4 Ways to Put Yourself First | SYMBICORT® (budesonide/formoterol fumarate dihydrate) Inhalation Aerosol

PUTTINGYOURSELF FIRST

Have you ever heard people say, “Put yourself first and everything else will fall into place?” But how often do you think about yourself and what you need?

Stop for a second now and consider it. When was the last time you did something for yourself, or made the things that matter to you your top priority?

It’s easy to get swept along in life, dealing with an endless list of everyday tasks. And if you’re used to taking care of other people, you may sometimes just forget to look after yourself.

How to uncover your personal motivation

Putting yourself first isn’t about being selfish or ignoring other people’s needs. It’s about giving yourself the space to take care of your emotional and physical health and generally being kind to yourself so you can flourish.

Here are some ideas to help you put yourself first:

HAVE FUN

Set aside time each day to do something you enjoy, even if it’s just ten minutes of reading or listening to the radio.

PRIORITIZE

Try out the Imagining Your “Trade-Offs” Suitcase activity. This might help you re-prioritize your days.

PRACTICE SAYING “NO”

If you really don’t have the time or don't want to do something, don’t be afraid to say “no.” Here are some tips on how.

GET SUPPORT

Remember: you don’t have to manage your breathing difficulty on your own. There are lots of different options for getting support—talk to your doctor about them.

SYMBICORT combines an ICS, budesonide and a LABA medicine, formoterol. LABA medicines, such as formoterol, when used alone can increase the risk of hospitalizations and death from asthma problems. When an ICS and LABA are used together, this risk is not significantly increased
Do not use SYMBICORT for sudden severe symptoms of COPD or asthma
Before you use SYMBICORT, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you have heart conditions or high blood pressure, and all the medicines you may be taking. Some patients taking SYMBICORT may experience increased blood pressure, heart rate, or change in heart rhythm
Do not use SYMBICORT more often than prescribed. SYMBICORT should be taken as 2 puffs 2 times each day
While taking SYMBICORT, do not use another medicine containing a LABA for any reason. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist if any of your other medicines are LABA medicines
Call your healthcare provider or get medical care right away if:
- Your breathing problems worsen
- You need to use your rescue inhaler more often than usual or your rescue inhaler doesn’t work as well at relieving symptoms
SYMBICORT may cause serious side effects, including:
- Using too much of a LABA medicine may cause chest pain, fast and irregular heartbeat, tremor, increased blood pressure, headache or nervousness
- Fungal infection in your mouth or throat (thrush). Rinse your mouth with water without swallowing after using SYMBICORT to help reduce your chance of getting thrush
- Pneumonia and other lower respiratory tract infections. People with COPD may have a higher chance of pneumonia and other lung infections. ICS may increase the chance of getting pneumonia. Call your healthcare provider if you notice any of the following symptoms: increase in mucus production or change in color, fever, increased cough, chills, or increased breathing problems
- Immune system effects and a higher chance for infections. Tell your healthcare provider about any signs of infection such as: fever, body aches, feeling tired, vomiting, pain, chills, or nausea
- Adrenal insufficiency. This can happen when you stop taking oral corticosteroid medicines and start inhaled corticosteroid medicine
- Increased wheezing right after taking SYMBICORT. Always have a rescue inhaler with you to treat sudden wheezing
- Serious allergic reactions including rash, hives, swelling of the face, mouth, and tongue, and breathing problems. Call your healthcare provider or get emergency medical care if you get any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction
- Lower bone mineral density can happen in people who have a high chance for low bone mineral density (osteoporosis)
- Slowed growth in children. A child’s growth should be checked regularly while using SYMBICORT
- Eye problems including glaucoma and cataracts. You should have regular eye exams while using SYMBICORT
- Swelling of blood vessels. This can happen in people with asthma. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have: a feeling of pins and needles or numbness of arms or legs, rash, flu like symptoms, or pain and swelling of the sinuses
- Decreases in blood potassium levels (hypokalemia)
- Increases in blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia)
The most common side effects of SYMBICORT include:
- COPD: throat irritation, thrush in the mouth and throat, bronchitis, sinusitis, and upper respiratory tract infection
- Asthma: throat irritation, headache, upper respiratory tract infection, throat pain, sinusitis, flu, back pain, nasal congestion, stomach discomfort, vomiting, and thrush in the mouth and throat

APPROVED USES

COPD: SYMBICORT 160/4.5 mcg is used long-term to improve symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including chronic bronchitis and emphysema, for better breathing and fewer flare-ups.

Asthma: SYMBICORT is for the treatment of asthma in patients 6 years and older whose asthma is not well‐controlled with an asthma-control medicine such as an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) or whose asthma warrants treatment with both an ICS and a long-acting beta₂-adrenergic agonist (LABA).

SYMBICORT is not used to relieve sudden breathing problems and will not replace a rescue inhaler.

Please see full Prescribing Information and Patient Information, and discuss with your doctor.

You may report side effects related to AstraZeneca products by clicking here.

SYMBICORT combines an ICS, budesonide and a LABA medicine, formoterol. LABA medicines, such as formoterol, when used alone can increase the risk of hospitalizations and death from asthma problems. When an ICS and LABA are used together, this risk is not significantly increased
Do not use SYMBICORT for sudden severe symptoms of COPD or asthma
Before you use SYMBICORT, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you have heart conditions or high blood pressure, and all the medicines you may be taking. Some patients taking SYMBICORT may experience increased blood pressure, heart rate, or change in heart rhythm
Do not use SYMBICORT more often than prescribed. SYMBICORT should be taken as 2 puffs 2 times each day
While taking SYMBICORT, do not use another medicine containing a LABA for any reason. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist if any of your other medicines are LABA medicines
Call your healthcare provider or get medical care right away if:
- Your breathing problems worsen
- You need to use your rescue inhaler more often than usual or your rescue inhaler doesn’t work as well at relieving symptoms
SYMBICORT may cause serious side effects, including:
- Using too much of a LABA medicine may cause chest pain, fast and irregular heartbeat, tremor, increased blood pressure, headache or nervousness
- Fungal infection in your mouth or throat (thrush). Rinse your mouth with water without swallowing after using SYMBICORT to help reduce your chance of getting thrush
- Pneumonia and other lower respiratory tract infections. People with COPD may have a higher chance of pneumonia and other lung infections. ICS may increase the chance of getting pneumonia. Call your healthcare provider if you notice any of the following symptoms: increase in mucus production or change in color, fever, increased cough, chills, or increased breathing problems
- Immune system effects and a higher chance for infections. Tell your healthcare provider about any signs of infection such as: fever, body aches, feeling tired, vomiting, pain, chills, or nausea
- Adrenal insufficiency. This can happen when you stop taking oral corticosteroid medicines and start inhaled corticosteroid medicine
- Increased wheezing right after taking SYMBICORT. Always have a rescue inhaler with you to treat sudden wheezing
- Serious allergic reactions including rash, hives, swelling of the face, mouth, and tongue, and breathing problems. Call your healthcare provider or get emergency medical care if you get any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction
- Lower bone mineral density can happen in people who have a high chance for low bone mineral density (osteoporosis)
- Slowed growth in children. A child’s growth should be checked regularly while using SYMBICORT
- Eye problems including glaucoma and cataracts. You should have regular eye exams while using SYMBICORT
- Swelling of blood vessels. This can happen in people with asthma. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have: a feeling of pins and needles or numbness of arms or legs, rash, flu like symptoms, or pain and swelling of the sinuses
- Decreases in blood potassium levels (hypokalemia)
- Increases in blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia)
The most common side effects of SYMBICORT include:
- COPD: throat irritation, thrush in the mouth and throat, bronchitis, sinusitis, and upper respiratory tract infection
- Asthma: throat irritation, headache, upper respiratory tract infection, throat pain, sinusitis, flu, back pain, nasal congestion, stomach discomfort, vomiting, and thrush in the mouth and throat