Common uses

Budesonide is used to prevent and reduce symptoms (wheezing and shortness of breath) caused by asthma. Controlling breathing problems may decrease lost time from work or school. This medication belongs to a class of drugs known as corticosteroids. It works directly in the lungs to make breathing easier by reducing the irritation and swelling of the airways.

Before using

You should not take Pulmicort if you are allergic to budesonide, or if you are having an acute asthma attack.
Before using Pulmicort, 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. Pulmicort is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. Pulmicort can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use Pulmicort without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Pulmicort can affect growth in children. Talk with your doctor if you think your child is not growing at a normal rate while using Pulmicort.
Do not give Pulmicort 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.

Directions

This medication is inhaled into the lungs using a special inhaling device. Follow the directions for using this medicine provided by your doctor. This medicine comes with a patient information leaflet. Read it carefully. If you are not sure how to use this device, reread the patient information leaflet or ask your pharmacist. After the dose is loaded, breathe out. Place the mouthpiece between your lips and breathe in rapidly and deeply through your mouth. The drug will be inhaled as you breathe in. Hold your breath for 10 seconds to assure it reaches deep into your lungs. Slowly breathe out. Do not exhale into device. Replace the cover. If the inhaler device is dropped, shaken, or you accidentally breathe into the device after the dose has been loaded, you will lose your dose. Load and inhale another dose. Do not use the inhaler if it has been damaged or if the mouthpiece has become detached. If two inhalations are prescribed, wait at least one minute between inhalations. If using other inhalers, use this one (the corticosteroid) last and wait several minutes after using the other(s) before using this one. To prevent dry mouth and hoarseness, rinse your mouth after each use. Do not swallow the rinse solution. It is important to practice good oral hygiene to prevent mouth infections while using this medication. This medication works best if used consistently at even intervals. It is usually used once in the morning and evening. Do not increase your dose, use this more frequently or stop using this medication without first consulting your doctor.

Cautions

Do not use Pulmicort 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 Pulmicort 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.

Possible side effects

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 Pulmicort;
• 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. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

If you take too much

An overdose of Pulmicort is not expected to produce life-threatening symptoms. However, long-term use of high steroid doses can lead to symptoms such as thinning skin, easy bruising, changes in the shape or location of body fat (especially in your face, neck, back, and waist), increased acne or facial hair, menstrual problems, impotence, or loss of interest in sex.

Additional information

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.

Drug interactions

The following drugs can interact with Pulmicort. 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), itraconazole (Sporanox), ketoconazole (Nizoral), or troleandomycin (Tao);
• 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 Pulmicort. 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.