Budesonide is primarily used to provide relief in people suffering from inflammation in their body and as treatment for Crohn’s disease that is not severe. There are other uses for budesonide that your doctor may prescribe you for that are not mentioned here.

It is important to not defer from the instructions provided by your doctor regarding budesonide. Follow these instructions carefully and you can refer to the label on the prescription or any instruction sheets provided with the medication.

It is best to drink a full glass of water with your dose in the morning without crushing, chewing, or breaking the medication into parts. Swallow the budesonide tablet whole as it was intended.

Take budesonide exactly as instructed by your doctor and do not change the dose, frequency, or the time of your daily dose without speaking with your doctor first. Your doctor may need to change these based on whether you need surgery, have fallen ill, or have been stressed.

If, for some reason, you notice the symptoms that you are suffering from are worsening or unchanging while taking budesonide, inform your doctor of this.

You may need to visit your doctor’s office on a regular basis to have medical tests done if your doctor deems necessary to put you on budesonide for a long time.

The best location to store budesonide is a cool and dry place where pets and young children are incapable of accessing. Always double-check that the lid of the prescription bottle is tightly shut before storing it.

Consult with your doctor before using budesonide about the potential of you being allergic to the medication. If you notice symptoms of an allergic reaction to budesonide, stop taking the medication and call your doctor immediately.

Also inform your doctor if in the past you have had tuberculosis, severe bacterial, viral, or fungal infection, a poor immune system (whether it was caused by medications or a disease you have had in the past), high blood pressure, liver disease, stomach ulcer, osteoporosis, eczema, allergies, or a family history of diabetes, cataracts, or glaucoma.

There is not enough evidence to support whether budesonide is safe to use during pregnancy or if it would be harmful for your unborn child. Make sure that your doctor is aware if you and your partner are planning on having a child, or if you are already pregnant. If you have already taken budesonide during the time you were pregnant with your child, notify your doctor of any negative symptoms your baby seems weak or irritable and if your baby is vomiting or refusing to feed.

There is also no evidence to support whether budesonide passes to your baby through breast milk, so you should avoid breastfeeding and find an alternative method during your budesonide treatment. Keep in mind, budesonide is only approved to be used by adults over the age of 18 years old.

If you show symptoms of an allergic reaction during your budesonide treatment, inform your doctor and seek professional medical assistance immediately. These symptoms may include, but are not limited to breathing difficulties, face swelling, lips swelling, tongue swelling, or throat swelling.

Other causes for alarm that should be reported to your doctor immediately are: thinning of your skin, prone to easy bruising, an increased amount of acne or facial hair, ankles swelling, physical weakness, fatigue, dizziness, feelings of fainting, nauseous, vomiting, bleeding of the rectum, painful or burning sensation when urinating, menstrual issues in women, impotence or lowered sex drive in men, stretch marks, body shape changes, or changes in the location of body fat.

It is very important to inform your doctor if you are showing possible symptoms of infection such as fever, body chills, aches in your body, vomiting or fatigue, as budesonide is known to potentially weaken your immune system.

Some of the more frequently occurring side effects that are not a cause for alarm are headaches, nausea, stomach pain, gas, bloating, constipation, tiredness, joint pain, acne, or common cold symptoms such as, nasal congestion, sneezing, or sore throat.

This is in no way an absolute list of all possible side effects. Other side effects not listed here may occur. If you are seeking a complete list of all possible side effects, consult with your doctor.

What other precautions should I take while on budesonide?

Grapefruit and grapefruit products have been known to cause complications with several medications including budesonide, so it is best to avoid these or it may lead to unpleasant side effects.

Additionally, take care of yourself and keep a safe distance from people who are ill, especially if they have chickenpox or measles because these can be extremely severe to possibly fatal to people taking budesonide.

I forgot to take a dose. What should I do?

If you forgot to take a dose, just try to take it as soon as you remember. If it is relatively close to taking your following scheduled dose, then it is fine to just skip the dose you missed. Do not, in any circumstance, take two doses at the same time to make up for a dose you had missed.