Are You Using Your Symbicort Inhaler the Right Way for Asthma or COPD Control?

Symbicort is designed to control asthma and COPD symptoms every day, but it only works fully when each dose reaches deep into your lungs.

Incorrect technique can lead to more coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, and flare-ups that could have been avoided.

What is Symbicort and why does technique matter?

Symbicort combines two medicines, budesonide and formoterol. Budesonide reduces swelling inside the airways. Formoterol relaxes airway muscles so air can move more easily. Both medicines must reach the lungs together to work as intended.

If the inhaler is not prepared correctly, if you breathe in too fast, or if you forget steps after use, much of the medication can stay in your mouth or escape into the air. This lowers the dose that reaches your lungs and raises the risk of side effects.

Do you assume the inhaler works the same way no matter how you use it?

Many people do, and that assumption often leads to poor symptom control.

Getting the inhaler ready for use

Preparation steps often feel optional, but they directly affect how much medicine you actually receive. Skipping early steps can weaken every dose that follows, even if the inhalation itself feels correct.

What should you do before the first puff ever?

Before using Symbicort for the first time, read the patient leaflet included with the inhaler. It explains safety warnings, dosing instructions, and device details that matter for daily use.

1. Remove the inhaler from the foil pouch. If the inhaler is new or has not been used for more than seven days, it must be primed.
2. Shake it for five seconds.
3. Spray one puff into the air.
4. Shake again for five seconds.
5. Release a second test spray.

This step prepares the medication so each dose contains the correct amount.

Skipping priming can lead to weak or uneven doses during your first uses.

Do you need to shake Symbicort every time?

Yes. Before every single puff, shake the inhaler for five seconds. This mixes the medicine evenly inside the canister. Next, remove the mouthpiece cover by gently squeezing the sides and pulling it straight off.

Look inside the mouthpiece. Check for dust, lint, or any object that could block the spray. This quick check helps prevent medicine loss and keeps unwanted particles out of your lungs.

Taking a dose the correct way

This stage is where most critical mistakes happen. Breathing pattern, timing, and posture all determine whether the medication reaches deep lung tissue or stays trapped in the mouth.

How should you breathe before pressing the inhaler?

Start by breathing out fully. Empty lungs allow more room for the medicine. Do not breathe out into the inhaler.

Place the mouthpiece in your mouth. Close your lips tightly around it. Hold the inhaler upright so the spray moves correctly.

When do you press and breathe in?

Begin to breathe in slowly and deeply through your mouth. At the same time, press down firmly on the top of the inhaler once. Keep breathing in steadily until your lungs feel full.

Remove the inhaler from your mouth. Hold your breath for about ten seconds or for as long as comfortable. This pause allows the medicine to settle deep in your airways. Then breathe out slowly.

For the second puff, repeat all steps. Shake the inhaler again for five seconds. Breathe out fully. Inhale slowly while pressing the inhaler. Hold your breath again before breathing out.

Do you rush this step sometimes?

Breathing too fast or forgetting to hold your breath can greatly reduce how much medicine reaches your lungs.

Steps to take after each dose

What you do after inhaling matters just as much as how you inhale. These steps protect your mouth, throat, and long-term health.

1. Once both puffs are done, replace the mouthpiece cover until it clicks into place. This protects the device from dirt and damage.
2. Rinse your mouth with water. Swish it around and spit it out. Do not swallow the water. This step helps remove leftover medicine from your mouth and throat.

Because Symbicort contains a corticosteroid, skipping mouth rinsing can raise the risk of oral thrush. Thrush causes white patches, soreness, and discomfort in the mouth and throat. Regular rinsing greatly lowers this risk.

Keeping track of remaining doses

Each press of the inhaler lowers the number shown on the actuation counter. The arrow may not move with every puff, but the number will decrease over time.

A full prescription inhaler starts at 120 puffs. Sample or institutional packs usually start at 60. When the counter reaches around 20, the arrow enters the yellow zone. This is your signal to arrange a refill.

Once the counter reaches zero or the arrow moves into the red zone, stop using the inhaler and discard it. Even if spray still comes out, the correct dose may no longer be delivered.

If three months have passed since opening the foil pouch, discard the inhaler even if doses remain. Medication strength cannot be guaranteed after that time.

Daily use rules that protect your health

Most people use Symbicort as prescribed, often two puffs in the morning and two in the evening, about twelve hours apart. Always follow your doctor’s exact instructions.

Symbicort is not a rescue inhaler. It does not act fast enough to relieve sudden breathing problems. Always keep a quick-relief inhaler nearby for emergencies.

Do not use other medicines that contain long-acting beta2-agonists while taking Symbicort. Combining similar medicines can increase the risk of serious side effects, including heart problems.

If you notice you need your rescue inhaler more often or symptoms worsen, contact your healthcare provider promptly.

What can go wrong if symbicort is misused?

Incorrect use or overuse can lead to unwanted effects. These may include chest pain, increased blood pressure, shaking, nervousness, or irregular heartbeat.

Other risks linked to misuse or poor technique include fungal mouth infections, pneumonia in people with COPD, weakened immune response, adrenal gland problems, sudden worsening of wheezing after use, allergic reactions with swelling of the face or throat, reduced bone density, slowed growth in children, eye conditions such as glaucoma or cataracts, and changes in blood sugar or potassium levels.

So, are you using Symbicort correctly?

• Symbicort works best when each step is followed carefully, from shaking to breath control to mouth rinsing
• Proper inhalation technique helps the medicine reach deep into your lungs and control symptoms
• Tracking the dose counter prevents missed doses and underdosing
• Regular reviews with a healthcare provider help correct mistakes before symptoms worsen
• Consistent, correct use supports better breathing, fewer flare-ups, and improved daily life