{"id":634001,"date":"2025-10-20T16:15:17","date_gmt":"2025-10-20T20:15:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=634001"},"modified":"2025-10-20T16:15:17","modified_gmt":"2025-10-20T20:15:17","slug":"breyna-vs-symbicort","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/breyna-vs-symbicort\/","title":{"rendered":"Breyna vs. Symbicort: Differences and similarities explained"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you have <\/span>asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)<\/span><\/a>, you probably know that maintenance combination inhalers can significantly improve symptoms. <\/span>Symbicort<\/span><\/a> is a brand-name combination inhaler with two active ingredients\u2014budesonide and formoterol\u2014that reduce lung inflammation and open airways. Symbicort is also available in <\/span>generic forms<\/span><\/a>, including unbranded budesonide-formoterol and a trademarked generic, <\/span>Breyna<\/span><\/a>, which is the same drug made by a different manufacturer.\u00a0<\/span>Keep reading to find out the differences and similarities between Breyna and Symbicort.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Symbicort and Breyna similarities<\/span><\/h2>\n

Breyna is a generic version of Symbicort<\/a>, and generic drugs must have<\/span> the same active ingredients, strength, and administration form as their brand-name version, so these two drugs are nearly identical. <\/span><\/p>\n

Both <\/span>Symbicort<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Breyna<\/span><\/a> are combination inhalers that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat <\/span>asthma<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>chronic obstructive pulmonary disease<\/span><\/a> (COPD). They both contain budesonide (an <\/span>inhaled corticosteroid<\/span><\/a>, or ICS) and formoterol (a <\/span>long-acting beta agonist<\/span><\/a>, or LABA). They both reduce inflammation in the lungs and relax airways, allowing for easier breathing. Symbicort and Breyna also have the same <\/span>standard dosages<\/span><\/a>: Two inhalations, or puffs, twice daily from either an 80\/4.5 mcg\/act or 160\/4.5 mcg\/act inhaler (four puffs per day). <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI consider Breyna as equivalent to Symbicort,\u201d says Jimmy Johannes<\/a>, MD, a board-certified pulmonologist at MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center in California.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Symbicort and Breyna key differences<\/span><\/h2>\n

Remember, Breyna is an FDA-approved <\/span>generic version of Symbicort<\/span><\/a>. Generic drugs are essentially <\/span>copies of brand-name drugs<\/span><\/a> that are allowed to be brought to market after the manufacturer\u2019s patent has expired for the brand-name drug. However, there are a few small differences between Symbicort and Breyna:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n