Symbicort Rapihaler Patient Counseling Information

YOUR INHALER: Your inhaler will already be assembled when you first receive it. Please do not take your inhaler apart. If it becomes loose, then place it back and continue to use it as instructed.
PREPARING YOUR INHALER FOR USE: Take your inhaler out of the moisture-protective foil before you use it for the first time and throw away the foil. If your inhaler is new, if it has not been used for a week or more, or it has been dropped, shake it gently and release 2 puffs in the air to prepare it for use.
TAKING YOUR MEDICINE: 1. Shake the inhaler gently before each use.
2. Remove the mouthpiece cover by squeezing gently at both sides, then pulling out.
3. Hold the inhaler upright in front of your mouth, using your thumb(s) at the base of the inhaler and your index finger(s) on the top. Then breathe out as far as you can and put the mouthpiece gently in your mouth, between your teeth, and close your lips around it.
4. Start to breathe in deeply, comfortably and slowly through your mouth, press firmly down on the inhaler to release a puff of medicine.
5. Continue to breathe in and hold breath for approximately 10 seconds or as long as it is comfortable, take the inhaler from your mouth and your finger from the top of the inhaler.
6. Take another puff, as directed by your doctor, shake the inhaler gently then repeat steps 3 to 5.
7. Put the mouthpiece cover back to keep dust and other debris from getting into your medicine.
8. Rinse your mouth with water to remove any excess medicine. Do not swallow.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION: CLEANING INSTRUCTIONS: Your inhaler mouthpiece will need to be cleaned regularly, at least once a week and to do this you will need to: 1. Remove the mouthpiece cover.
2. Wipe the inside and outside of the mouthpiece opening with a clean, dry cloth.
3. Replace the mouthpiece cover.
4. Do not put the inhaler in water.
5. Do not try to take the inhaler apart.
READING THE COUNTER: The arrow on the counter on the top of the inhaler points to the number of puffs remaining in your inhaler. It starts with 120 puffs when it is full.
The counter will count down toward zero ("0") each time you release a puff of medicine (either when preparing your inhaler for use or when taking the medicine).
When the arrow on the counter enters the yellow area, this means that there are about 20 puffs left.
It is very important that you note the number of puffs remaining in your SYMBICORT inhaler by reading the counter. Discard SYMBICORT after the counter reaches zero ("0"), indicating that you have used the number of puffs on the product label and box. Your inhaler may not feel empty and it may continue to operate, but you will not get the right amount of medicine if you keep using it.