Budesonide is a corticosteroid mostly prescribed by doctors to prevent symptoms of asthma particularly:

• Shortness of breath
• Wheezing

Budesonide is effective in making breathing easier by lessening the swelling and irritation of the airways. It is available as a nasal spray, inhaler and pill form. The inhaled form is for long-term management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD and asthma.

Budesonide is a corticosteroid that functions in various ways including the control of inflammatory responses. Upon taking this medicine, it is absorbed into the cells of the airways and lungs. It stops the cells from releasing chemicals that usually causes immune and allergic responses which results in inflammation.  Budesonide works by hindering chemicals from being on the loose in the lungs. This lowers swelling and makes it easier for air to get in and out.

When and How to Use Budesonide

The dosage for Budesonide is based on your condition being treated and your response to the drug. For Budesonide inhalation, usually, this prescription is inhaled twice each day.

Try to use it at the same time and in the same way each day. During asthma attacks, your healthcare provider will recommend you a short-acting inhaler to use. Let your doctor know if you condition gets worse.

Possible Side Effects of Budesonide

Common side effects:

• Loss of appetite
• Diarrhea
• Stomach pain
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Headache
• Difficulty falling asleep
• Back or neck pain
• Nose bleeds
• Ear infections

Serious side effects that may need medical assistance:

• Changes in vision
• Weakness
• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Tiredness
• Anxiety
• Chills, fever, and other signs of infection
• Chest pain
• Cough
• Wheezing
• Difficulty swallowing or breathing
• Hoarseness
• Itching, hives, or rash
• Sores in your mouth
• Swelling of the tongue, face, throat, hands, or eyes
  

What Should I Know Before Taking Budesonide

• Tell your doctor if you are allergic to Budesonide, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in Budesonide.
• Tell your doctor what non-prescription and prescription medications, nutritional supplements, vitamins, and herbal products you have recently taken or currently taking. Your doctor might need to change the doses of your prescriptions or monitor you carefully for side effects.
• Call your doctor if you have an asthma attack that does not stop when using the fast-acting asthma medication.
• Tell your doctor if you or anyone in your family had osteoporosis and if you ever had tuberculosis in your lungs or liver disease. Similarly, let your doctor know if you have any untreated infection.
• Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding, planning to become pregnant, or pregnant. Call your doctor right away if you become pregnant while using this medicine.
• If you have any other medical conditions such as arthritis, asthma, or eczema they may worsen when your oral steroid dose is reduced. Call your doctor right away if you get sick and make sure that they know that you just substituted your oral steroid with Budesonide
• Tell your doctor if you had measles or chickenpox and you haven’t yet vaccinated against these infections. Stay far from those who are sick. If you are exposed to one of these infections, call your doctor right away. You may need treatment to protect you from these infections.
• Know that this prescription sometimes causes difficulty breathing and wheezing right after it is inhaled. If this occurs, use your fast-acting asthma medicine right away and call your doctor. Do not use Budesonide again unless your doctor tells you to do so.
  

Getting the Best Result from Budesonide

• Use your medication every day for it to work, even if you do not have any symptoms.
• Do not change your dose or stop taking the prescription without first consulting your doctor. Your doctor may gradually lessen the amount of drug you are using before stopping it completely.
• Your doctor might be different from others with the same condition as yours. Better to follow your doctor’s prescription for best results.
• Do not double the dose if you missed one.
• Let your doctor know right away if you have experienced unusual side effects while taking Budesonide.
• If you have agreed with a personal action plan with your doctor, follow it carefully.
• Carefully keep your remedy on its safe place, far from moisture or excess heat.