Skip to content
ppharmaranks
Menu

symbicort aerosphere

Pharmaranks rates Symbicort Aerosphere 3.5/5 for recall safety — an independent score from its FDA recall history and its manufacturer's record. Symbicort Aerosphere is a combination medicine containing Budesonide and Formoterol Fumarate.

Budesonide and Formoterol Fumarate · by Astrazeneca

70/100Limited · 1 source

Based on 1 source · Recall-safety score from FDA recall history — this product's own recalls and its manufacturer's record. Not an efficacy or quality rating. methodology →

Rated against independent regulatory sources·Last updated August 19, 2026·How we rate
Verified againstopenFDANIH DailyMedRxClass

Key facts

Active ingredient
Budesonide and Formoterol Fumarate
Form
Spray/Inhaler, metered
Strength
Budesonide 0.08MG/INH; Formoterol Fumarate 0.0048MG/INH · Budesonide 0.16MG/INH; Formoterol Fumarate 0.0048MG/INH
Type
Prescription (Rx)
Brand or generic
Brand-name
Manufacturer
Astrazeneca
Half-life
about 2 to 3.6 hours (terminal elimination half-life, measured after intravenous dosing) (how long it stays in your system)
What the pharmacy pays
~$0.75 per ml — not your price
FDA application
NDA216579

How long does Budesonide and Formoterol Fumarate stay in your body?

The elimination half-life of budesonide and formoterol fumarate is about 2 to 3.6 hours (terminal elimination half-life, measured after intravenous dosing) — the time it takes the body to clear about half of it. As a rule of thumb, a medicine is mostly gone after roughly 4 to 5 half-lives, though this varies from person to person with age and kidney or liver function. The label reports the true (terminal) plasma elimination half-life from IV dosing as 2 to 3.6 hours, the same in healthy adults and Crohn's disease patients. The APPARENT half-life after ORAL dosing is longer — mean 6.3 ± 1.6 hours (range 2 to 8 hours) after a single 9 mg dose in healthy fasted subjects — because absorption is slower than elimination (flip-flop kinetics), not because the drug lingers; use the ~2–3.6 h IV figure as the elimination half-life. Budesonide is NOT a prodrug and has NO longer-lasting active metabolite: its two major CYP3A4 metabolites (6β-hydroxy budesonide and 16α-hydroxy prednisolone) have negligible corticosteroid activity (<1/100 of the parent). Liver impairment: budesonide is a high-hepatic-clearance drug, so systemic exposure rises with impaired liver function — patients with moderate impairment (Child-Pugh B) had a 3.5-fold higher AUC than those with normal liver function, and the label says to avoid use in severe impairment (Child-Pugh C). Kidney impairment: the label gives no PK half-life change (budesonide is cleared hepatically, not renally). Older adults: the label states studies did not include enough patients aged 65+ to characterize any difference. This is an elimination half-life, not a drug-test detection window and not dosing guidance.

This is general information, not medical advice. It doesn’t tell you when a drug test would read negative (tests detect substances for different, often longer, windows) or when it’s safe to take another dose — ask your pharmacist or prescriber. Source: Budesonide (oral) FDA label, §12.3 Pharmacokinetics — DailyMed.

Dosage forms

Spray/Inhaler, metered

The forms currently marketed in the U.S., per the FDA National Drug Code Directory.

Ways to save

Ask for the generic

Same active ingredient, far cheaper. Is there a generic? →

Request a 90-day supply

Bulk fills usually lower the per-dose price vs monthly refills.

Use copay cards

Manufacturer copay cards & patient-assistance programs — especially for brand drugs.

Compare alternatives

A same-class option may cost less. See alternatives →

Frequently asked questions

How is Symbicort Aerosphere rated?
pharmaranks gives Symbicort Aerosphere a composite score of 3.5 out of 5, currently based on 1 weighted source (FDA regulatory recall-safety data weighted highest). See our methodology at /how-we-rate.
How much does Symbicort Aerosphere cost?
Nobody can tell you what you will pay — your price is set by your insurer's formulary, your deductible and the pharmacy's markup, and none of those are published. What IS published is what the pharmacy paid to acquire it: about $0.75 per ml, per the CMS NADAC survey. Treat that as the floor, not the quote — ask the pharmacist for the cash price as well as your copay, because for cheap generics the cash price often wins.
Is there a coupon or discount for Symbicort Aerosphere?
pharmaranks is an independent ratings site, not a pharmacy — we don't issue coupons or sell Symbicort Aerosphere. To pay less, ask your prescriber or pharmacist whether a generic equivalent exists, check the manufacturer's copay/savings card and patient-assistance program, and compare a pharmacy discount card against your insurance copay. Prices vary by pharmacy, insurance, and location, so always confirm at the counter. This is general reference, not medical or financial advice.
Who makes Symbicort Aerosphere?
Symbicort Aerosphere is marketed by Astrazeneca. You can see Astrazeneca's full profile, rating, and other products on pharmaranks.
Is Symbicort Aerosphere a brand-name or generic drug?
Symbicort Aerosphere is a brand-name product with the active ingredient Budesonide and Formoterol Fumarate.
Is Symbicort Aerosphere available over the counter?
No. Symbicort Aerosphere is a prescription (Rx) medication in the US — you need a prescription from a licensed clinician (in person or via telehealth); it isn't sold over the counter. For some conditions there are OTC alternatives — ask your pharmacist.
What forms does Symbicort Aerosphere come in?
Symbicort Aerosphere is currently marketed as spray/inhaler, metered, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory.
Is Symbicort Aerosphere FDA-registered?
Symbicort Aerosphere is on record with the U.S. FDA under application number NDA216579. You can verify this on its official FDA label.
Has Symbicort Aerosphere been recalled by the FDA?
Symbicort Aerosphere has no FDA recalls recorded under its own application in the openFDA enforcement database. Its recall-safety score reflects its manufacturer's overall recall record. This is general reference, not medical advice — check the FDA recall database for the latest alerts.
Is Symbicort Aerosphere safe?
There's no single safe-or-not verdict. pharmaranks gives Symbicort Aerosphere a recall-safety score of 70/100, based on its FDA recall history (no recalls under its own FDA application) — not an efficacy or side-effect rating. Review its FDA-label side effects and warnings before use, and always consult a licensed professional.

Information is sourced from public FDA regulatory data. Provided for general reference only — not medical advice. Always consult a licensed professional and the current prescribing information.

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to write one.

Write a review

Reviews are user opinions, not medical advice. Consult a licensed professional.

People also viewed

Compare Symbicort Aerosphere head-to-head

Identify a pill by its imprint →Check a drug interaction →Drug recalls →

Browse medications A–Z

Research products from A to Z, compare independent ratings, and find alternatives.

symbicort aerosphere

70/100