ProAir vs. Symbicort

• Are ProAir and Symbicort the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of ProAir?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Symbicort?
• What Is ProAir?
• What Is Symbicort?
• What Drugs Interact with ProAir?
• What Drugs Interact with Symbicort?
• How Should ProAir Be Taken?
• How Should Symbicort Be Taken?

Proair (albuterol sulfate) and Symbicort (budesonide and formoterol fumarate dihydrate) are inhalers used to prevent and treat wheezing and shortness of breath caused by breathing problems such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Proair is also used to prevent and treat wheezing and shortness of breath caused by asthma and to prevent exercise-induced asthma.

Proair is a bronchodilator and Symbicort is a combination of a steroid and a long-acting bronchodilator.

Common side effects of ProAir include:

• nervousness,
• shaking (tremor),
• headache,
• dizziness,
• mouth/throat dryness or irritation,
• sore throat,
• cough,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• dizziness,
• sleep problems (insomnia),
• hoarseness,
• runny or stuffy nose,
• muscle pain, or
• diarrhea

Common side effects of Symbicort include:

• headache,
• throat irritation,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• stomach upset,
• diarrhea,
• back pain,
• stuffy nose,
• muscle or joint pain, or
• changes in your voice.

Tell your doctor if you experience unlikely but serious side effects of Symbicort including:

• white patches on tongue or in mouth,
• signs of infection (such as fever, persistent sore throat),
• mental/mood changes (such as nervousness),
• trouble sleeping,
• vision problems (such as blurred vision),
• increased thirst or urination,
• muscle cramps, or
• shaking (tremors).

Proair (albuterol sulfate) is a bronchodilator that relaxes muscles in the airways and increases air flow to the lungs used to prevent and treat wheezing and shortness of breath caused by breathing problems such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Proair is also used to prevent exercise-induced asthma.

Symbicort (budesonide and formoterol fumarate dihydrate) is a combination of a steroid and a long-acting bronchodilator used to prevent bronchospasm in people with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Symbicort combines an inhaled corticosteroid medicine, budesonide and a LABA medicine, formoterol.

• Inhaled corticosteroids help to decrease inflammation in the lungs. Inflammation in the lungs can lead to breathing problems.
• LABA medicines are used in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. LABA medicines help the muscles around the airways in your lungs stay relaxed to prevent symptoms such as wheezing, cough, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. These symptoms can happen when the muscles around the airways tighten. This makes it hard to breathe. In severe cases, wheezing can stop your breathing and may lead to death if not treated right away.

ProAir may interact with other inhaled medicines, other asthma medicines, beta-blockers, diuretics, digoxin, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), and antidepressants. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use. During pregnancy, ProAir should be used only if prescribed.

Symbicort may interact with antibiotics, antifungal medication, MAO inhibitor, antidepressants, beta-blockers, or diuretics (water pills). Tell your doctor all medications you are taking. During pregnancy, Symbicort should be used only when prescribed. Budesonide passes into breast milk. It is unknown if formoterol passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

ProAir is a dry powder inhaler supplied for 200 measured inhalation doses.

For patients 12 years of age and older, the dosage of Symbicort is 2 inhalations twice daily (morning and evening, approximately 12 hours apart).