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Post by Blossom/Jackie W. on Jan 27, 2014 12:02:26 GMT -5
Is anyone on more frequent dosing of Symbicort 200 (beyond 2 x 2/day)?
My GP increased mine about a month ago from 2 x 2 to 2 puffs x 4 times a day. That med makes me very nervous on several fronts and though I've increased to 2 puffs 3 x day, I'm very reluctant yet to go the 4 times.
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Post by sask5 on Jan 27, 2014 13:47:24 GMT -5
My specialist about a year ago increased my dosage to 3 puffs in the am, 2 puffs in the afternoon and 3 puffs before bedtime. I found I was taking my puffs in the am and then taking my second set of puffs at suppertime then struggling before bedtime and that is why he changed the dosage. It has seemed to help but on the downside the expensive inhaler doesn't even last a month now.
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Post by mary57 on Jan 27, 2014 15:52:16 GMT -5
Jackie, I was often taking it 2 puffs 4Xs a day, when I was having extra SOB for what ever reason. There really wasn't any side effects that I noticed. I would do this for weeks at a time, then slide back down to 3Xs then to 2Xs.
In the end though that is when he added Asmanex to the mix. Then after that he discontinued both the Symbicort and Asmanex and put me on Zenhale at 2 puffs 2Xs a day with increase to 3Xs a day. There is a side effect of shaking both my hands (body) and inside which I need to take an clonazapham for and am NOT happy about.
Hope this helps you.
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Post by al on Jan 27, 2014 21:10:04 GMT -5
I'm glad you posted this , I've been on symbicort for 6 years
(160/4.5 )
( budesonide 160mcg/fomoterol dihydrate 4.5 mcg ) and just lately it seems to have lost it's effeteness somewhat.
I am on 2 puffs in the morning and 2 puffs at night. I see you have one that is (200 ), what is the dose and what are the drugs ?
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Post by Blossom/Jackie W. on Jan 28, 2014 9:35:22 GMT -5
Al; in the US you use Symbicort as an MDI. Unfortunately in Canada, it's used as a Turbohaler (which I strongly dislike) The same meds; just a different delivery method.
In the US Symbicort comes as 80 - 4.5 mcg and 160 - 4.5 mcg
In Canada it comes as 100 -6 and 200 -6
I take the 200-6 and I "use" to take take it puffs, 2 times a day. My GP has increased it to 2 puffs, 4 times a day. But.... I've opted for 2 puffs 3 times a day. It's strange, the switching to 3 and 2 to 3 back and forth. Though; it does make sense since it would make it more adaptable to YOUR breathing time needs.
Mary; were you on the 100 or the 200? Also; you were possibly doing what's known as "Smart Dosing" becasue of your strong asthma component? I've always thought well heck.... if they can do smart dosing for folks with asthma, why can't they do it for COPDer's? Makes sense to me.
Sask; how about you..... 100 or 200? Was it increased for asthma control or COPD? You're right about it being expensive if you don't have a presc. drug plan but, it should come down (cost)here soon I would think.
I hear what you're saying on the loosing of it's effectivenss. I've been on it 8 years or so I guess.
At first it would at least feel like it would still be working for 10 or 11 hours (never 12) but then even 8 hours sometimes was really pushing it and I always had to take extra shots of ventolin)
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Post by Lorraine on Jan 28, 2014 9:43:31 GMT -5
Well I find that my symbiotic 200 -6MCg. It says 120 doses but when I see the half way mark at the end is red. , Well I have made a point to monitor it closely and I feel that by the end I am not getting my. Dosage as I would get when my symbicort is not getting. The half way red indicator that is will be empty. I now keep the almost empty symbicort and will use one puff of the new symbicort inhaler and one puff of the old , till I finish the old one............
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Post by aero63 on Jan 28, 2014 10:17:04 GMT -5
I have read that others take it more often then just the a.m. and p.m. 2 puffs. I was wondering how it made those people feel.
I take my ventolin alot. I know that we become immune to these meds after a while so it is comforting to read that I am not the only one that feels that way.
When it is in the red zone, I feel it is not as effective also.
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Post by sandy07 on Jan 28, 2014 10:31:10 GMT -5
The doctor said it was okay to take another 2 puffs a third time during the day for me too. It's helped a lot. I've been doing this about 6 mos. now. He always seems to forget about adding more refills for it. I'd like for everything to need refilling at least roughly the same time. I hate having to get refills every 2 months...just because of the Symbicort. Mine is 200 as well.
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Post by David on Jan 28, 2014 12:40:45 GMT -5
I use my Symbicort off and on. I use it till it runs out then wait awhile before I refill it. It seems to work better for me if I use it off and on like that.
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Post by mary57 on Jan 28, 2014 19:58:16 GMT -5
I was on the 200/6 dose, and I don't know about the 'smart doseing' but I used it as a 'resscue' all along. I was on this from mid '06 till last spring. It became ineffective as time went on.
If interested the maximum recommended dose is 2 puffs 4Xs a day OR 8 puffs in 24 hours.
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Post by sask5 on Jan 28, 2014 23:25:25 GMT -5
Mine is the 200
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Post by sandy07 on Jan 28, 2014 23:26:13 GMT -5
I'm worried about it becoming ineffective as well. I don't know what else I could use as I've tried the new things already and they haven't worked.
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Post by Blossom/Jackie W. on Feb 3, 2014 11:46:52 GMT -5
Lorraine/Antoinette; I too find that the lower it gets the less I seem to be getting. So; it isn't just me or my imagination!I do the exact same thing you do with it Lorraine. The "only" difference is that I won't use one of the old, and one of the new at night. (Just in the day) At night I go only the new one.
Also Antoinette; you were curious about effectiveness. It works, and it's effective. However; funny thing I've noticed..... the body has adjusted to my taking it 3 times a day (rather than 2) and when I get within that 1 hour before window, I sure feel like I need it. (The same thing happened when I was using it only twice a day. The only exception would be 2 hours beforehand need/feeling.
Sandy; if you could get your Dr to script for more puffs (even if you don't use it), they'll adjust the number of turbohalers to cover the month so that you don't run out or have to borrow from the next month's supply.
"Smart Dosing" Mary is what they call what you were doing. The've been doing it that way for astmatics for a bit now and it always boggled my brain why they couldn't do it for COPDer's. (I realize that their original application and Govt approval for use for COPD wouldn't have included it BUT many Dr's still go off label many times)
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Post by aero63 on Feb 3, 2014 19:55:33 GMT -5
I noticed that I get bad at nite before it is time to take med and I guess that may be part of the problem in the morning as well. I also have asthma, but I think being on the transplant list limits the experimenting with dosing for me. David, if you can do without the med and make it more efficient for you, that is great. I know most of us can't and they just need to keep rolling stuff out for us,  . |
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Post by sandy07 on Feb 4, 2014 9:48:17 GMT -5
When I asked for more refills yesterday to cover the extra puffs he said okay but then scripted for 90 (days) which meant no extra. I'm ticked. I remember getting refills from one doctor that did it by puffs. I'll ask my regular doc again. Yes, this guy only gave me 3 mos. again. Which means in order to get more I'll need to go back again in about 2 mos.
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Post by Blossom/Jackie W. on Feb 4, 2014 9:56:55 GMT -5
Not if he increases the script label dose Sandy.... then they'll (the drug store) will increase the Symbicort to ensure you have enough for the 3 months. I take it you're feeling better?
Antoinette; you won't know until you ask about it.
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Post by sandy07 on Feb 4, 2014 10:02:25 GMT -5
No Jackie....when Barry took the script into the pharmacy he asked about it and they said 3 mos.
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Post by mary57 on Feb 4, 2014 11:09:10 GMT -5
Sandy, that has to be so frustrating for you. Maybe if you tell him that you need 5 inhalers to cover 3 months due to the increased doseing that he has prescribed he will then understand. Just an idea.
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Post by sandy07 on Feb 4, 2014 15:47:25 GMT -5
mary....I've told them...they know that. Why they choose to ignore that I don't know. Of course I never look at the script till I'm out of the office...duh.....stupid....stupid me.
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