How often per day can i safely take symbicort (budesonide and formoterol)? i read a study that it is being used as relief med concurrently as a long acting steroid in europe.

Twice a day: Symbicort (budesonide and formoterol) is an controller inhaler used to treat asthma. It contains 2 medications, an inhaled steroid and an inhaled long acting bronchodilator. It should be used twice a day everyday for maintenance of your asthma. Some authors advocate it to be used as needed in exercise induced asthma but not much data to support this treatment yet.

Twice daily: The "relief" portion of this medication was pulled off the market in the us by the fda when a higher frequency of asthma deaths were seen with its use. It is approved for twice daily use.