. Explains why previous posts cite Symbicort and the generic options as used for rescue inhalers.

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