Symbicort Turbohaler

Order your Symbicort Asthma Inhaler Online

By Clinical Pharmacist Hywel McGlinchy

You can request to buy Symbicort online from our UK registered online pharmacy and doctor service. If your asthma is well controlled, and you already use Symbicort, we can issue a repeat supply online. Simply complete an online assessment and checkout, and allow our doctors to review your suitability for a repeat online supply. If approved, our doctors will pass a prescription to our pharmacy team who will dispense and dispatch your inhaler to your chosen address.

What is Symbicort?

Symbicort Turbohaler is an inhaler that is used to treat asthma in anyone aged 6 years and older. It can be used as a preventer and reliever inhaler. It contains two different active ingredients: budesonide and formoterol fumarate dihydrate. 

How does Symbicort work?

Budesonide. Belongs to a group of medicines called ‘corticosteroids'. This has an anti-inflammatory effect on the body. In this case, inhaling the steroid into your lungs, allows it to act to reduces swelling and inflammation. This in turn, makes it easier for you to breathe.

Formoterol Fumarate. This is from a class of drug known as long-acting bronchodilators. These drugs relax the muscles in your airways. By relaxing your muscles, breathing becomes easier, and an asthma attack can be averted.

How to use Symbicort

Priming your inhaler

When using your Symbicort turbohaler for the first time, it needs to be primed before use. This is done by removing the inhaler from the box, and unscrewing the cover. While holding the inhaler upright, with the red grip at the bottom, twist the red grip until it stops in one direction. Repeat this in the opposite direction, then repeat the process once more in both directions.

You should hear a clicking noise. Once you've completed this process, the inhaler will be ready for use.

Using your inhaler

It's important you use your inhaler correctly in order to make sure you're getting the most out of it. Many asthma patients can continue to suffer symptoms or have poorly controlled asthma as a result of poor inhaler technique.

With Symbicort, following the printed instructions will help you get the most out of each dose.

Each Symbicort inhaler comes with a patient information leaflet with a visual guide on how to use the inhaler. Below is a written guide on how to use the inhaler, however. 

1. Unscrew and remove the lid
2. Hold upright, making sure red grip is at the bottom
3. Load your inhaler with one dose. Turn the red grip as far as you can in one direction and then the other until you hear a clicking noise.
4.  Breathe out gently until you're ready to inhale
5. Place the inhaler gently between your teeth, and inhale deeply through your mouth
6. Breathe out slowly and in a controlled manner

Inhaler Care

It's important to keep your inhaler clean to avoid the possibility of contracting oral thrush. To clean your inhaler, gently wipe the mouthpiece with a dry tissue. Cleaning your inhaler should be done at least once a week, but can be done after each use. You should not use water or detergent to do this. A clean, dry cloth or tissue should be sufficient. 

Symbicort Summary

Symbicort Prices

Symbicort Alternatives

We can also issue repeat supplies of a range of corticosteroid inhalers and bronchodilator inhalers: 

The corticosteroid inhalers: Clenil, Flixotide, Pulmicort, and Qvar
The bronchodilator inhalers: Ventolin, Salamol, and Salbutamol (Generic Ventolin)

• How can Symbicort be used as a preventer and reliever?

  Some people are prescribed two asthma inhalers: A preventer and a separate ‘reliever inhaler’, using both every day. This helps to prevent asthma symptoms from happening. They use their ‘reliever inhaler’ when they get asthma symptoms, to make it easier to breathe again. Others are prescribed Symbicort Turbohaler as their only asthma inhaler. They also use Symbicort Turbohaler when they need relief from asthma symptoms, to make it easier to breathe again. They do not need a separate inhaler for this. This is because Symbicort combined both a preventer drug and reliever drug.

• Can Symbicort cause thrush?

  As Symbicort contains a corticosteroid, which can suppress the immune system, it is possible to get thrush in the mouth using this inhaler. This is common and can be treated with antifungal medication. It can also be prevented by rinsing the mouth after inhaler use. If thrush becomes recurrent or persistent, speak to your GP.

• How many times a day should I use Symbicort?

  You should be using Symbicort twice daily.

• Should I rinse my mouth out after using Symbicort?

  Yes, as it is a steroid inhaler there is a chance you can develop oral infections if some of the steroid is left in your mouth. To minimise this you should rinse out your mouth after use.

• I have been asked to use two puffs, how long should I wait between each one?

  Ideally, try to wait half a minute to one minute between puffs.

Side Effects of Symbicort

Symbicort as well as all drugs, can have side effects associated with use. Some of these are listed below, however you should read the patient information leaflet for a comprehensive list of Symbicorts side effects. 

Common 

• Mild sore throat, coughing, and a hoarse voice
• Palpitations (awareness of your heart beating), trembling or shaking. If these effects occur, they are usually mild and usually disappear as you continue to use Symbicort Turbohaler.
• Thrush (a fungal infection) in the mouth. This is less likely if you rinse your mouth out with water after using your Symbicort Turbohaler.
• Headache

Uncommon

• Bruising of the skin
• Nausea (feeling sick)
• Disturbed sleep
• Feeling restless, nervous or agitated
• Feeling dizzy
• Fast heartbeat
• Muscle cramps

Rare

• Taste changes, such as an unpleasant taste in the mouth
• Chest pain or tightness in the chest (angina pectoris)
• Depression
• Uneven heartbeat
• Bronchospasm (tightening of the muscles in the airways which cause wheezing). If the wheezing comes on suddenly after using Symbicort Turbohaler stop using Symbicort Turbohaler and talk to your doctor immediately
• Rash, itching
• Low levels of potassium in your blood
• Very Rare
• Changes in behavior, especially in children
• An increase in the amount of sugar (glucose) in your blood
• Changes in your blood pressure

Before taking any medication, it is important to read the Patient Information Leaflet. You can find information leaflets for your medicines by typing them into the search bar at medicines.org, or by contacting us.

• Symbicort Product Information Leaflets