SYMBICORT is an asthma-controller medicine that contains two medicines to help control your asthma symptoms. SYMBICORT is for patients 12 years of age and older that works in two ways to help control asthma thoughout the day and night:

1. By reducing the inflammation in your lungs
2. By keeping your airways open

SYMBICORT starts to improve airflow within 15 minutes. And it keeps working all day and night to reduce inflammation and constriction in your airways.

It's important to remember that as an asthma-controller medicine, SYMBICORT is not—and will not replace—a rescue inhaler for sudden symptoms. If you are taking SYMBICORT, be sure to see your health care provider if your asthma does not improve or gets worse.

When taken long term as prescribed—two puffs twice a day (morning and evening) every day—you can expect continued improvement in your asthma control and the way your lungs work. You should continue taking as directed by your doctor to maintain control of your asthma. Individual results may vary.

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SYMBICORT may be right for you if:

• You are 12 years of age or older
• Your doctor decides your asthma is not well controlled using another asthma-controller medicine
• Your doctor decides you need two asthma-controller medicines

SYMBICORT contains formoterol, a long-acting beta₂-agonist (LABA). Medicines containing LABAs may increase the chance of asthma-related death. So, SYMBICORT should be used only if your health care professional decides another asthma-controller medicine alone does not control your asthma or you need two asthma-controller medicines.

Ask your doctor about the risks and benefits of SYMBICORT and if it is right for you.

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SYMBICORT contains formoterol, a long-acting beta₂-agonist (LABA). Medicines containing LABAs may increase the chance of asthma-related death. So, SYMBICORT should be used only if your health care professional decides another asthma-controller medicine alone does not control your asthma or you need two asthma-controller medicines.

SYMBICORT won't replace rescue inhalers for sudden asthma symptoms. Do not use SYMBICORT more than twice a day.

If you are taking SYMBICORT, see your health care provider if your asthma does not improve or gets worse.

Some people may experience increased blood pressure, heart rate, or changes in heart rhythm. Tell your doctor if you have a heart condition or high blood pressure.

If you are switching to SYMBICORT from an oral corticosteroid, follow your doctor's instructions to avoid health risks when you stop using oral corticosteroids.

Avoid exposure to infections such as chicken pox or measles. Tell your health care provider immediately if you are exposed.

In clinical studies, common side effects included nose and throat irritation, headache, upper respiratory tract infection, sore throat, sinusitis, and stomach discomfort.

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When you are helping to control your asthma symptoms with SYMBICORT, you may notice the following:

• You should have no asthma symptoms or very few symptoms throughout the night and day
• You shouldn’t have to limit your activities because of asthma symptoms
• You should use less rescue medicine

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SYMBICORT contains formoterol, a long-acting beta₂-agonist (LABA). Medicines containing LABAs may increase the chance of asthma-related death. So, SYMBICORT should be used only if your health care professional decides another asthma-controller medicine alone does not control your asthma or you need two asthma-controller medicines.

Common side effects reported in clinical studies included nose and throat irritation, headache, upper respiratory tract infection, sore throat, sinusitis, and stomach discomfort.

These are not all the possible side effects of SYMBICORT, just the most common ones. You can find a detailed list of side effects in the full Prescribing Information. You can also ask your health care provider for more information.

Talk to your doctor if you think you may be experiencing side effects after starting SYMBICORT.

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In addition to your SYMBICORT inhaler, your doctor will likely prescribe a rescue inhaler. It's important to know when to use each of these:

• A rescue inhaler treats airway constriction (tightness) and should only be used for immediate relief of sudden symptoms. SYMBICORT is not a rescue medicine and should not be used to treat sudden asthma symptoms
• Controller medicines are taken daily to prevent asthma symptoms by controlling airway inflammation and/or constriction

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Corticosteroids are used to help control asthma by treating inflammation in the airways.

• Inhaled corticosteroids are breathed in through the mouth, not swallowed. As a result, most of the medication goes straight to the lungs, where it is needed most. Very little of the medicine is absorbed into the body
• Oral corticosteroids (like prednisone) and corticosteroid injections are taken in much higher doses than ICSs and go through your entire system (not just your lungs) and may have long-term side effects, such as weight gain and worsening of diabetes. These kinds of corticosteroids are typically prescribed only for a short time and/or for those with severe asthma. They are used to help control severe asthma attacks and swelling in the airways

One of the two medicines in SYMBICORT, budesonide, is an inhaled corticosteroid. If you are switching to SYMBICORT from oral corticosteroids, follow your doctor's instructions to avoid health risks when you stop using oral corticosteroids.

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Steroids used to treat asthma, like inhaled corticosteroids, are different from anabolic steroids that are often linked with abuse by athletes.

• Inhaled corticosteroids control inflammation, a root cause of asthma. Used over the long term, they help to control and prevent asthma symptoms
• Anabolic steroids are synthetic hormones that are sometimes abused by athletes in order to increase performance

Inhaled corticosteroids treat the lining of the airways in your lungs by reducing inflammation. This makes the lungs less sensitive to triggers, such as pollen, dust, or smoke, which results in fewer asthma symptoms and attacks.

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Before you use your SYMBICORT asthma inhaler for the first time, you will need to remove it from the moisture-protective foil pouch. You won't need the foil again, so you can throw it away.

Use the SYMBICORT canister only with the red SYMBICORT inhaler supplied with the product. Parts of the SYMBICORT inhaler should not be used with parts from any other inhalation drug product. See figure 1 for a picture of the parts to your SYMBICORT inhaler.

While you are thinking of it, write the date that you opened the foil pouch on the dose tracker card that comes with your inhaler.

If you are using the inhaler for the first time—or if you haven't used it in more than 7 days or you have dropped it—you need to "prime" your inhaler to prepare it for use.

To prime your inhaler, first shake the inhaler briskly for 5 seconds. After shaking the inhaler, press down firmly and fully on the grey top of the inhaler to release a test spray into the air. See figures 1 and 2 below for ways to hold your SYMBICORT inhaler.

Make sure to direct the test spray away from your face and away from anyone standing near you.

Then, shake it again and release a second test spray. Your inhaler is now primed and ready to use.

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Take two puffs of SYMBICORT twice a day, morning and evening, every day. Do not use more than twice a day. While taking SYMBICORT, never use any other medicines containing a long-acting beta₂-agonist (LABA) such as formoterol or salmeterol, for any reason.

Click here to view the SYMBICORT instructional asthma inhaler video.

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Here are some simple ways to keep track of your morning and evening puffs of SYMBICORT each day:

• Put a mark on your calendar each time you take SYMBICORT. Your inhaler should last you 30 days if you are taking 2 puffs twice a day
• Use the dose tracking card that comes with your prescription for SYMBICORT or click below to print one

View and Print the Dose Tracking Card for SYMBICORT.

If you keep track of your puffs every day, you'll know when it is time to refill your prescription for SYMBICORT. Otherwise, make sure to refill your prescription after thirty (30) days.

Do NOT take more than 4 puffs each day.

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Be sure to discard your SYMBICORT asthma inhaler after 120 puffs. Even if your inhaler does not feel empty after 120 puffs, you should dispose of it. You will not get the right amount of medicine if you keep using it.

Never immerse the canister into water to try and determine the amount of medicine remaining ("float test"). This is not an accurate way to determine whether you have the right amount of medicine in the canister.

Make sure to discard the inhaler within 3 months of taking it out of its foil pouch.

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You should clean the white mouthpiece of the inhaler every 7 days. To clean the mouthpiece, simply remove the grey mouthpiece cover. Use a clean, dry cloth to wipe the inside and outside of the white mouthpiece.

When you are finished cleaning the mouthpiece, place the cover back over the mouthpiece.

Never put your SYMBICORT asthma inhaler into water. Do not try to take the inhaler apart.

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