Symbicort Dosage and Administration Guidelines

Introduction to Symbicort Therapy

The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology recommends that Symbicort (budesonide-formoterol) 160-4.5 mcg/act should be administered as two inhalations twice daily, providing a total daily dose of 640 mcg budesonide and 18 mcg formoterol for patients with asthma 1, 2

For adults and adolescents 12 years and older with persistent asthma, the standard dosing is two inhalations twice daily (morning and evening), as recommended by the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology 1, 2
For children under 12 years, Symbicort is not approved for use in this age group, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics 3

Patients should rinse their mouth with water after use to reduce the risk of oral thrush, as advised by the American Dental Association 3
Assess asthma control after 2-6 weeks of initiating therapy, and step down if asthma is well controlled for at least 3 consecutive months, as recommended by the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program 1, 2

For symptom relief, 1-2 puffs of Symbicort can be used as needed, with a maximum total daily maintenance and rescue dose of 12 puffs (54 mcg formoterol), as recommended by the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology 1, 2
Common side effects of Symbicort include oral thrush (candidiasis), dysphonia (hoarseness), cough, tachycardia, skeletal muscle tremor, and hypokalemia, as reported by the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology 3

Symbicort should not be used for acute symptom relief in acute asthma attacks, and patients should be advised to consult an asthma specialist if Step 4 or higher treatment is required, as recommended by the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program 1, 2, 3
Patients should be monitored for adrenal suppression with long-term use of Symbicort, as advised by the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology 3