Azmacort vs. Symbicort

Azmacort (triamcinolone acetonide) Inhalation Aerosol and Symbicort (budesonide and formoterol fumarate dihydrate) are used to prevent asthma attacks.

Symbicort is also used to prevent bronchospasm in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Both Azmacort and Symbicort contain a corticosteroid. Symbicort also contains a long-acting bronchodilator.

Side effects of Azmacort and Symbicort that are similar include nausea, diarrhea, stomach pain or upset, joint or muscle pain, stuffy nose, sore throat, and changes in your voice.

Side effects of Azmacort that are different from Symbicort include dryness in your mouth/nose/throat, white patches or sores inside your mouth or on your lips, sinus pain, cough, and hoarseness.

Side effects of Symbicort that are different from Azmacort include headache, vomiting, and back pain.

Azmacort may interact with other drugs.

Symbicort may interact with antibiotics, antifungal medications, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), antidepressants, beta-blockers, and diuretics (water pills).

Side effects of Azmacort include:

• nausea
• diarrhea
• stomach pain
• joint or muscle pain
• dryness in your mouth/nose/throat
• white patches or sores inside your mouth or on your lips
• stuffy nose
• sinus pain
• sore throat
• cough
• hoarseness or deepened voice

Tell your doctor if you experience serious side effects of Azmacort including:

• weakness
• tired feeling
• loss of appetite
• weight loss
• wheezing or breathing problems after using Azmacortm
• skin rash
• bruising
• severe tingling
• numbness
• pain
• muscle weakness
• pain or burning when you urinate
• changes in the shape or location of body fat (especially in your arms, legs, face, neck, breasts, and waist)
• worsening asthma symptoms

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).

Azmacort (triamcinolone acetonide) Inhalation Aerosol is a corticosteroid used to prevent asthma attacks.

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.

Other drugs may interact with Azmacort. Tell your doctor all medications you are taking. Contact your doctor if your asthma medication is not working as well as usual as this may be an early sign of a serious asthma attack. Do not stop taking Azmacort unless directed to do so by your doctor. Talk to your doctor you are pregnant and taking Azmacort as you should only use Azmacort if the potential benefit outweighs the risk to the fetus. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

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.

The recommended dosage of Azmacort is two inhalations (150 mcg) given three to four times per day or four inhalations (300 mcg) given twice daily.

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