Maintenance inhalers play a crucial role in preventing flare-ups of chronic lung conditions. These include asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Symbicort (budesonide / formoterol) is a popular maintenance inhaler.

Knowing how to use Symbicort is key to getting the most out of your inhaler. You should always follow your prescriber's instructions. But the inhaler's manufacturer provides standard dosage information. Below, we cover typical Symbicort dosages for adults and children - plus what to do if you forget a dose.

What's the typical Symbicort dosage for adults?

The typical adult Symbicort dosage is two puffs inhaled twice a day. Ideally, you should separate doses by about 12 hours. This helps provide consistent effects.

Symbicort comes in two doses:

• 80 mcg of budesonide / 4.5 mcg formoterol (written on the package as "Symbicort 80/4.5")

• 160 mcg of budesonide / 4.5 mcg formoterol (written on the package as "Symbicort 160/4.5")

The specific dose you're prescribed will depend on why you're using Symbicort and the severity of your symptoms. Adults with asthma may start with either dose. Your dose may be raised or lowered depending on your symptoms.

Symbicort 160/4.5 is recommended for adults with COPD. The lower dose isn't effective for most people with this lung condition.

How to use Symbicort

Symbicort is an L-shaped metered dose inhaler. You use it similarly to many commonly prescribed rescue inhalers, such as albuterol (Proventil HFA).

To use Symbicort, follow these steps:

1. Stand or sit upright.

2. Hold the inhaler so the mouthpiece is on the bottom and positioned horizontally.

3. If this is the first time you're using this inhaler, you'll need to "prime" it. You should also do this if you haven't used it in the past 7 days or if you drop it. To prime Symbicort, shake it for 5 seconds. Remove the mouthpiece cover, point it away from yourself and others, and press the top of the inhaler down. This releases a test spray. Repeat this step again so that you've released two test sprays.

4. When you're ready to use Symbicort, shake the inhaler for about 5 seconds.

5. Remove the mouthpiece cover (if it's not already following inhaler priming).

6. Breathe out fully. Bring Symbicort to your mouth, and close your lips around the mouthpiece.

7. Start breathing in slowly through your mouth. As you breathe in, press the top of the inhaler down to release a spray of medication. Continue breathing in fully and deeply.

8. Remove the inhaler from your mouth. Hold your breath for 10 seconds or as long as you can.

9. Breathe out. Replace the mouthpiece cover.

10. Wait 1 minute, and repeat steps 4 to 9 to inhale your second puff.

After you use a dose (two puffs) of Symbicort, rinse your mouth with water and spit it out. This helps prevent a fungal infection of the mouth and throat called oral thrush.

Good to know: To help keep your Symbicort inhaler working properly, you should clean it once a week. Use a clean, dry cloth, such as a paper towel, to wipe the inhaler's mouthpiece. Don't put Symbicort in water or try to take it apart.

What's the Symbicort dosage for children?

Symbicort is FDA approved to treat asthma in children ages 6 years and older. The Symbicort dosage for children is two puffs inhaled twice a day. Separate doses by about 12 hours. Follow the instructions above for how to use Symbicort.

The lower dose (Symbicort 80/4.5) is recommended for children ages 6 to 11. Adolescents 12 and older can use the 80/4.5 or 160/4.5 dose depending on how severe their symptoms are. Be sure your child rinses their mouth with water and spits it out after each dose of Symbicort.

It can be tricky for children to time their breaths when using Symbicort. Consider asking their prescriber about using an inhaler spacer. This is a plastic tube that you place on the inhaler's mouthpiece before they use it. It allows them to breathe in their inhaler doses at their own speed.

Can you take Symbicort as needed for asthma attacks?

Symbicort isn't FDA approved to be used as needed for asthma attacks. But evidence suggests that using Symbicort as both a maintenance and a rescue inhaler is as effective as using two separate inhalers.

Keep in mind that your insurance may not cover Symbicort (or its generics) in this manner. You may want to check with your prescriber and insurance plan before using the inhaler this way.

Are there any dosage adjustments for health conditions?

No. There are no medical conditions, such as liver or kidney disease, that would require you to make Symbicort dosage adjustments. If you're using Symbicort to manage asthma, your prescriber may alter your dose if the severity of your symptoms changes.

What happens if you miss a dose of Symbicort?

If you miss a dose of Symbicort, skip it. Just use your next dose at its usual time. Don't double up or use extra Symbicort to make up for missed doses. Doing this can raise your risk of certain side effects.

What should you do if you take too much Symbicort?

Using an extra dose of Symbicort by mistake is unlikely to harm you. But you may experience more side effects than usual. These include headache and an elevated heart rate.

Clinical studies haven't found Symbicort overdoses to cause serious harm. But it's still a good idea to contact a healthcare professional if you or someone you know has taken an excessive amount of Symbicort. You can also contact Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 for guidance.

How to save on Symbicort

There are many ways to save on Symbicort, which is available as a brand-name and generic medication.

• Save with GoodRx. GoodRx can help you save over 70% off the average retail price of the generic version. Generic Symbicort's price at certain pharmacies is as low as $97.09with a free GoodRx discount. Breyna (another generic version of Symbicort) may be as low as $60.77.

• Save with a copay savings card. If you have commercial insurance, you may be eligible to pay as little as $35 for brand-name Symbicort or as little as $20 for Breyna using a savings card from the manufacturer.

• Save with patient assistance programs. If you're uninsured or underinsured, you may be eligible for Breyna's patient assistance program, which offers the medication for free.