Symbicort^® Turbohaler^®

(budesonide/formoterol fumarate dihydrate)

Symbicort Turbohaler is an AstraZeneca medicine prescribed to help manage the symptoms of asthma or COPD.

This website is not a substitute for the Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) provided with your medicine - please read before starting treatment.

Please click your condition below for more information.

For COPD

For asthma

Why this AZ medicine How to use Know your dose Need answers? Resources for you

Why this AZ medicine has been prescribed to you

Symbicort Turbohaler is an AstraZeneca medicine that is prescribed to help you manage symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

COPD is the name for a group of lung conditions that make it difficult to breathe. You may experience symptoms including shortness of breathShortness of breath means suddenly getting out of breath. It happens when your body needs to get more oxygen., wheezing A sound like a whistle when you breathe. and coughing.

Symbicort reduces and prevents swelling and inflammation in your lungs. It also relaxes the airway muscles. This helps open your airways so you can breathe more easily.

Symbicort contains two different active ingredients:The part of a medicine responsible for its activity budesonide and formoterol.

Budesonide is a corticosteroidCorticosteroids are medicines that lower inflammation in the body it reduces and prevents swelling and inflammation in your lungs.

Formoterol is a bronchodilatorBronchodilators are medicines that open the airways of the lungs. it relaxes muscles in your airways, helping you to breathe more easily.

When you use Symbicort as your doctor has advised, you may notice that you have fewer COPD symptoms. These include wheezingA sound like a whistle when you breathe, a tight chest and shortness of breath. Because your symptoms have improved, you may feel like you no longer need to keep taking your Symbicort. However, if you stop taking your Symbicort, the medicine will no longer be working to reduce and prevent the swelling and inflammation in your lungs.

Normal airway

COPD airway

Always use this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. Follow their instructions carefully so you know how many inhalations to take and how often.

This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.

Do not use Symbicort Turbohaler if you are allergic to budesonide, formoterol or lactose (which contains small amounts of milk protein).

Possible side effects

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effectsUnwanted effects that can happen when a person takes a medicine, although not everybody gets them. If you do get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in the Patient Information Leaflet that comes in the box with your inhaler.

If either of the following happen to you, stop using Symbicort Turbohaler and talk to your doctor straight away:

Swelling of your face, especially around your mouth (tongue and/or throat and/or difficulty swallowing) or hives together with difficulty breathing and/or sudden feeling of faintness. This may mean that you are having an allergic reaction. This happens rarely and affects less than 1 in 1,000 people.

Sudden acute wheezingA sound like a whistle when you breathe or shortness of breath straight after using your inhaler. If either of these symptoms occur, stop using your Symbicort Turbohaler straightaway and use your ‘reliever’ inhaler. Contact your doctor immediately as you may need to have your treatment changed. This happens very rarely and affects less than 1 in 10,000 people.

GB-75745 | August 2026

How to use your AZ medicine

Always use this medicine exactly as your doctor tells you. Read the Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) that comes in the box with your inhaler before you start using your inhaler. If you are not sure, ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

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Your Symbicort Turbohaler dose

If Symbicort Turbohaler is prescribed for COPD, it should only be used by adults aged 18 years and above, and only the strengths 200/6 or 400/12 should be used. It is important that you only refer to the dosing information below for your inhaler strength (note: this will be the number shown on your Symbicort Turbohaler). Your doctor may also prescribe other bronchodilator drugs for you to take alongside your Symbicort Turbohaler.

Symbicort Turbohaler 200/6

The recommended dose is 2 inhalations, twice a day.

Symbicort Turbohaler 400/12

The recommended dose is 1 inhalation, twice a day.

GB-75747 | August 2026

Need answers?

If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is nearly time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.

If you use more Symbicort than you should, contact your doctor, nurse or pharmacist for advice. The most common symptoms that may occur if you use more Symbicort Turbohaler than you should are trembling, a headache or a rapid heartbeat.

No. If you load your Turbohaler more than once by mistake before taking your dose, you will still only receive one dose.

If you feel you are getting breathlessness Breathlessness means suddenly getting out of breath. It happens when your body needs to get more oxygen. or wheezy A sound like a whistle when you breathe while using Symbicort, you should continue to use your Symbicort Turbohaler and go to see your doctor as soon as possible, as your treatment may need to be reviewed.

Contact your doctor immediately if:

Your breathing is getting worse
Your chest starts to feel tight in the morning or your chest tightness lasts longer than usual

These signs could mean that your COPD is not being properly controlled and you may need different or additional treatment immediately.

Your doctor may also prescribe other bronchodilator drugs, for example anticholinergics (such as tiotropium or ipratropium bromide) for your COPD.

The dose indicator tells you how many doses are left in your Symbicort Turbohaler. A new unopened inhaler contains the following number of doses:

Symbicort Turbohaler 200/6: 120 doses
Symbicort Turbohaler 400/12: 60 doses

When you first see a red mark at the edge of the indicator window, there are around 20 doses left.

When you have 10 doses left, the background of the dose indicator is red.

When you see ‘0’ on the red background in the middle of the window, you need to start using a new Turbohaler.

Do not use your inhaler after the expiry date. You will find this on the carton or on the label of your inhaler after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.

The active ingredients The part of a medicine responsible for its activity are budesonide and formoterol fumarate dihydrate. Symbicort Turbohaler also has lactose monohydrate in it (which contains small amounts of milk proteins).

Side effectsUnwanted effects that can happen when a person takes a medicine can occur with any medication. For a list of possible side effects with Symbicort Turbohaler, including signs of allergic reaction, please read the Patient Information Leaflt (PIL) that comes in the box with your inhaler..

The most common side effects experienced with Symbicort Turbohaler include:

Palpitations (awareness of heart beating)
Trembling or shaking
Oral thrush (a fungal infection)
Mild sore throat
Coughing and a hoarse voice
Headache

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in the Patient Information Leaflet.

Your doctor, nurse or pharmacist can advise you about using Symbicort Turbohaler alongside any other prescribed medications.

You should also seek advice before taking medicines bought over the counter or herbal remedies.

Wipe the outside of the mouthpiece once a week with a dry tissue. Do not use water or liquids.

This medicine does not require any special storage conditions. Like all medicines, remember to keep it out of the sight and reach of children.

If you stop using Symbicort, the signs and symptoms of COPD may worsen. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before you stop using Symbicort.

If you have been taking steroid tablets for your COPD, your doctor may reduce the number of tablets that you take once you start to use Symbicort.

When reducing oral steroid tablets, you may feel generally unwell even though your chest symptoms may be improving. You might experience symptoms such as a stuffy or runny nose, weakness or joint or muscle pain and rash (eczema).

If any of these symptoms bother you, or if symptoms such as headache, tiredness, nausea (feeling sick) or vomiting (being sick) occur, please contact your doctor immediately.

You may need to take other medication if you develop allergic or arthritic symptoms. You should speak to your doctor if you are concerned as to whether you should continue to use Symbicort.

GB-75750 | August 2026

Helpful resources about your medicine and disease

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GB-78211 | DOP: August 2026

Reporting side effects

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in the Patient Information Leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of medicines.

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Approval ID: GB-75737 Date of preparation: July 2026

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Symbicort^® Turbohaler^®