Symbicort vs. Advair

Skye

New member
Does anyone know of any benefits to switching to Symbicort? I have used Advair for almost a year now and I love it. It has made a huge difference in my quality of life; however, I have one of those PIKO hand held FEV1 monitoring systems and I notice that a few times during the day my FEV1 drops significantly. For example, it will drop after being in an air conditioned room. My pulmonologist told me to try Symbicort but not to use it as a rescue inhaler just use it 2x day and night. When I tried it for one day, I did not feel near as well as I had on Advair and was SOB later that night. Can anyone help me understand in layman's terms the benefits of using Symbicort over Advair? Am I missing something? Has anyone switched from Advair that can recommend an easy transition? If you use Symbicort, do you use it more than 2x per day? I just want to have a more consistent FEV1!
 

Skye

New member
Does anyone know of any benefits to switching to Symbicort? I have used Advair for almost a year now and I love it. It has made a huge difference in my quality of life; however, I have one of those PIKO hand held FEV1 monitoring systems and I notice that a few times during the day my FEV1 drops significantly. For example, it will drop after being in an air conditioned room. My pulmonologist told me to try Symbicort but not to use it as a rescue inhaler just use it 2x day and night. When I tried it for one day, I did not feel near as well as I had on Advair and was SOB later that night. Can anyone help me understand in layman's terms the benefits of using Symbicort over Advair? Am I missing something? Has anyone switched from Advair that can recommend an easy transition? If you use Symbicort, do you use it more than 2x per day? I just want to have a more consistent FEV1!
 

Skye

New member
Does anyone know of any benefits to switching to Symbicort? I have used Advair for almost a year now and I love it. It has made a huge difference in my quality of life; however, I have one of those PIKO hand held FEV1 monitoring systems and I notice that a few times during the day my FEV1 drops significantly. For example, it will drop after being in an air conditioned room. My pulmonologist told me to try Symbicort but not to use it as a rescue inhaler just use it 2x day and night. When I tried it for one day, I did not feel near as well as I had on Advair and was SOB later that night. Can anyone help me understand in layman's terms the benefits of using Symbicort over Advair? Am I missing something? Has anyone switched from Advair that can recommend an easy transition? If you use Symbicort, do you use it more than 2x per day? I just want to have a more consistent FEV1!
 

Skye

New member
Does anyone know of any benefits to switching to Symbicort? I have used Advair for almost a year now and I love it. It has made a huge difference in my quality of life; however, I have one of those PIKO hand held FEV1 monitoring systems and I notice that a few times during the day my FEV1 drops significantly. For example, it will drop after being in an air conditioned room. My pulmonologist told me to try Symbicort but not to use it as a rescue inhaler just use it 2x day and night. When I tried it for one day, I did not feel near as well as I had on Advair and was SOB later that night. Can anyone help me understand in layman's terms the benefits of using Symbicort over Advair? Am I missing something? Has anyone switched from Advair that can recommend an easy transition? If you use Symbicort, do you use it more than 2x per day? I just want to have a more consistent FEV1!
 

Skye

New member
Does anyone know of any benefits to switching to Symbicort? I have used Advair for almost a year now and I love it. It has made a huge difference in my quality of life; however, I have one of those PIKO hand held FEV1 monitoring systems and I notice that a few times during the day my FEV1 drops significantly. For example, it will drop after being in an air conditioned room. My pulmonologist told me to try Symbicort but not to use it as a rescue inhaler just use it 2x day and night. When I tried it for one day, I did not feel near as well as I had on Advair and was SOB later that night. Can anyone help me understand in layman's terms the benefits of using Symbicort over Advair? Am I missing something? Has anyone switched from Advair that can recommend an easy transition? If you use Symbicort, do you use it more than 2x per day? I just want to have a more consistent FEV1!
 

rockingdog

New member
I switched from Advair to Symbicort two months ago and love it. But my situation was not the same as yours. I had developed an allergic reaction to Advair. Symbicort has been working great for me and helped me reduce xopenex intake.

I can answer some of your questions, but can't tell you what to do.

First, Advair and Symbicort are the same concept of a long-acting Beta-agonist and steroid. They use different meds to do the same thing. Also, Symbicort is a HFA, though advair is available in one too, but normally Rx'ed as an MDI.

Thus, as they are the same concept, Symbicort may only be used twice a day, like advair.

Did you switch to the same or similar dose? My allergist told me to start with the highest dose when switching. Also, you take two puffs of the symbicort each time, unlike the advair MDI, which is one breath. Did you take two puffs? Also, is one day enough of a trial? What dose of Advair are you on?

So, to answer your last question, there may be no benefit of Symbicort over advair for you. But make sure you tried the correct dose and for longer than a day.
 

rockingdog

New member
I switched from Advair to Symbicort two months ago and love it. But my situation was not the same as yours. I had developed an allergic reaction to Advair. Symbicort has been working great for me and helped me reduce xopenex intake.

I can answer some of your questions, but can't tell you what to do.

First, Advair and Symbicort are the same concept of a long-acting Beta-agonist and steroid. They use different meds to do the same thing. Also, Symbicort is a HFA, though advair is available in one too, but normally Rx'ed as an MDI.

Thus, as they are the same concept, Symbicort may only be used twice a day, like advair.

Did you switch to the same or similar dose? My allergist told me to start with the highest dose when switching. Also, you take two puffs of the symbicort each time, unlike the advair MDI, which is one breath. Did you take two puffs? Also, is one day enough of a trial? What dose of Advair are you on?

So, to answer your last question, there may be no benefit of Symbicort over advair for you. But make sure you tried the correct dose and for longer than a day.
 

rockingdog

New member
I switched from Advair to Symbicort two months ago and love it. But my situation was not the same as yours. I had developed an allergic reaction to Advair. Symbicort has been working great for me and helped me reduce xopenex intake.

I can answer some of your questions, but can't tell you what to do.

First, Advair and Symbicort are the same concept of a long-acting Beta-agonist and steroid. They use different meds to do the same thing. Also, Symbicort is a HFA, though advair is available in one too, but normally Rx'ed as an MDI.

Thus, as they are the same concept, Symbicort may only be used twice a day, like advair.

Did you switch to the same or similar dose? My allergist told me to start with the highest dose when switching. Also, you take two puffs of the symbicort each time, unlike the advair MDI, which is one breath. Did you take two puffs? Also, is one day enough of a trial? What dose of Advair are you on?

So, to answer your last question, there may be no benefit of Symbicort over advair for you. But make sure you tried the correct dose and for longer than a day.
 

rockingdog

New member
I switched from Advair to Symbicort two months ago and love it. But my situation was not the same as yours. I had developed an allergic reaction to Advair. Symbicort has been working great for me and helped me reduce xopenex intake.

I can answer some of your questions, but can't tell you what to do.

First, Advair and Symbicort are the same concept of a long-acting Beta-agonist and steroid. They use different meds to do the same thing. Also, Symbicort is a HFA, though advair is available in one too, but normally Rx'ed as an MDI.

Thus, as they are the same concept, Symbicort may only be used twice a day, like advair.

Did you switch to the same or similar dose? My allergist told me to start with the highest dose when switching. Also, you take two puffs of the symbicort each time, unlike the advair MDI, which is one breath. Did you take two puffs? Also, is one day enough of a trial? What dose of Advair are you on?

So, to answer your last question, there may be no benefit of Symbicort over advair for you. But make sure you tried the correct dose and for longer than a day.
 

rockingdog

New member
I switched from Advair to Symbicort two months ago and love it. But my situation was not the same as yours. I had developed an allergic reaction to Advair. Symbicort has been working great for me and helped me reduce xopenex intake.

I can answer some of your questions, but can't tell you what to do.

First, Advair and Symbicort are the same concept of a long-acting Beta-agonist and steroid. They use different meds to do the same thing. Also, Symbicort is a HFA, though advair is available in one too, but normally Rx'ed as an MDI.

Thus, as they are the same concept, Symbicort may only be used twice a day, like advair.

Did you switch to the same or similar dose? My allergist told me to start with the highest dose when switching. Also, you take two puffs of the symbicort each time, unlike the advair MDI, which is one breath. Did you take two puffs? Also, is one day enough of a trial? What dose of Advair are you on?

So, to answer your last question, there may be no benefit of Symbicort over advair for you. But make sure you tried the correct dose and for longer than a day.
 

Skye

New member
So your allergist put you on Symbicort? I am wondering if I should see an allergist. I asked my CF care center about it and they basically said it would probably be a hassle for very little benefit<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">, in a nutshell. I was on 100/50 Advair when I tried the Symbicort at the lower dose. Do you mind me asking why you switched to Symbicort. I don't want to go through the hassle of switching and adjusting if I stand to gain no benefit<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> Thank you so much for your reply!
 

Skye

New member
So your allergist put you on Symbicort? I am wondering if I should see an allergist. I asked my CF care center about it and they basically said it would probably be a hassle for very little benefit<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">, in a nutshell. I was on 100/50 Advair when I tried the Symbicort at the lower dose. Do you mind me asking why you switched to Symbicort. I don't want to go through the hassle of switching and adjusting if I stand to gain no benefit<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> Thank you so much for your reply!
 

Skye

New member
So your allergist put you on Symbicort? I am wondering if I should see an allergist. I asked my CF care center about it and they basically said it would probably be a hassle for very little benefit<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">, in a nutshell. I was on 100/50 Advair when I tried the Symbicort at the lower dose. Do you mind me asking why you switched to Symbicort. I don't want to go through the hassle of switching and adjusting if I stand to gain no benefit<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> Thank you so much for your reply!
 

Skye

New member
So your allergist put you on Symbicort? I am wondering if I should see an allergist. I asked my CF care center about it and they basically said it would probably be a hassle for very little benefit<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">, in a nutshell. I was on 100/50 Advair when I tried the Symbicort at the lower dose. Do you mind me asking why you switched to Symbicort. I don't want to go through the hassle of switching and adjusting if I stand to gain no benefit<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> Thank you so much for your reply!
 

Skye

New member
So your allergist put you on Symbicort? I am wondering if I should see an allergist. I asked my CF care center about it and they basically said it would probably be a hassle for very little benefit<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">, in a nutshell. I was on 100/50 Advair when I tried the Symbicort at the lower dose. Do you mind me asking why you switched to Symbicort. I don't want to go through the hassle of switching and adjusting if I stand to gain no benefit<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> Thank you so much for your reply!
 

rockingdog

New member
I was allergic to advair and it wasn't covering my asthma.

The cf doc missed the problem completely and had chalked up my declining lung function to CF. He was wrong. It was asthma.

My cf doc had me on the 100/50 dose of advair too. The asthma/allergy doc said that's the wrong way to start inhaled steroids. You start with the high dose and go lower to see what dose is correct and "maintains."

FYI. 100/50 is a dose for children. If you like advair, perhaps a higher dose is necessary? The older I get the more I like more than one opinion from doctors. Remember, CF is a disease of inflammation.

FYI. The A/A doc also gave me pulmocort respules to do once a day, too.
 

rockingdog

New member
I was allergic to advair and it wasn't covering my asthma.

The cf doc missed the problem completely and had chalked up my declining lung function to CF. He was wrong. It was asthma.

My cf doc had me on the 100/50 dose of advair too. The asthma/allergy doc said that's the wrong way to start inhaled steroids. You start with the high dose and go lower to see what dose is correct and "maintains."

FYI. 100/50 is a dose for children. If you like advair, perhaps a higher dose is necessary? The older I get the more I like more than one opinion from doctors. Remember, CF is a disease of inflammation.

FYI. The A/A doc also gave me pulmocort respules to do once a day, too.
 

rockingdog

New member
I was allergic to advair and it wasn't covering my asthma.

The cf doc missed the problem completely and had chalked up my declining lung function to CF. He was wrong. It was asthma.

My cf doc had me on the 100/50 dose of advair too. The asthma/allergy doc said that's the wrong way to start inhaled steroids. You start with the high dose and go lower to see what dose is correct and "maintains."

FYI. 100/50 is a dose for children. If you like advair, perhaps a higher dose is necessary? The older I get the more I like more than one opinion from doctors. Remember, CF is a disease of inflammation.

FYI. The A/A doc also gave me pulmocort respules to do once a day, too.
 

rockingdog

New member
I was allergic to advair and it wasn't covering my asthma.

The cf doc missed the problem completely and had chalked up my declining lung function to CF. He was wrong. It was asthma.

My cf doc had me on the 100/50 dose of advair too. The asthma/allergy doc said that's the wrong way to start inhaled steroids. You start with the high dose and go lower to see what dose is correct and "maintains."

FYI. 100/50 is a dose for children. If you like advair, perhaps a higher dose is necessary? The older I get the more I like more than one opinion from doctors. Remember, CF is a disease of inflammation.

FYI. The A/A doc also gave me pulmocort respules to do once a day, too.
 

rockingdog

New member
I was allergic to advair and it wasn't covering my asthma.

The cf doc missed the problem completely and had chalked up my declining lung function to CF. He was wrong. It was asthma.

My cf doc had me on the 100/50 dose of advair too. The asthma/allergy doc said that's the wrong way to start inhaled steroids. You start with the high dose and go lower to see what dose is correct and "maintains."

FYI. 100/50 is a dose for children. If you like advair, perhaps a higher dose is necessary? The older I get the more I like more than one opinion from doctors. Remember, CF is a disease of inflammation.

FYI. The A/A doc also gave me pulmocort respules to do once a day, too.
 
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