Symbicort is a cost-effective medication. Symbicort is designed for patients who need both an inhaled steroid and a long-acting ß2-agonist.

A study of 342 patients in Sweden compared the cost-effectiveness of two inhalations of Symbicort 160/4.5µg twice daily with the corresponding doses of Pulmicort and Oxis in separate inhalers. Symbicort significantly reduced the overall cost of treating asthma by SEK 1884 per patient per year compared with budesonide plus formoterol via separate inhalers, while demonstrating at least as good safety and efficacy. (Rosenhall et al, 2003).

Overall healthcare costs with adjustable maintenance dosing have been studied in two large studies.This treatment approach with Symbicort is more cost effective than fixed dosing with Symbicort (Ställberg et al 2003) or Seretide (Aalbers et al 2004).