Description
Same active ingredient (budesonide/formoterol) as Symbicort®, the US brand. Foracort Inhaler 200 mcg is an Indian brand, made and licensed in India. Compare all Generic Symbicort (Budesonide/Formoterol) options.
About Foracort Inhaler 200 mcg
Foracort Inhaler 200 mcg is a prescription metered-dose inhaler containing budesonide 200 mcg and formoterol fumarate 6 mcg in each puff, made by Cipla Limited, used for the long-term control of asthma and for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It is the middle strength of the range and the one most often prescribed to adults. In the US the same two ingredients are sold as Symbicort, and this strength broadly corresponds to Symbicort 160/4.5 mcg, whose label counts the dose leaving the mouthpiece rather than the metered dose. Foracort itself is an Indian brand, made in India.
Key facts
| Active ingredients | Budesonide 200 mcg + formoterol 6 mcg per puff |
|---|---|
| Form | Pressurized inhaler, 120 metered puffs |
| Usual dose | 1–2 puffs twice daily for asthma; 2 puffs twice daily for COPD |
| Onset | Airways open within minutes; steroid benefit builds over 1–2 weeks |
| Duration | About 12 hours per dose |
| Age | Adults and adolescents 12 and over |
How does it work?
Budesonide, a corticosteroid, reduces the long-standing inflammation that leaves airways swollen, twitchy and clogged with mucus. Formoterol, a long-acting bronchodilator, relaxes the airway muscle quickly and keeps it relaxed through the day or night. For many people, adding formoterol to a steroid controls asthma better than simply raising the steroid dose, with fewer attacks as a result.
Foracort 200 for COPD
For COPD, the standard regimen is two puffs twice daily. Formoterol eases breathlessness by widening narrowed airways, while budesonide helps reduce flare-ups in people who have them often. It works alongside, not instead of, quitting smoking, vaccinations and pulmonary rehabilitation. Inhaled steroids slightly raise the risk of pneumonia in COPD, so call your doctor if you develop fever, chills, a change in the color or amount of phlegm, or worsening breathlessness.
How to use it well
Shake the canister, breathe out fully, then close your lips around the mouthpiece and press once as you begin a slow, deep breath. Hold that breath for up to 10 seconds, wait half a minute before any second puff, and finish by rinsing your mouth and spitting. Prime a brand-new inhaler with two sprays into the air. Wipe the mouthpiece with a dry cloth once a week, and write the start date on the box: at two puffs twice daily, the 120 puffs run out after 30 days.
Maintenance and reliever therapy
For asthma only, some doctors prescribe this strength as a single inhaler for regular doses and for extra puffs when symptoms appear. On this plan adults rarely need more than 8 puffs a day in total; up to 12 may be used for short periods, and needing that many means you should see your doctor soon. People with COPD should keep a separate quick-relief inhaler.
What are the side effects?
- Mouth and throat: hoarseness, throat irritation and thrush.
- From formoterol: tremor, palpitations, headache and muscle cramps.
- Occasional: agitation, poor sleep, nausea and bruising.
- Rare: raised blood sugar, low potassium, and cataract or glaucoma with long-term use.
Seek emergency care for sudden wheezing right after using the inhaler, swelling of the face or throat, chest pain, a racing or irregular pulse, or breathlessness that your reliever does not help.
Who should not use Foracort 200?
It is not suitable for anyone allergic to either ingredient, or as the only treatment for a severe attack. Use it with care if you have heart disease, an irregular rhythm or a long QT interval, uncontrolled high blood pressure, thyroid overactivity, diabetes or an active lung infection. Important interactions include beta-blockers, other long-acting bronchodilators, and antifungals or HIV medicines that block CYP3A4. Diuretics, theophylline and oral steroids can add to the potassium-lowering effect of formoterol.
Pack sizes and storage
Sold as 1, 2 or 3 inhalers of 120 puffs each, from $14. Keep below 86°F (30°C), protect from heat and freezing, and do not pierce or incinerate the canister.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a spacer with it?
Yes. A spacer helps more medicine reach the lungs and leaves less in the throat.
Are other strengths available?
Foracort Inhaler 100 mcg suits step-down treatment, and Foracort Inhaler 400 mcg carries a higher steroid dose.
Is there a capsule version?
Foracort Rotacaps 200 mcg provide the same doses as a dry powder. See every option in the respiratory category.
This page is educational and cannot replace a consultation. Foracort Inhaler 200 mcg is a prescription medicine, so follow the dose on your prescription label.
Helpful guides
- Asthma vs COPD: What’s the Difference? Causes, Tests and TreatmentAsthma often starts in childhood and its airway narrowing largely reverses with treatment, while COPD usually follows years of smoking and causes…
- Foracort vs Symbicort: How These Budesonide/Formoterol Inhalers CompareForacort and Symbicort both combine budesonide with formoterol. Compare makers, strengths, devices, dosing, reliever (SMART) use and side effects.
- Types of Asthma Inhalers: Relievers, Preventers and How to Use Them CorrectlyLearn the types of asthma inhalers (relievers, preventers and combination inhalers), how each one works, and step-by-step tips for correct inhaler technique.