← All medications

Formoterol

Medication long-acting beta-2 agonist respiratory
Aka: eformoterol, Symbicort, Oxis
Brands seen in Singapore: Symbicort, Foster, DuoResp Spiromax, Flutiform, Breztri Aerosphere
Not medical advice. Check with your doctor or pharmacist before you start, stop or change the timing of anything you take.
How to use
What it’s for
Asthma and copd — SG products pair it with a steroid
When to take
Inhaled twice daily, or as needed in reliever regimens
Take with
Inhaled · label: rinse mouth after the maintenance dose
Pros & cons
Pros
  • SG label: onset of effect within 1–3 minutes
  • SG label: bronchodilation for at least 12 hours
  • FDA label: reduces copd exacerbations as maintenance
Cons
  • FDA label: laba alone raises serious asthma events
  • FDA label: not indicated for acute bronchospasm
  • FDA label: oral thrush; in copd, pneumonia risk
Sources
  1. HSA — Listing of Registered Therapeutic Products (data.gov.sg open dataset, 5,511 rows, cached in full and filtered locally) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “All 17 registered products containing formoterol are fixed-dose combinations with an inhaled corticosteroid and every row reads Forensicclassification 'Prescription Only' — SIN11681P SYMBICORT TURBUHALER 160/4.5 · SIN13932P Foster · SIN16056P DUORESP SPIROMAX · SIN14550P FLUTIFORM”
  2. Singapore National Drug Formulary (HSA/MOH) — SYMBICORT TURBUHALER 160/4.5 MCG/DOSE [SIN11681P], section 4.2 Posology · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Not more than 6 inhalations should be taken on any single occasion. A total daily dose of more than 8 inhalations is normally not needed, however a total daily dose of up to 12 inhalations can be used temporarily.”
  3. Singapore National Drug Formulary — SYMBICORT TURBUHALER 160/4.5 [SIN11681P], onset and duration · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “The formoterol component in Symbicort Turbuhaler provides fast onset of effect (within 1–3 minutes) with long-acting (at least 12 hours after a single dose) bronchodilation in reversible airways obstruction.”
  4. Singapore National Drug Formulary — SYMBICORT TURBUHALER 160/4.5 [SIN11681P], instructions for correct use · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Rinse the mouth with water after inhaling the maintenance dose to minimise the risk of oropharyngeal thrush.”
  5. Singapore National Drug Formulary — SYMBICORT TURBUHALER 160/4.5 [SIN11681P], section 4.3 Contraindications · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Hypersensitivity (allergy) to budesonide, formoterol or lactose (which contains small amounts of milk proteins).”
  6. US FDA label for SYMBICORT (budesonide and formoterol fumarate dihydrate), section 1 Indications and Usage, via openFDA · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “SYMBICORT is a combination product containing a corticosteroid and a long-acting beta2-adrenergic agonist indicated for: Treatment of asthma in patients 6 years of age and older … SYMBICORT is NOT indicated for the relief of acute bronchospasm.”
  7. US FDA label for SYMBICORT, section 1.2 Maintenance Treatment of COPD, via openFDA · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “SYMBICORT 160/4.5 is indicated for the maintenance treatment of airflow obstruction in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) … SYMBICORT 160/4.5 is also indicated to reduce exacerbations of COPD.”
  8. US FDA label for SYMBICORT, section 2.2 Asthma dosage, via openFDA · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “The maximum recommended dosage in adult and adolescent patients 12 years and older is SYMBICORT 160/4.5, two inhalations twice daily.”
  9. US FDA label for SYMBICORT, section 5 Warnings and Precautions, via openFDA · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Serious asthma-related events: Long-acting beta2-adrenergic agonists as monotherapy increase the risk … Use with additional long-acting beta2-agonist: Do not use in combination because of risk of overdose … Patients with cardiovascular or central nervous system disorders: Use with caution”
  10. US FDA label for SYMBICORT, section 6 Adverse Reactions, via openFDA · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Most common adverse reactions (incidence > 3%) are: Asthma: nasopharyngitis, headache, upper respiratory tract infection … and oral candidiasis. COPD: nasopharyngitis, oral candidiasis, bronchitis, sinusitis, upper respiratory tract infections.”
  11. US FDA label for SYMBICORT, section 7 Drug Interactions, via openFDA · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Monoamine oxidase inhibitors and tricyclic antidepressants: Use with extreme caution. May potentiate effect of formoterol on vascular system … Beta-blockers: Use with caution. May block bronchodilatory effects of beta-agonists and produce severe bronchospasm.”
  12. US FDA label for SYMBICORT, section 7 Drug Interactions (CYP3A4 and diuretics), via openFDA · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Strong cytochrome P450 3A4 inhibitors (e.g., ritonavir): Use with caution. May cause increased systemic corticosteroid effects … Diuretics: Use with caution. Electrocardiographic changes and/or hypokalemia … may worsen with concomitant beta-agonists.”
  13. US FDA label for SYMBICORT, section 4 Contraindications, via openFDA · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Primary treatment of status asthmaticus or other acute episodes of asthma or COPD where intensive measures are required. Hypersensitivity to any of the ingredients in SYMBICORT.”
Report a correction View as JSON

Updated 2026-08-29. Every line above traces to a numbered source. Kozen-X is not a medical device and does not give medical advice. It lists what published sources have written down — nothing more. A pair not listed is unrecorded, not cleared. Before you start, stop or re-time anything, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.