Fasenra vs. Symbicort

Fasenra (benralizumab) injection and Symbicort (budesonide and formoterol fumarate dihydrate) are used to treat asthma.

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

Fasenra and Symbicort belong to different drug classes. Fasenra injection is an interleukin-5 receptor alpha-directed cytolytic monoclonal antibody (IgG1, kappa) and Symbicort is a combination of a steroid and a long-acting bronchodilator.

Side effects of Fasenra and Symbicort that are similar include headache and sore throat.

Side effects of Fasenra that are different from Symbicort include fever, hypersensitivity reactions, and injection site reactions (pain, redness, itching, or a small lump).

Side effects of Symbicort that are different from Fasenra include nausea, vomiting, stomach upset, diarrhea, back pain, stuffy nose, muscle or joint pain, and changes in your voice.

Fasenra may interact with other drugs.

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

Common side effects of Fasenra include:

• headache,
• sore throat,
• fever,
• hypersensitivity reactions, and
• injection site reactions (pain, redness, itching, or a small lump)

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).

Fasenra (benralizumab) injection is an interleukin-5 receptor alpha-directed cytolytic monoclonal antibody (IgG1, kappa) indicated for the add-on maintenance treatment of patients with severe asthma aged 12 years and older, and with an eosinophilic phenotype.

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.

Fasenra may interact with other drugs. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant before using Fasenra; it is unknown how it would affect a fetus. Monoclonal antibodies such as Fasenra are transported across the placenta during the third trimester of pregnancy; therefore, potential effects on a fetus are likely to be greater during the third trimester of pregnancy. It is unknown if Fasenra passes into breast milk or how it would affect a nursing infant. 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.

Fasenra (benralizumab) injection and Symbicort Diskus (fluticasone and salmeterol oral inhaler) are used to treat asthma.

Symbicort Diskus is also used to treat chronic bronchitis, including COPD associated with chronic bronchitis. Symbicort Diskus is used in patients whose symptoms are not adequately controlled on a long-term asthma control medication, since one of the active ingredients in salmeterol is LABA, which has been linked to asthma-related deaths. Symbicort Diskus should not be used to treat acute episodes of asthma or COPD.

Fasenra and Symbicort Diskus belong to different drug classes. Fasenra is an interleukin-5 receptor alpha-directed cytolytic monoclonal antibody (IgG1, kappa) and Symbicort Diskus is a combination of a corticosteroid and a beta2-adrenergic bronchodilator.

Side effects of Fasenra and Symbicort Diskus that are similar include headache and sore throat.

Side effects of Fasenra that are different from Symbicort Diskus include fever, hypersensitivity reactions, and injection site reactions (pain, redness, itching, or a small lump).

Side effects of Symbicort Diskus that are different from Fasenra include upper respiratory tract infections, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, stomach upset, diarrhea, yeast infections of the mouth or throat (oral thrush), dry mouth/nose/throat, stuffy nose, sinus pain, cough, sore throat, hoarseness or deepened voice, and musculoskeletal pain.

Fasenra may interact with other drugs.

Symbicort Diskus may interact with amiodarone, diuretics (water pills), HIV medicines, MAO inhibitors, antidepressants, antibiotics, antifungal medications, and beta-blockers.

Common side effects of Fasenra include:

• headache,
• sore throat,
• fever,
• hypersensitivity reactions, and
• injection site reactions (pain, redness, itching, or a small lump)

Common side effects of Symbicort include:

• nausea,
• vomiting,
• stomach pain,
• diarrhea,
• headache,
• dizziness,
• depression,
• joint pain,
• trouble sleeping,
• strange dreams,
• back pain,
• itching or skin rash,
• changes in the color of skin on your palms or soles of your feet, or
• changes in the shape or location of body fat (especially in your arms, legs, face, neck, breasts, and waist).

Tell your doctor if you have serious side effects of Symbicort including:

• mental/mood changes (such as depression, anxiety),
• loss of appetite,
• stomach or abdominal pain,
• pink or bloody urine, or
• changes in the amount of urine.

Fasenra (benralizumab) injection is an interleukin-5 receptor alpha-directed cytolytic monoclonal antibody (IgG1, kappa) indicated for the add-on maintenance treatment of patients with severe asthma aged 12 years and older, and with an eosinophilic phenotype.

Symbicort (emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) is a combination of antiviral drugs used to treat HIV, which causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Symbicort is not a cure for HIV or AIDS.

Fasenra may interact with other drugs. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant before using Fasenra; it is unknown how it would affect a fetus. Monoclonal antibodies such as Fasenra are transported across the placenta during the third trimester of pregnancy; therefore, potential effects on a fetus are likely to be greater during the third trimester of pregnancy. It is unknown if Fasenra passes into breast milk or how it would affect a nursing infant. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

Symbicort may interact with lithium, methotrexate, pain or arthritis medicines, medicines used to prevent organ transplant rejection, IV antibiotics, antiviral medicines, cancer medicines, herpes medications, medications to treat cytomegalovirus (CMV), or other HIV medicines. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use. During pregnancy, Symbicort should be used only when prescribed. It is normal to prescribe HIV medicines such as Symbicort for pregnant women with HIV. This can decrease the risk of passing HIV to the baby. Symbicort may be part of that treatment. Consult your doctor. It is unknown if Symbicort passes into breast milk. Because breast milk can transmit HIV, do not breastfeed.

The dose of Fasenra is one tablet taken orally once daily with or without food.

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