Asthma inhaler - Symbicort

[Dreamerinme]

DS has been prescribed this new inhaler Symbicort - 1 puff x 2 daily - instead of Clenil and Salbutamol. He has mild asthma, rarely wheezy except during PE occasionally, so the pharmacist suggested 1 puff before PE.

The GP referred us to their in-house pharmacist as he said Symbicort is a better way of managing asthma. After a consultation with the pharmacist she prescribed it, however DS has only just turned 10, and when we got the inhaler I was reading the leaflet and it says it is not for children under 12 years.

Does anyone know why he has been prescribed this then? I will of course ring and query this tomorrow but I’m curious as to why the pharmacist has ignored the drug company’s age guidelines (and then Boots issued it).

I have asthma and my experience is that symbicort is for relatively bad asthma that can’t be managed with a reliever and ventolin. However, I’m almost certain somewhere along the lines have a deal going on as they’re pushing symbicort thick and fast within the past year all over the uk

What strength of Symbicort? The lower strength inhaler (100/6) is suitable for age 6+.

They can be prescribed off license if the prescriber feels it is necessary(my dd was started on fostair at 17) but it's normally only done by a specialist. You may be best double checking with the doctor

I was put on symbicort around 5 years ago and honestly it has improved my asthma no end. I haven’t needed salbutamol since. My 10 year old is on it too - the 100/6 strength. Same for him, greatly improved symptoms overall and I would be reluctant to change going forwards.

I've also recently been prescribed Symbicort.The way it was described to me was that it's easier because it can be used both as a reliever and a preventer and over time it should reduce the need for having to use a reliever at all. I've only been on it a short time but it really does seem to have started to make a difference already. I wouldn't want to go back to trying to treat it the way I was before.

@CTR1000 @Mouthfulofquiz it is 100/3 so is that less strong than 100/6?

The pharmacist tried to get him to try the powder inhaler but he didn’t want to yet.

My asthma is better managed with symbicort. I’m mildly asthmatic, but I do suffer with chest infections in winter. It’s used as a preventative medication and used more when I have a chest infection and also use steroids or antibiotics depending which GP I get.

I can’t comment on the prescribing age, but I can give an opinion on Symbicort.

I developed adult-onset asthma in my early 40s. After trying various preventers & relievers, Symbicort was the first & only thing which properly controlled my asthma. Used correctly, it is incredibly effective and since I started using it my asthma has been a non-issue.

I use Fostair and it’s so much better than the old reliever and preventer. Before I had a tight chest a lot of the time and it was impacting my life. I’ve been taking the new stuff for a couple of years and my chest now very rarely bothers me. I have the spray rather than the powder, they tried me on it but it didn’t work for me at all so I swopped back and all good again.

Same @gegs73 I have been on Fostair for a year now and it’s great

Hi there

ive been told I have adult onset asthma l. I’m just recovering from a chest infection which has taken 5 weeks to clear. Can I ask do you take your inhaler every single day? Also how do you manage when you get sick? Do you ask for steroids immediately?

Guidance for adults has changed from separate reliever and preventer inhalers to combined inhalers like Symbicort or Fostair.

So many people would get into serious trouble by just taking more and more reliever and no preventer.

That's what I thought. Had the practice nurse phone me and insist I switch to it when actually Ventolin is all I need for occasional use. I don't want to take steroids unless I have to.

I would reiterate what the previous posters have said. I've been on Fostair since last December and it's changed my life! I didn't realise how badly controlled my athsma was (taking blue in haler 6 times plus a day, scared to do things that are too strenuous incase I started getting short of breath) it's worked really well for me.

My GP told me this was new guidance and was being rolled out to everyone eventually.

My 11 year old takes Symbicort and it’s been revolutionary for her. She’s been taking it for 3 years now. My understanding is that it can be used as a preventative inhaler from 6+ but should only be used as a reliever from 12+. However there is some discretion in there. Mine only uses it morning and evening at the moment and still has Ventolin as a reliever.

It's the new Asthma Guidelines!
They're "pushing" it because it's a very much better, more effective and safer way to treat asthma.

And your GP is absolutely right, they're spit on.

This sums it up perfectly.

"spot" not "spit"!

Symbicort/lufobec is being pushed because it's cheaper and more "environmentally" friendly apparently.
I'm on fostair and was switched to lufobec ( same ingredients as symbicort) as it's cheaper but it made my chest so so bad. They don't ask you though, they just do it.

The newer inhalers are better than "just" the bog standard "brown" and "blue" ones. It's also better to have a preventative such as the symbicort than just relying on the blue one.

And this exactly why they are 'pushing Symbicort' - it reflects how most people use their inhalers but is safer and more effective.

Realistically most people don't use their preventer every day when they are well. When they have a flare up they reach for the reliever - which helps but doesn't do anything to get rid of the inflammation in the lungs causing the flare up.

Having a combined preventer reliever means that you get the relief but you also clamp down that inflammation straight away and stop the flare up potentially turning into something dangerous.

I take Symbicort, mainly as a preventer. As my asthma is cold induced, I take a double dose during winter as they want to control the asthma and keep me well. Since I started taking it, I haven't had a winter cold (3 years).

My 12yo has been on symbicort for 3 years. He'd been on clenil since being 2, had a very long stable phase, then the 40⁰C weather aggravated it. He's had a few flare-ups since but does tend to go stable for prolonged periods between triggers/ flares.

We vary from 2x 2-4 puffs per day for maintainence at calm times, and increase when the risk level goes up (changes in weather, nasty colds going around) He doesn't need to use the ventolin/ salamol reliever very often.

It's really difficult trying to keep on top of preventer doses and management for a scatty older child.

He needs to learn to manage it himself now he's at an age where he's doing more things solo. I set alarms for him, but they're easily ignored. He has a small running belt to carry inhalers that should go everywhere with him with varying sucess. But it's hard for him to focus on how important it is and how suddenly a stable phase can end when he hasn't had a flare in over a year.

I do of course remind him! However in the 2 mins between a reminder and getting out of the house or doing something else, that reminder can very much evaporate and fail to turn into action.

It's a relief to hear that plenty of other people struggle with maintaining through the good phases too.