Struggling to find Symbicort at your pharmacy? Learn why this popular asthma and COPD inhaler is hard to find in 2026 and what you can do about it.
You went to pick up your Symbicort inhaler and the pharmacist told you it's out of stock. Maybe they said it would take a few days — or they weren't sure when it would be back. If this sounds familiar, you're not imagining things. Many patients across the country have been struggling to find Symbicort (budesonide/formoterol) at their local pharmacies.
In this article, we'll explain what Symbicort is, why it's been difficult to find, and — most importantly — what steps you can take right now to get your medication.
Symbicort is a prescription inhaler made by AstraZeneca. It contains two active ingredients:
Symbicort is FDA-approved for the maintenance treatment of asthma in patients aged 6 and older and for COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. It comes as a metered-dose inhaler (MDI) in two strengths: 80/4.5 mcg and 160/4.5 mcg.
Millions of Americans rely on Symbicort every day to keep their breathing under control. So when supply gets tight, the impact is real and stressful.
There isn't one single reason Symbicort has been hard to find. It's a combination of factors that have been building over the past few years.
The pharmaceutical supply chain has faced ongoing challenges since 2023. Inhaler manufacturing is complex — it involves specialized propellants, precise aerosol engineering, and strict FDA quality standards. Any disruption at the manufacturing level can ripple through to pharmacy shelves for weeks or months.
Inhaler manufacturers have been transitioning to new propellants that are better for the environment. While this is a positive change, retooling production lines takes time and can temporarily reduce output. This transition has affected multiple inhaler brands, not just Symbicort.
Asthma and COPD diagnoses continue to rise in the United States. According to the CDC, over 25 million Americans have asthma, and roughly 16 million have been diagnosed with COPD. As more patients need combination inhalers like Symbicort, demand can outpace supply — especially during respiratory illness season (fall and winter).
When insurance companies shift their preferred inhalers on formulary lists, patients may suddenly switch to or away from Symbicort. These waves of demand changes can create temporary shortages at pharmacies that weren't stocking enough of a particular inhaler.
If you're having trouble finding Symbicort, don't panic. Here are practical steps you can take today:
Tools like Medfinder let you check which pharmacies near you currently have Symbicort in stock. Instead of calling pharmacy after pharmacy, you can search once and see your options.
Big chain pharmacies often run out of popular medications first because they serve more patients. Independent and compounding pharmacies sometimes have better availability because they manage their own inventory directly with wholesalers.
A generic version of Symbicort (budesonide/formoterol) is now available under the brand name Breyna, along with authorized generics. These contain the same active ingredients and may be easier to find — and more affordable. Talk to your doctor about whether a generic or alternative inhaler could work for you.
If your inhaler is running low, don't wait until it's empty. Call your doctor's office as soon as you notice supply issues. They may be able to prescribe a substitute or send your prescription to a different pharmacy that has it in stock.
The FDA maintains a drug shortage database that tracks which medications are currently in short supply. Knowing the official status can help you plan ahead.
Having trouble finding your Symbicort inhaler is frustrating, especially when you depend on it to breathe. The good news is that supply is gradually improving, generic options are available, and tools exist to help you find what you need faster.
If you're looking for Symbicort right now, search Medfinder to check real-time availability at pharmacies near you. And if cost is also a concern, check out our guide on how to save money on Symbicort in 2026.
You focus on staying healthy. We'll handle the rest.
Try Medfinder Concierge FreeMedfinder's mission is to ensure every patient gets access to the medications they need. We believe this begins with trustworthy information. Our core values guide everything we do, including the standards that shape the accuracy, transparency, and quality of our content. We’re committed to delivering information that’s evidence-based, regularly updated, and easy to understand. For more details on our editorial process, see here.
%2C%20Color%3DOriginal.png)
