Budesonide/formoterol

Budesonide/formoterol is a combination formulation containing budesonide and formoterol used in the management of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the EU. It is marketed by AstraZeneca under the trade name Symbicort. Symbicort in the United States is a pressurized metered-dose inhaler while in the EU, Australia, Canada, Israel, and elswhere Symbicort is available as a dry-powder inhaler.

Symbicort contains two active ingredients which are delivered via a single inhaler:
* budesonide (Pulmicort), an anti-inflammatory corticosteroid
* formoterol (Oxis, Foradil), a rapid-acting and long-lasting bronchodilatorIn Europe, Symbicort is available in doses of 100/6, 160/4.5, 200/6, 320/4.5 and 400/12, where the larger number is the dose per actuation of budesonide (in micrograms) and the lower number the dose of formoterol. In the United States, Symbicort is available in 160/4.5mcg and 80/4.5mcg per actuation. Symbicort was introduced in Sweden in 2000 and is approved for use in at least 70 countries, yielding global sales in excess of $1 billion in 2005. It was not approved for use in the United States until July 2006. [cite news
first = Gary | last = Haber | title = AstraZeneca banking on asthma inhaler
url = http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061119/BUSINESS/611190331/1003/NLETTER01
publisher = Delaware News-Journal (delawareonline) | date = 2006-11-19]

Symbicort is the first combination inhaled corticosteroid/long-acting beta agonist (ICS/LABA) that has shown some efficacy as a medicine not only used to prevent asthma attacks, but also provide quick relief of an asthma attack. [cite journal
last = Balanag | first = VM | coauthors = Yunus F, Yang PC, Jorup C
year = 2006 | month = April
title = Efficacy and safety of budesonide/formoterol compared with salbutamol in the treatment of acute asthma
journal = Pulmonary Pharmacology & Therapeutics
volume = 19 | issue = 2 | pages = 139–147
doi = 10.1016/j.pupt.2005.04.009 | pmid = 16009588 | accessdate = ] [cite journal
last = Vogelmeier | first = C | coauthors = D'Urzo A, Pauwels R, Merino JM, Jaspal M, Boutet S, Naya I, Price D
year = 2005 | month = November
title = Budesonide/formoterol maintenance and reliever therapy: an effective asthma treatment option?
journal = European Respiratory Journal
volume = 26 | issue = 5 | pages = 819–828 | pmid = 16264042
doi = 10.1183/09031936.05.00028305 ] , although the role of budesonide in these cases is questionable.The use for quick relief has been approved by the GINA guidelines 2006 (Evidence A) however Symbicort is indicated in the United States only as a maintenance medication.In patients with asthma, Symbicort for both maintenance and as needed treatment reduces exacerbations better than as needed formoterol or as needed terbutaline. Nevertheless, it is unclear whether this strategy is better than increasing a maintenance dose of Symbicort or similar combined inhaler. [ Klaus F. Rabe et al, Effect of budesonide in combination with formoterol for reliever therapy in asthma exacerbations: a randomised controlled, double-blind study, The Lancet,2006,368, 744-753 ]

References

Notes

* cite web
url = http://www.astrazeneca.com/productbrowse/6_95.aspx
title = Symbicort (budesonide/formoterol) - Inhaled corticosteroid for maintenance treatment of asthma
accessdate = 2006-11-19
year = 2006
work = AstraZeneca Respiratory Products
publisher = AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals

External links

* [http://www.symbicort.com/ Symbicort official website]
* [http://www.mysymbicort.com/ Symbicort official US website]

ee also

*Fluticasone/salmeterol (Advair), another combined inhaled corticosteroid and long-acting β₂-agonist