Budesonide/formoterol

Budesonide/formoterol, sold under the brand name Symbicort among others, is a fixed-dose combination medication used in the management of asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).^[2] It contains budesonide, a steroid; and formoterol, a long-acting β₂-agonist (LABA).^[2] The product monograph does not support its use for sudden worsening or treatment of active bronchospasm.^[2] However, a 2020 review of the literature does support such use.^[6] It is used by breathing in the medication.^[2]

Common (≥1/100 to <1/10) side effects include candidiasis, headache, tremor, palpitations, throat irritation, coughing, and dysphonia.^[7] Pneumonia is a common side effect in people with COPD, and other, less common side effects have been documented.^[2][3] There were concerns that the LABA component increases the risk of death in children with asthma, however these concerns were removed in 2017.^[8] Therefore, this combination is only recommended in those who are not controlled on an inhaled steroid alone.^[2] There is tentative evidence that typical doses of inhaled steroids and LABAs are safe in pregnancy.^[9] Both formoterol and budesonide are excreted in breast-milk.^[1]

Budesonide/formoterol was approved for medical use in the United States in 2006.^[2][10] It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.^[11][12] It is available as a generic medication.^[13] In 2022, it was the 83rd most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 8 million prescriptions.^[14][15]