Symbicortbudesonide + formoterol
According to the FDA label: SYMBICORT is a combination product containing a corticosteroid and a long-acting beta 2 -adrenergic agonist indicated for: • Treatment of asthma in patients 6 years of age and older. ( 1.1 ) • Maintenance treatment of airflow obstruction and reducing exacerbations in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) including chronic bronchitis and/or emphysema. ( 1.2 ) Important limitations: • Not indicated for the relief of acute bronchospasm.
95,181 adverse event reports submitted to the FDA (2004–2026)
Top Reported Adverse Events
The most frequently reported events in association with Symbicort in the FAERS database. These are events reported by patients taking this medication, not necessarily caused by it. A single report may include multiple events.
Show these terms with plain-language definitions
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Dyspnoea 17,588 reports
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. Also spelled dyspnea in American English.
Full definition in the glossary → See all drugs reporting this event →Asthma 11,965 reports
A condition where the airways narrow and swell, causing wheezing and difficulty breathing.
Full definition in the glossary →Cough 7,830 reports
A reflex that clears the throat or airways.
Full definition in the glossary → See all drugs reporting this event →Drug Ineffective 6,733 reports
A report that the medication did not work as expected for the person taking it. This is a reporting category, not a sign the drug is defective. It simply means someone felt it was not helping their condition.
Full definition in the glossary →Off Label Use 5,866 reports
Using a medication for a condition or in a way that the FDA has not officially approved. This is common and often legal, and a report of it does not mean something went wrong. Doctors sometimes prescribe drugs off label based on their judgment.
Full definition in the glossary →Pneumonia 5,750 reports
An infection that inflames the air sacs in the lungs, which can cause cough, fever, and difficulty breathing.
Full definition in the glossary →Wheezing 5,696 reports
A whistling sound when breathing, usually a sign the airways are narrowed.
Full definition in the glossary →Fatigue 5,338 reports
Extreme tiredness or lack of energy that does not improve with rest.
Full definition in the glossary → See all drugs reporting this event →Malaise 4,564 reports
A general feeling of being unwell or uncomfortable, without a specific symptom.
Full definition in the glossary →Headache 4,498 reports
Pain in the head or upper neck.
Full definition in the glossary → See all drugs reporting this event →Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 4,016 reports
A long-term lung condition, often called COPD, that makes breathing difficult. It often appears in reports as a condition being treated.
Full definition in the glossary →Nausea 3,946 reports
The feeling of sickness in your stomach that often comes before vomiting.
Full definition in the glossary → See all drugs reporting this event →Death 3,783 reports
A report that the person died. A death appearing in reports for a drug does not mean the drug caused it. Reports record that a death occurred while the medication was being used, which can happen for many unrelated reasons.
Full definition in the glossary →Drug Dose Omission 3,643 reports
A report that a dose of medication was missed or skipped.
Full definition in the glossary →Intentional Product Misuse 3,552 reports
A report that a medication was deliberately used in a way other than directed. This is a usage category describing what happened, not a judgment.
Full definition in the glossary →
Ranked by frequency of reports, not severity. The most-reported event is not necessarily the most dangerous or the most common in patients taking this drug.
Who Is Reporting
Demographics of patients in FAERS reports that included this information. Not all reports include patient demographics.
By Sex
View reporter sex data as a table
| Sex | Reports |
|---|---|
| Female | 56,063 |
| Male | 31,542 |
| Unknown | 108 |
By Age Group
View age group data as a table
| Age group | Reports |
|---|---|
| 0-17 | 1,912 |
| 18-34 | 3,356 |
| 35-49 | 7,149 |
| 50-64 | 17,230 |
| 65-74 | 13,590 |
| 75+ | 10,450 |
This shows who filed reports, reflecting who takes this drug and who tends to report, not who is at greatest risk.
Reported Outcomes
Outcomes recorded in FAERS reports that included Symbicort. A single report may involve multiple reactions, each with a different outcome. These categories are defined by FDA reporting guidelines, not by PillSignal.
View outcome data as a table
| Outcome | Reports |
|---|---|
| Non-Serious | 37,383 |
| Other Serious | 36,368 |
| Hospitalization | 27,944 |
| Death | 6,630 |
| Life-Threatening | 2,559 |
| Disability | 1,941 |
Serious outcomes are far more likely to be reported than mild ones, so this overstates how often outcomes are serious. A recorded death does not mean the drug caused it.
Report Volume Over Time
Number of FAERS reports received per quarter for Symbicort. Changes in volume may reflect shifts in prescribing rates, media attention, or reporting behavior, not changes in the medication's safety profile.
View report trend as a table
| Year | Reports |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 50 |
| 2005 | 84 |
| 2006 | 122 |
| 2007 | 385 |
| 2008 | 1,061 |
| 2009 | 1,443 |
| 2010 | 2,521 |
| 2011 | 3,765 |
| 2012 | 4,860 |
| 2013 | 2,977 |
| 2014 | 4,356 |
| 2015 | 5,965 |
| 2016 | 7,207 |
| 2017 | 6,586 |
| 2018 | 7,229 |
| 2019 | 7,850 |
| 2020 | 8,937 |
| 2021 | 6,802 |
| 2022 | 5,612 |
| 2023 | 5,464 |
| 2024 | 5,810 |
| 2025 | 4,890 |
| 2026 (partial) | 1,205 |
The steep increase around 2004 reflects the FDA's move to electronic submission, not a change in this drug's safety. Trends track reporting volume, not risk.
Medications commonly reported with Symbicort
In FDA adverse event reports that mention Symbicort, these medications appeared most often in the same report.
- Albuterol (26,500 reports)
- Tiotropium (16,792 reports)
- Prednisone (12,559 reports)
- Montelukast (12,517 reports)
- Omeprazole (9,295 reports)
This reflects co-occurrence in submitted reports, not evidence of drug interaction or combined risk. People often report several medications taken for the same condition or for unrelated reasons. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist about your specific medications.
Related Drugs
Other medications with similar adverse event profiles in FDA FAERS reports.
Data Source
This data is sourced from the FDA's Adverse Event Monitoring System (AEMS), formerly FAERS, via the OpenFDA API. PillSignal is not affiliated with the FDA.
View this data on the FDA website →Data last updated: June 2026