Learn more about usage, cautions, and possible side effects .
Chemical Name: BUDESONIDE (byoo-DESS-oh-nide)
This medicine is a corticosteroid used for the long-term treatment of asthma and prevention of asthma in children 1 to 8 years old. It may also be used to treat other conditions as determined by your doctor.
WARNING: USE CAUTION IF YOU SWITCH FROM AN ORAL STEROID (eg, prednisone) to this medicine. It may take several months for your body to make enough natural steroids to handle events that cause physical stress. Such events may include injury, surgery, infection, loss of blood electrolytes, or a sudden asthma attack. These may be severe and sometimes fatal. Contact your doctor right away if any of these events occur. You may need to take an oral steroid again. Carry a card at all times that says you may need an oral steroid if any of these events occur. Some medicines or medical conditions may interact with this medicine. INFORM YOUR DOCTOR OR PHARMACIST of all prescription and over-the-counter medicine that you are taking. DO NOT TAKE THIS MEDICINE IF you are taking mifepristone. ADDITIONAL MONITORING OF YOUR DOSE OR CONDITION may be needed if you are taking cimetidine, clarithromycin, steroidal contraceptives (eg, birth control pills), imidazole antifungals (eg, ketoconazole, itraconazole), barbiturates (eg, phenobarbital), carbamazepine, hydantoins (eg, phenytoin), rifampin, anticoagulants (eg, warfarin), live vaccines, quinolones (eg, ciprofloxacin), ritodrine, or interleukin-2. DO NOT START OR STOP any medicine without doctor or pharmacist approval. Inform your doctor of any other medical conditions, including glaucoma; cataracts; weak bones (osteoporosis); a herpes eye infection; a bacterial, fungal, parasitic, or viral infection; diarrhea; measles; tuberculosis; chicken pox; shingles; allergies; pregnancy; or breast-feeding. Tell your doctor if you have had a positive TB skin test, have recently been vaccinated, or will be having surgery. This medicine should not be used in CHILDREN younger than 12 months old; safety and effectiveness in these children have not been established. Contact your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions or concerns about using this medicine.
Follow the directions for using this medicine provided by your doctor. AN EXTRA PATIENT LEAFLET is available with this medicine. Talk to your pharmacist if you have questions about this information. This medicine is to be used in a jet nebulizer. Do NOT use this medicine in an ultrasonic nebulizer. OPEN THE ALUMINUM FOIL ENVELOPE and remove 1 ampule. Record the date that you open the foil on the back of the envelope. Once the foil is open, the unused ampules should be used within 2 weeks. ONCE AN AMPULE IS OPENED, use the medicine immediately or discard. GENTLY SHAKE THE AMPULE, and then squeeze the contents into the nebulizer. DO NOT MIX this medicine with other medicines in the nebulizer. Connect the nebulizer to the air pump and begin treatment as directed. Breathe calmly and evenly. When there is no more mist in the nebulizer chamber, the treatment is complete. RINSE THE MOUTH WITH WATER (without swallowing) after each treatment to help prevent mouth infections. Make sure to wash the face after using a face mask. AFTER USE, wash the reservoir of the nebulizer, mouth piece, and mask according to the manufacturer's directions. Rinse well and dry. STORE THIS MEDICINE at room temperature, between 68 and 77 degrees F (20 and 25 degrees C), in the foil envelope. Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not refrigerate or freeze. Do not store in the bathroom. IMPROVEMENT MAY BE SEEN within 2 to 8 days after beginning treatment, although the full benefit may not be seen for 4 to 6 weeks after starting treatment. If the asthma symptoms do not improve in 4 to 6 weeks or if they get worse, contact your health care provider. CONTINUE TO USE THIS MEDICINE even if you feel well. Do not miss any doses. IF YOU MISS A DOSE OF THIS MEDICINE, use it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not use 2 doses at once.
DO NOT USE THIS MEDICINE IF you are allergic to any ingredient in this medicine. LAB TESTS may be performed while you use this medicine. These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments. THIS MEDICINE WILL NOT STOP AN ASTHMA ATTACK. Be sure to carry a short-acting bronchodilator inhaler with you at all times to treat any breathing problems that may occur between doses of this medicine (eg, severe or sudden onset wheezing or shortness of breath). If you have questions about which medicines stop asthma attacks, check with your doctor or pharmacist. TELL YOUR DOCTOR OR DENTIST THAT YOU TAKE THIS MEDICINE before you receive any medical or dental care, emergency care, or surgery. USE CAUTION IF YOU SWITCH FROM AN ORAL STEROID (eg, prednisone) to this medicine. It may take several months for your body to make enough natural steroids to handle events that cause physical stress. Such events may include injury, surgery, infection, loss of blood electrolytes, or a sudden asthma attack. These may be severe and sometimes fatal. Contact your doctor right away if any of these events occur. You may need to take an oral steroid again. Carry a card at all times that says you may need an oral steroid if any of these events occur. THIS MEDICINE MAY LOWER THE ABILITY OF YOUR BODY TO FIGHT INFECTION. Avoid contact with people who have colds or infections. Tell your doctor if you notice signs of infection like fever, sore throat, rash, or chills. IF YOU HAVE NOT HAD CHICKENPOX, SHINGLES, OR MEASLES, avoid contact with anyone who does. Tell your doctor right away if you are exposed to anyone who has these infections. DO NOT RECEIVE A LIVE VACCINE (eg, measles, mumps) while you are taking this medicine. Talk with your doctor before you receive any vaccine. TELL YOUR DOCTOR AT ONCE IF YOU NOTICE that your short-acting bronchodilator inhaler does not work as well, if you need to use it often, or if you have a decrease in your peak flow meter results. CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR OR SEEK MEDICAL CARE right away if you have breathing problems that worsen quickly, or if you use your short-acting bronchodilator and do not get relief. THIS MEDICINE MAY SOMETIMES CAUSE BREATHING PROBLEMS RIGHT AFTER YOU USE A DOSE. If this happens, use your short-acting bronchodilator. Contact your doctor or seek other medical care at once. BEFORE YOU BEGIN TAKING ANY NEW MEDICINES, either prescription or over-the-counter, check with your doctor or pharmacist. Corticosteroids may affect growth rate in CHILDREN and teenagers in some cases. They may need regular growth checks while they use this medicine. FOR WOMEN: IF YOU BECOME PREGNANT, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using this medicine while you are pregnant. IT IS UNKNOWN IF THIS MEDICINE IS FOUND in breast milk. IF YOU ARE OR WILL BE BREAST-FEEDING while you use this medicine, check with your doctor. Discuss any possible risks to your baby.
SIDE EFFECTS that may occur while taking this medicine include cough; diarrhea; nosebleed; runny or stuffy nose; or throat irritation. If they continue or are bothersome, check with your doctor. CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY if you experience bone or joint pain; depression; ear pain or discharge; fainting; increased wheezing; infection (fever, chills, persistent cough or sore throat); mental or mood changes (eg, aggressiveness, anxiety, irritability); red, swollen, itchy, or watery eyes; severe dizziness; sudden weight loss; tightness in the lungs; unusual weakness; vision changes; or white patches in the mouth or throat. AN ALLERGIC REACTION to this medicine is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue; unusual hoarseness. This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your healthcare provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Drug interactions can result in unwanted side effects or prevent a medicine from doing its job. Use our drug interaction checker to find out if your medicines interact with each other. Check drug interactions
If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately.
CARRY AN ID CARD at all times that says you take this medicine. TALK WITH YOUR DOCTOR OR PHARMACIST ABOUT ALL OF YOUR ASTHMA MEDICINES and how to use them. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any asthma medicine unless your doctor tells you to. DO NOT SHARE THIS MEDICINE with others for whom it was not prescribed. DO NOT USE THIS MEDICINE for other health conditions. KEEP THIS MEDICINE out of the reach of children and pets. IF USING THIS MEDICINE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, obtain refills before your supply runs out.
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