Key takeaways

  • Symbicort, which is used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma, can cause side effects. Mild side effects include nasal congestion and headaches. Serious side effects include reduced bone mineral density and heart-related issues.
  • Mild side effects of Symbicort, like headaches and back pain, may ease with continued use or may be relieved by over-the-counter treatments. But serious side effects, such as severe allergic reactions or heart-related issues, require immediate medical attention.
  • Certain preexisting conditions, such as eye problems or a weakened immune system, can increase the risk of serious side effects from Symbicort.

Symbicort (budesonide/formoterol) is a prescription drug that’s used to treat:

Symbicort is not meant to be used as a rescue inhaler for sudden breathing problems.

Symbicort contains two active ingredients: budesonide and formoterol. (The active ingredients are what make the drug work.) Symbicort comes in a metered-dose inhaler which releases the drug as a spray you breathe in through your mouth.

Keep reading to learn about the common, mild, and serious side effects that Symbicort can cause. To learn more about Symbicort, including its uses, dosage, and cost, read this Symbicort overview article.

Some people may experience mild to serious side effects during their Symbicort treatment. Common side effects reported in studies of people using Symbicort include:

For more information about some of these side effects, see “Tips for managing side effects.”

Side effects of Symbicort are generally mild. Mild side effects that have been reported with this drug include:

  • upper respiratory tract infection
  • nasopharyngitis
  • nasal congestion
  • throat pain
  • sinusitis
  • vomiting
  • stomach discomfort
  • headache
  • back pain
  • oral thrush

In most cases, these side effects should be temporary, and some may be easily managed. But if you have symptoms that are ongoing or bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Do not stop using Symbicort unless your doctor recommends it.

Symbicort may cause mild side effects other than those listed. See the drug’s prescribing information for details.

For more information about some of these side effects, see “Tips for managing side effects.”

Symbicort may cause serious side effects. The following list may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, see Symbicort’s prescribing information.

If you develop serious side effects while using Symbicort, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects that have been reported with Symbicort include:

If you develop serious side effects while using Symbicort, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Sharing your experience helps make medication safer for everyone by giving doctors and researchers more information about how the drug works in real life. If you develop a side effect while using Symbicort and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.

Allergic reaction

For some people, Symbicort can cause an allergic reaction.

In general, symptoms of an allergic reaction can be mild or serious.

What might help

If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms and can determine whether you should keep using Symbicort.

If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.

If your doctor confirms you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Symbicort, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

Learn more about some of the side effects Symbicort may cause.

Back pain

Symbicort can cause back pain. This was a common but mild side effect of the drug reported in studies. This may be temporary and ease with continued Symbicort treatment.

What might help

If you have back pain with Symbicort treatment, tell your doctor. For mild cases, they may suggest ways to relieve your back pain, such as:

But if you have serious back pain, contact your doctor. They can diagnose the cause and treat it.

Heart-related side effects

Symbicort can cause certain heart-related side effects. These are rare but serious side effects of the drug reported in studies. Examples include:

What might help

If you experience serious heart-related side effects with Symbicort treatment, call your doctor. They can determine whether you should continue using the drug. If they recommend stopping Symbicort, they’ll be able to offer other, safer treatment options for managing your condition.

Headache

It’s possible for Symbicort to cause headaches. This was a common but mild side effect reported in the drug’s studies. Sometimes, side effects of Symbicort, such as sinusitis (sinus infection), can cause headaches. They may also be caused by other conditions, including high blood pressure, which is a serious side effect of Symbicort.

What might help

If you have headaches with Symbicort use, tell your doctor. They can try to determine the cause and suggest a treatment based on the cause and severity of your headaches.

For a mild headache, they may suggest:

If your headaches are severe, your doctor may switch you to a different medication.

Oral thrush

Symbicort can sometimes cause an oral fungal infection called thrush. It’s caused by a yeast infection known as candidiasis. This was a common but mild side effect of the drug reported in studies of people using Symbicort for asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Thrush can be caused by the corticosteroid budesonide, which is an active ingredient (what makes a drug work) in Symbicort. Symptoms of thrush include:

  • pain or difficulty swallowing
  • bad taste in your mouth
  • irritation, redness, or pain under dentures
  • burning or soreness inside your mouth
  • white or yellow spots on your tongue, gums, lips, inside of your cheeks, or tonsils

What might help

The manufacturer of Symbicort recommends rinsing your mouth with water without swallowing right after your dose of Symbicort. This can help lower your risk of developing thrush.

If you notice symptoms of thrush, call your doctor right away. It’s important to diagnose and treat this condition immediately to stop the infection from spreading in your body. Sometimes, your doctor may suggest stopping Symbicort temporarily until the thrush is treated.

Here are answers to some commonly asked questions about Symbicort’s side effects.

Can Symbicort cause anxiety?

It’s not likely. Anxiety was not a side effect reported in Symbicort studies. But it is one of the side effects of formoterol, which is an active ingredient in Symbicort. (An active ingredient is what makes a medication work.)

Some people can have serious side effects with Symbicort, such as bronchospasm (tightening of the airways) and worsening asthma symptoms. And these side effects may cause you to feel anxious. Anxiety is also one of the symptoms of asthma, a condition Symbicort is used to treat.

If you experience anxiety with Symbicort use, call your doctor. They can discuss possible causes with you and recommend ways to help manage it.

Is weight gain a side effect of Symbicort?

No, people using Symbicort in studies did not report weight gain. But Symbicort contains two active ingredients: budesonide (a corticosteroid) and formoterol (a long-acting beta-agonist). And corticosteroids can cause weight gain.

Keep in mind that there may be other causes for your weight gain, such as other medications you take.

If you’re wondering about weight gain with Symbicort, ask your doctor about it. They can provide more information, including the likelihood of this happening to you and ways to help manage it.

Will Symbicort’s side effects go away?

Yes, Symbicort’s side effects go away in most cases. In the drug’s studies, side effects were usually mild and went away within a few days to weeks of treatment.

However, long-term Symbicort use can increase your risk of certain side effects, including:

Your doctor will monitor you for long-term side effects throughout your Symbicort treatment. Do not stop using Symbicort without talking with them first. Stopping this medication may worsen your condition.

Talk with your doctor about the benefits and risks of long-term Symbicort use.

Symbicort may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions. (This is known as a drug-condition interaction.) Other factors may also affect whether Symbicort is a good treatment option for you. Talk with your doctor about your health history before starting this medication. Factors to consider include the following.

Increased risk of infection: Corticosteroids can weaken your immune system and make you more vulnerable to infection. One of the active ingredients (what makes a drug work) in Symbicort, called budesonide, is a corticosteroid. If you already have a weakened immune system, your risk of serious infection is higher with Symbicort use.

Be sure you’re up to date on all your vaccines, including those for chickenpox and measles, before starting treatment with Symbicort. Do not start this medication if you have an infection. Your doctor will likely treat the infection before prescribing Symbicort for you.

If you have a weakened immune system, your doctor may recommend a different, safer treatment for your condition.

Eye problems: Tell your doctor if you have any eye problems, such as cataracts or glaucoma. Corticosteroids can worsen eye problems. Budesonide, an active ingredient in Symbicort, is a corticosteroid. If you already have eye conditions, Symbicort may worsen them.

Your doctor will determine whether Symbicort is right for you if you have serious eye problems. If they prescribe this medication for you, they’ll monitor you for changes to your eyes.

Thyrotoxicosis: If you have a thyroid disorder, Symbicort may not be right for you. Using Symbicort when you have thyrotoxicosis (too much thyroid hormone) could increase your risk of serious side effects such as seizure, congestive heart failure, muscle weakness, and confusion.

Tell your doctor if you have any thyroid conditions, such as hyperthyroidism. They’ll decide whether it’s safe for you to use Symbicort.

Use of oral corticosteroids: If you’re taking an oral corticosteroid such as prednisone, tell your doctor. They’ll have you gradually stop the corticosteroid before starting Symbicort. Stopping oral corticosteroids too quickly can cause serious side effects, such as adrenal insufficiency (in which the adrenal glands do not make enough hormones). In rare cases, this can cause death. Your doctor will decide when it’s safe for you to start Symbicort.

Osteoporosis: Corticosteroids may weaken bone density. One of the active ingredients in Symbicort (budesonide) is a corticosteroid. Using Symbicort long term may cause osteoporosis. Tell your doctor if you have osteopenia or osteoporosis. Symbicort could worsen these conditions and increase your risk of bone fractures.

Your doctor will decide whether Symbicort is safe for you. Your risk of bone-related problems is higher if you’re older, smoke, or have gone through menopause. If your doctor prescribes Symbicort, they’ll monitor you closely for changes in your bone density.

Allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Symbicort or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe it for you. Ask them about other medications that might be better options.

Heart and central nervous system conditions: If you have heart disease, using Symbicort may increase your risk of certain side effects. See the “Tips for managing side effects” section for more information on heart-related side effects of Symbicort.

Symbicort can also cause certain central nervous system (CNS) conditions, such as seizure, headache, dizziness, and tremors. If you have a seizure disorder or other CNS condition, Symbicort may increase your risk of CNS side effects.

Tell your doctor about your health history, including any heart- or CNS-related conditions. They’ll decide whether Symbicort is safe for you.

Acute severe asthma: If you have acute severe asthma, Symbicort may not be the best treatment option for you. Tell your doctor if you have this condition. They can recommend a safer option for treating your asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Diabetes and hypokalemia: Tell your doctor if you have diabetes or hypokalemia (low blood potassium level). Symbicort can increase blood sugar, especially in people with diabetes.

Symbicort can also cause a decrease in blood potassium. Changes in potassium level can cause problems with your heart. If you already have a heart condition, this could worsen it. In studies of the drug, these effects were temporary.

If your doctor determines that Symbicort is a good treatment option for you, they’ll monitor your blood sugar and potassium levels for changes.

Alcohol and Symbicort

There are no known interactions between Symbicort and alcohol. But drinking alcohol can increase your risk of side effects from Symbicort if:

  • you’re taking other drugs for your asthma or COPD
  • you have certain health conditions, such as high blood pressure

If you plan to drink alcohol, ask your doctor what amount, if any, is safe to consume during treatment with Symbicort.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding with Symbicort

There are no studies of Symbicort use during pregnancy, so it’s not known whether the drug is safe to use during this time. That said, untreated asthma can cause problems during pregnancy, such as:

If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant and you have asthma or COPD, talk with your doctor about the safety of Symbicort. They can provide more information about your options.

It’s also not known whether Symbicort is safe to use while breastfeeding. If you’re planning to breastfeed, ask your doctor about the potential benefits and risks of Symbicort for you and your child.

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.