Can you take symbicort and advair together

Below is our attempt to help understand which inhalers can and should be used together, and which ones should not be used together. Different classes of medications can be used in combination for example, combining a beta agonist with an anti-muscarinic inhaler , but in most cases, patients should not take the same class of medicine in more than one inhaler.

The following chart helps explain this:. To make sure your inhalers are OK to take together, look at the class of medications.

If you notice that you take more than one medicine in the same class, ask your physician to review your prescriptions. Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellHealth. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page.

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How often it is taken Class of Medication Important to note Spiriva tiotropium Daily Anti-muscarinic Note this medication should not be taken with Combivent Turdoza Twice daily Anti-muscarinic Note this medication should not be taken with Combivent. How often it is taken Class of Medication Important to note Albuterol Ventolin, pro air, others As needed Short-acting beta-agonist Note that it is OK to take this with long-acting beta agonists Combivent, Duoneb As needed Beta-agonist and anti-muscarinic Note these medications should not be taken with Spiriva.

Advair Diskus is a powder inhaler. Advair HFA is an aerosol inhaler. They are each used twice a day. Advair and Symbicort contain different drugs. Therefore, some of the side effects these medications can cause are similar and some are different. These lists contain examples of more common side effects that can occur with Advair, with Symbicort, or with both drugs when taken individually.

This list contains examples of serious side effects that can occur with Advair or Symbicort when taken individually. A real-world effectiveness analysis tests how well the drug works in the real world not in a controlled setting, which is where a clinical study does testing.

This study looked at health insurance claims for more than 7, people with COPD who were new to treatment with either Advair or Symbicort. The use of Advair and Symbicort for the treatment of asthma has also been compared in a database analysis. This analysis included more than 3, people with asthma, ages 12 years and older. Many studies have indirectly and directly compared the use of Advair and Symbicort, with conflicting results.

However, Symbicort and both forms of Advair have been found to be effective for treating asthma. Advair and Symbicort are both brand-name drugs. There are generic forms of Advair Diskus, including one called Wixela Inhub. Wixela Inhub, the generic form of Advair Diskus, may cost less than either Advair either type or Symbicort.

The manufacturer of both drugs provides instructions on how to use the Advair Diskus inhaler and how to use the Advair HFA inhaler. Always rinse your mouth with water after taking a dose of Advair. Rinsing your mouth after an Advair dose will reduce your risk for thrush a fungal infection in your mouth and throat.

You should take your dose of Advair every 12 hours. They are not used to treat flare-ups of either condition. Your doctor will likely prescribe a rescue inhaler for you, which you should keep with you at all times. A rescue inhaler works rapidly to improve your breathing. However, studies have found that chronic alcohol drinking can damage the cilia in your airways.

Cilia are small, hair-like structures that help trap and remove germs from the air you breathe. Damaged cilia make it easier for germs to cause infections in your lungs. These effects can lead to a higher risk for serious infections, such as pneumonia.

They can also make your symptoms of asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD worse. Advair can interact with several other medications. It can also interact with certain supplements as well as certain foods. Different interactions can cause different effects. For instance, some interactions can interfere with how well a drug works. Other interactions can increase side effects or make them more severe. Below is a list of medications that can interact with Advair.

This list does not contain all drugs that may interact with Advair. Before taking Advair, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you use. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions. If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Taking Advair with certain drugs used to treat viral infections, such as HIV , can increase levels of fluticasone propionate and salmeterol in your body.

This is because certain antiviral drugs prevent the breakdown of fluticasone propionate and salmeterol in your body. Higher levels of fluticasone propionate and salmeterol can increase your risk for serious side effects. Taking Advair with these antiviral drugs is not recommended. Taking Advair with certain antibiotic or antifungal drugs can increase your risk for serious side effects.

This is because these antibiotics or antifungal drugs prevent the breakdown of fluticasone propionate and salmeterol in your body. This causes higher than usual levels of fluticasone propionate and salmeterol. An example of an antibiotic drug that can increase fluticasone propionate and salmeterol levels in your body is clarithromycin Biaxin XL. Examples of antifungal drugs that can increase fluticasone propionate and salmeterol levels in your body include:. Taking Advair with these medications is not recommended.

If you need treatment with one of these drugs while taking Advair, your doctor will monitor you closely for increased side effects. Taking certain antidepressants with Advair or within 2 weeks of taking Advair can raise your risk of serious side effects, such as heart problems. Examples of antidepressants that can increase your risk for heart problems if taken with Advair include:. If you need to take an antidepressant with Advair, talk with your doctor. They may suggest a different option than the ones listed above.

Taking Advair with certain blood pressure or heart rate medications can increase your risk for serious breathing problems. Examples of blood pressure or heart rate medications that can increase your risk for breathing problems if taken with Advair include:.

Advair should only be taken with one of these medications in an emergency situation such as a heart attack or if there are no other preferred options. If you need to take Advair with one of these drugs, your doctor will monitor you closely for serious breathing problems.

Taking Advair with certain diuretics water pills can increase your risk for hypokalemia low potassium levels. It can also raise your risk for serious heart problems, including abnormal heart rhythms. Examples of diuretics that can increase your risk for these serious effects if taken with Advair include:.

Some diuretics also come as part of a combination medication which contains more than one active drug. Be sure to check all of your medications to see if any contain one of the diuretics listed above.

If you need to take one of these diuretics with Advair, your doctor will monitor you closely for hypokalemia and abnormal heart rhythms. As with all medications, the cost of Advair can vary. To find current prices for Advair Diskus and other forms in your area, check out GoodRx.

The cost you find on GoodRx. If you need financial support to pay for Advair, or if you need help understanding your insurance coverage, assistance is available. In animal studies , harm to the fetus was seen when the pregnant mother received Advair. Untreated or poorly treated asthma during pregnancy may cause serious problems for the mother and baby.

These include preeclampsia high blood pressure during pregnancy , premature birth, and low birth weight. If your asthma is well controlled, you may have a lower risk of these problems. Treatment guidelines state that the combination of an inhaled corticosteroid and long-acting beta2-agonist is safe for pregnant women with asthma. Advair contains this combination with the active drugs fluticasone propionate and salmeterol.

If you have asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD and are pregnant or considering becoming pregnant, talk with your doctor about your treatment options. In animal studies , fluticasone propionate, one of the active drugs in Advair, did pass into breast milk.

You and your doctor should weigh the benefits of breastfeeding while taking Advair against the risks of untreated asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD. Together you can determine if breastfeeding is a safe option for you and your child. You can also call the American Association of Poison Control Centers at or use their online tool.

But if your symptoms are severe, call or go to the nearest emergency room right away. COPD is a group of conditions that cause damage in your lungs that gets worse over time. COPD includes conditions such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

Chronic bronchitis causes inflammation swelling and mucus buildup in your airways. This makes it hard for air to flow through your lungs, reducing the amount of oxygen that you can take in. Emphysema damages your alveoli, which are small air sacs in your lungs. This damage makes it hard for you to breathe carbon dioxide out of your lungs. Trapped carbon dioxide in your lungs prevents you from breathing in fresh oxygen.

Advair contains two drugs: fluticasone propionate, a corticosteroid, and salmeterol, a long-acting beta2-agonist. Corticosteroids like fluticasone propionate reduce the amount of inflammation in your lungs. This helps clear some of the swelling and mucus that can block airflow through your lungs. Long-acting beta2-agonists relax the muscles that line your airways.

By doing this, they widen the airways and allow more air to flow through. Both of these drugs help improve airflow in people with asthma and COPD. This helps you breathe easier and get the oxygen you need. After starting Advair, it might take about a week before you see the maximum amount of improvement in your symptoms. You might taste some of the medication after you take a dose of Advair. Always rinse your mouth with water and spit it out after taking an Advair dose, whether you tasted anything or not.

This will help reduce your risk for yeast infections in your mouth and throat. There are currently no cures for either condition.

Advair is meant for long-term use. You should always carry a rescue inhaler to give you immediate relief. Also, talk with your doctor about what to do if your asthma or COPD symptoms suddenly get worse. These drugs are similar, but they do have a few differences, such as in their active ingredients and side effects.

Symbicort and Advair are brand-name combination drugs. They both combine a corticosteroid with another drug called a long-acting beta 2 -adrenergic agonist.

The corticosteroid works by decreasing inflammation in your lungs. Symbicort uses the corticosteroid budesonide, while Advair contains fluticasone.

The long-acting beta 2 -adrenergic agonist in either drug helps relax the muscles around the airways in your lungs. Symbicort comes in a metered dose inhaler. Advair HFA is an aerosol inhaler that contains a propellant to help the medication reach your lungs.

Advair Diskus contains a powder and requires you to breathe in quickly and deeply to help the medication reach your lungs. Advair is approved for use in a wider age range of people. Symbicort and Advair HFA are both approved for use in people who are 12 years or older. However, Advair Diskus is approved for use in people who are 4 years or older. Most pharmacies keep both drugs in stock.

According to www. The amount you pay depends on your dosage, the form you take, and your health insurance coverage. Most of the side effects of Symbicort and Advair are the same. The most common side effects that occur in children happen in those who use the Advair Diskus. These side effects include ear, nose, and throat infections.

You can review complete lists of individual side effects at side effects of Symbicort and side effects of Advair.