What is budesonide inhalation?
Budesonide is a steroid. It prevents the release of substances in the body that cause
inflammation.
Budesonide inhalation is used to prevent asthma attacks. It will not treat an asthma attack that
has already begun.
Budesonide may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking budesonide inhalation?
You should not take this medication if you are allergic to budesonide, or if you are having
an acute asthma attack.
Before using budesonide inhalation, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you
have:
-
liver disease;
-
osteoporosis;
-
herpes simplex infection of your eyes;
-
any type of bacterial, fungal, or viral infection; or
-
a history of tuberculosis.
FDA pregnancy category B. This medication is not expected to be
harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during
treatment.
Budesonide can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this
medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Budesonide can affect growth in children. Talk with your doctor if you think your child is not
growing at a normal rate while using this medication.
Do not give this medicine to a child younger than 6 years old without the advice of a doctor.
Long-term use of steroids may lead to bone loss (osteoporosis), especially if you smoke, if you
do not exercise, if you do not get enough vitamin D or calcium in your diet, or if you have a family
history of osteoporosis. Talk with your doctor about your risk of osteoporosis.
How should I take budesonide inhalation?
Use this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not use the medication in larger
amounts, or use it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your
prescription label.
Do not
use budesonide inhalation to treat an asthma attack that has
already begun. It will not work fast enough to reverse your symptoms. Use only a fast-acting inhalation
medicine to treat an asthma attack.
Budesonide inhalation comes with patient instructions for safe and effective use, and directions
for priming the inhaler device. Follow these directions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you
have any questions.
To reduce the chance of developing a yeast infection in your mouth, rinse your mouth with
water after using budesonide inhalation. If you are using a nebulizer with a face mask, wash the mask
area of your face after each use.
If you also use a steroid medication, do not stop using the steroid suddenly or you may have
unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Talk with your doctor about taking less and less of the steroid
before stopping completely.
Contact your doctor if your asthma symptoms do not improve after using budesonide inhalation
for 2 weeks.
Asthma is usually treated with a combination of different drugs. To best treat your condition, use
all of your medications as directed by your doctor. Do not change your doses or medication schedule
without advice from your doctor.
Your dosage needs may change if you have surgery, are ill, are under stress, or have recently
had an asthma attack. Talk with your doctor if any of your asthma medications do not seem to work as
well in treating or preventing asthma attacks.
Call your doctor right away if you feel that this medicine makes your condition worse. If it
seems like you need to use more of any of your medications in a 24-hour period, talk with your doctor.
To be sure budesonide inhalation is not causing harmful effects, your doctor will need to check
your progress on a regular basis. Do not miss any scheduled appointments.
Using a steroid can lower the blood cells that help your body fight infections. This can make it
easier for you to get sick from being around others who are ill.
Store this medication at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Keep the cover
on your inhaler device while not in use.
Keep the strip of
Pulmicort Respules
in the foil envelope, protected from
light until you are ready to use the medication. After tearing off one ampule, return the strip to the
envelope to protect the remaining ampules from light. Store the foil envelope upright. Once you have
opened an envelope, you must use the ampules within 2 weeks.
Both the
Flexhaler
and
Turbuhaler
devices have indicator
marks to show you how many doses are left inside. Get your prescription refilled before you run out of
medicine completely. Throw the old inhaler device away. It is a disposable container and cannot be
refilled with budesonide.
What happens if I miss a dose of budesonide inhalation?
Use the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until
then to use the medicine and skip the missed dose.
Do not
use extra medicine to
make up the missed dose.
Where can I get more information about budesonide inhalation?
Your pharmacist has information about budesonide inhalation written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of budesonide inhalation?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these
signs of an allergic
reaction:
hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
-
weakness, tired feeling, nausea, vomiting, feeling like you might
pass out;
-
wheezing or breathing problems after using this
medication;
-
worsening respiratory symptoms;
-
ear pain with fever;
-
vision problems; or
-
changes in the shape or location of body fat (especially in
your arms, legs, face, neck, breasts, and waist).
Less serious side effects may include:
-
white patches or sores inside your mouth or on your lips;
-
runny or stuffy nose, sneezing;
-
sore throat, cough;
-
nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain;
-
nosebleed; or
-
headache.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your
doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at
1-800-FDA-1088.
What is the most important information I should know about budesonide inhalation?
Do not
use budesonide inhalation to treat an asthma attack that has
already begun. It will not work fast enough to reverse your symptoms. Use only a fast-acting inhalation
medicine to treat an asthma attack.
Contact your doctor if your asthma symptoms do not improve after using budesonide inhalation
for 2 weeks.
Call your doctor right away if you think any of your asthma medications are not working as
well as usual. An increased need for medication could be an early sign of a serious asthma attack.
Your dosage needs may change if you have surgery, are ill, are under stress, or have recently
had an asthma attack. Talk with your doctor if any of your asthma medications do not seem to work as
well in treating or preventing asthma attacks.
If you also use a steroid medication, do not stop using the steroid suddenly or you may have
unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Talk with your doctor about taking less and less of the steroid
before stopping completely.
What should I avoid while taking budesonide inhalation?
Avoid being near people who are sick or have infections. Call your doctor for preventive
treatment if you are exposed to chicken pox or measles. These conditions can be serious or even fatal
in people who are using steroid medication.
What other drugs will affect budesonide inhalation?
The following drugs can interact with budesonide. Tell your doctor if you are using any of these:
-
HIV /AIDS medicine such as nelfinavir (Viracept) or ritonavir
(Norvir);
-
an antibiotic such as clarithromycin (Biaxin), erythromycin
(E.E.S., E-Mycin, Ery-Tab, Erythrocin), or troleandomycin (Tao);
-
an antifungal medication such as itraconazole (Sporanox)
or ketoconazole (Nizoral);
-
an "SSRI" antidepressant such as fluoxetine (Prozac),
fluvoxamine (Luvox), or paroxetine (Paxil); or
-
a tricyclic antidepressant such as amitriptyline (Elavil,
Etrafon), doxepin (Sinequan), imipramine (Janimine, Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), and
others.
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with
budesonide inhalation. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications,
vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new
medication without telling your doctor.
What happens if I have an overdose of budesonide inhalation?