Symbicort inhaler prescription available online

Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition that affects the lungs and upper airways. The condition affects over 25 million individuals in the United States alone. Many of the individuals who suffer from asthma are children, although adults can be diagnosed as well. This is a chronic disease that people generally deal with for an entire lifetime, but certain medications can help to ease the symptoms a patient experiences. 

The FDA has approved both Symbicort and a more recently generic version of the drug for the treatment of asthma. These drugs are appropriate for use in patients at least 12 years of age. Symbicort's primary purpose in treating asthma is to act as a preventative medication as regular use of the inhaler can help to provide a significant reduction in the risk of experiencing symptoms. It does not provide quick relief like a rescue inhaler such as albuterol does, but regular use of these inhaled medications may help reduce the frequency of asthma symptoms and the risk of severe asthma-related events and hospitalization.

COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is another condition that affects the respiratory system. The term itself can refer to a series of different diseases, with some being more severe than others. These diseases generally cause problems with a patient’s ability to breathe correctly, often due to a blockage in the tubes that carry air to and from the lungs.  Symptoms presents similarly to asthma, with wheezing, chest tightness, and productive cough.  

The use of Symbicort for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease has also been approved. The medication will not provide a cure for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease but rather a solution to help reduce symptoms associated with the condition. The preventative solution may also help to reduce the severity of symptoms in cases where the patient has a flare-up of COPD complications. 

The side effects associated with taking Symbicort are typically mild. Most Symbicort side effects are associated with the respiratory system and the throat. Some side effects, such as stomach discomfort, affect the gastrointestinal tract. Symbicort has some common side effects. They may include:

• Irritation in the throat

• Headaches

• Stomach discomfort

• Nasal congestion

There are rare cases where Symbicort causes blood pressure levels to increase. The increase is usually insignificant but can become a more serious concern in some patients. It is essential to monitor for changes in your blood pressure levels if you have been diagnosed with hypertension. 

Other side effects, which are less common but might be more severe, could include:

• Worsening symptoms: There are very rare cases where the use of Symbicort causes a sudden and immediate worsening of breathing symptoms following the inhaler, called bronchospasm. This can be a potentially life-threatening side-effect, as it can cause the person to reach a point where they cannot breathe. In this particular event, asthma clinical trials show the individual should first reach toward their emergency fast relief inhaler, then call 911 immediately.

• Allergic reaction: It is pretty rare to find allergic reactions to the active chemicals in the inhaler, but there have been reports of these occurrences before. If a person is allergic to the ingredients that the medical uses, they may experience a severe allergic reaction. This can lead to itching, rashes, sudden breathing difficulties, severe dizziness, and swelling in certain body parts. Immediate medical assistance by calling 911 is required in these cases. 

• Fungal infections: Some people also develop a fungal infection in their mouth & throat, called thrush, when they use Symbicort. Patients can prevent this from happening by swishing and rinsing their mouth with water, then spitting out, after use of their inhaler. This washes away any lingering medicine that collected in the mouth and throat rather than traveled to the lungs. While these infections are often mild, they can become more serious, especially if untreated. Upper respiratory tract infections can lead to complications, such as chronic bronchitis.

• Immune system side effects: It is also possible for the inhaler to cause problems with immunity, especially with long-term use of the inhaler. This is primarily due to using a corticosteroid in the formulation of the medicine. When it reduces immunity, the patient may experience chronic or recurrent infections. Signs of infections in the body may include nausea, chills, pain, vomiting, body aches, a fever, and constant tiredness. This may cause a further increase in the risk of an upper respiratory tract infection and issues like bronchitis or pneumonia.

• Hyperglycemia: Some rare reports about the use of Symbicort have also been found. In this case, blood glucose levels can significantly increase. This can impact the sensitivity cells have toward insulin in the body, resulting in longer-term complications. 

You should call your doctor if you notice any of these side effects or develop other new or concerning symptoms.

Your doctor may take you off Symbicort 160 4.5 mcg or another dose you take if you develop a recurrent upper respiratory tract infection or chronic bronchitis. A thorough analysis of asthma or other patients treated with Symbicort can help healthcare providers identify susceptible patients. There are multiple risk factors that the provider can consider, as well as research from controlled clinical trials.

Use of Symbicort in pediatric and adolescent patients under age 12 is not advised because it can cause a more severe level of side effects if these pediatric patients are too young since the drug depends on corticosteroids in its formulation. There have also been reports of stunted or slow growth in children who have used Symbicort as part of their asthma treatment strategy.

Some drug interactions with Symbicort can lead to dangerous complications. Don’t change what you take without checking with your doctor or pharmacist. That includes other medications or supplements, as well as over-the-counter drugs. 

It is essential to avoid the use of any other drugs that contain LABA as an active ingredient when taking Symbicort, including another metered dose inhaler. Take a complete list of medications you currently take to your healthcare provider. A thorough analysis can reveal if any other drugs you now use contain LABA. Also, keep this in mind when you get a prescription for other drugs in the future. The combination of other drugs that also have this chemical can cause a significant increase in the risks and complications associated with LABA usage. 

Ask your doctor or pharmacist if it is acceptable to consume alcohol while taking Symbicort.

It is generally not advised to consume alcohol while on a drug that contains budesonide. The combination of these two chemicals has been shown to cause side effects and interactions like dizziness in the patient.