Patient was educated on Symbicort and its mechanism of action as follows:

1. Symbicort is a combination inhaler medication of Formoterol, a long acting bronchodilator and Budesonide, a steroid.
2. The steroid Budesonide reduces the release of chemical mediators of inflammation and reduce the swelling of the airways. Budesonide also controls the mucus production in the airways. Controlling all the major elements of inflammation in the airways, budesonide exerts an anti-inflammatory action, thus helping breathing in individuals with asthma and COPD.
3. Contraction of the bronchial smooth muscle with narrowing of the airways is the major pathology in individuals with history of asthma and COPD. The bronchodilator Formoterol activates Beta-2 receptors and inhibits phosphorylation of myosin, the contractile protein of the muscle. This inhibits the contraction and promotes relaxation of the bronchial smooth muscle, thus helping breathing in individuals with asthma and COPD.
4. As Symbicort contains a long-acting bronchodilator, this cannot help resolve any acute episode of asthma and so, cannot be used as a rescue medication. It is used to relieve chronic persistent inflammation of airways and to prevent any exacerbation of episodes of asthma and COPD.