This article describes possible side effects of budesonide inhalation suspension. You’ll also find information on cost savings and coupon options for budesonide.

Budesonide inhalation suspension is a generic version of the brand-name drug Pulmicort Respules. Budesonide also comes in other forms that you swallow, and forms you spray in the nose or apply rectally. But these forms aren’t described in this article. To learn more about these forms, talk with your doctor.

Note: You should not use budesonide inhalation suspension to treat sudden bronchospasm or an asthma attack in your child. For these conditions, use your child’s rescue inhaler and seek emergency medical help as recommended by your child’s doctor.

More common side effects of budesonide

Budesonide inhalation suspension may cause mild or serious side effects. Below are some of the more common side effects of this medication.

Commonly reported side effects of budesonide inhalation suspension include:

Mild side effects of budesonide

Budesonide may cause certain mild side effects. Most often, mild side effects are temporary and can be easily managed. Tell your child’s doctor or pharmacist if your child has side effects that don’t go away or become bothersome.

Mild side effects of budesonide inhalation suspension that occurred in studies include:

ear infection
respiratory infection, such as the common cold
runny nose
cough
stomach irritation
nosebleed
pink eye
vomiting
diarrhea
fatigue (low energy)
muscle pain
fungal infection in the mouth or throat
mild allergic reaction*

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of budesonide in detail” section below.

Budesonide inhalation suspension may cause more mild side effects than those listed above. For details, see the drug’s prescribing information.

Serious side effects of budesonide

Budesonide may cause certain serious side effects. If your child has any serious side effects of budesonide inhalation suspension, call your child’s doctor right away. But if you think your child is having a medical emergency or their side effects seem life threatening, take immediate action. Call 911, or a local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.

After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Visit MedWatch’s website if you’d like to notify the FDA about a side effect your child has had with budesonide inhalation suspension.

Serious side effects of budesonide inhalation suspension that occurred in studies include:

cataracts (cloudiness in the lens of the eye)
glaucoma (increased pressure in the eye)
low or high cortisol blood level
slowed growth rate*
paradoxical bronchospasm*
bone mineral density loss*
severe allergic reaction*

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of budesonide in detail” section below.

Common questions about side effects of budesonide

Here are answers to some common questions about side effects of budesonide inhalation suspension. If you have other questions, talk with your child’s doctor or pharmacist.

Is budesonide inhalation suspension used for colitis? If so, are there certain side effects with this use?

No, budesonide inhalation suspension is not used for colitis. (Colitis refers to inflammation in the large intestine.) But other forms of budesonide may be used to treat this condition.

To learn more about forms of budesonide that may be used for colitis, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can tell you about possible side effects of this treatment.

Will I have certain side effects when stopping budesonide?

No, it’s not likely. Withdrawal symptoms weren’t reported in budesonide’s studies. (Withdrawal symptoms may appear when you stop taking a drug.)

It’s possible to have withdrawal symptoms from suddenly stopping certain forms of corticosteroid drugs. Keep in mind, budesonide is a corticosteroid. However, with budesonide inhalation suspension, these symptoms aren’t expected. This is because the drug is inhaled. So it acts in the lungs and isn’t absorbed by the rest of the body.

Talk with your child’s doctor if you have questions about what to expect when stopping budesonide treatment.

Can budesonide cause anxiety?

Yes, it’s possible to have anxiety as a side effect of budesonide inhalation suspension. This side effect didn’t occur in the drug’s studies. But anxiety and a feeling of impending doom have been reported since the drug was approved for use.

Talk with your child’s doctor if your child is feeling anxious after receiving a dose of budesonide inhalation suspension.

Does budesonide cause long-term side effects?

Yes, in some cases, budesonide inhalation suspension may cause long-term side effects. These can occur if your child takes the drug for a long time. Or they can last for a while after treatment has ended.

Examples of long-term side effects of budesonide inhalation suspension include:

slowed growth rate*
bone mineral density loss*
cataracts (cloudiness in the lens of the eye)
glaucoma (increased pressure in the eye)

Talk with your child’s doctor to learn more about these side effects and how to manage them best. Ask your child’s doctor for more information about how long these side effects of budesonide may last.

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of budesonide in detail” section below.

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Side effects of budesonide in detail

Below you’ll find details on some of the side effects of budesonide inhalation suspension.

Slowed growth rate

In studies, slowed growth rate was rare in children using budesonide inhalation suspension. This side effect is usually mild.

With slowed growth rate, your child grows at a rate slower than expected compared to other children their age.

Ways to manage

Your child’s doctor will monitor your child’s growth during treatment with budesonide inhalation suspension. They can provide details on how your child’s growth compares with what is expected for their age.

Your child’s doctor may modify or stop treatment with budesonide inhalation suspension, depending on your child’s growth during treatment.

Paradoxical bronchospasm

In studies, paradoxical bronchospasm was rare in children using budesonide inhalation suspension. This side effect is serious and may be life threatening when it does occur.

Bronchospasm is a sudden tightening of the airways that makes it difficult to breathe. Budesonide inhalation suspension is prescribed to help treat and prevent symptoms of asthma, including bronchospasm.

However, bronchospasm can occur immediately after using budesonide inhalation suspension. This is called “paradoxical” bronchospasm because it’s unexpected for the drug to cause it, especially right after a dose is inhaled.

Symptoms of paradoxical bronchospasm include:

Ways to manage

Immediately seek emergency medical help if your child has paradoxical bronchospasm after inhaling a dose of budesonide inhalation suspension. This side effect can be a life threatening emergency.

If your child has this side effect, their doctor will likely stop their budesonide treatment. They can discuss other treatment options that may be safer for your child.

Bone mineral density loss

Bone mineral density loss has been reported in people using inhaled corticosteroids. (Budesonide is this type of drug.) Osteoporosis (weak bones) has been reported in people using budesonide inhalation suspension.

It’s important to note that these side effects weren’t seen during studies of this specific drug. It’s unclear how often this has happened or what caused it. And it isn’t clear whether these reports involved children. (Budesonide inhalation suspension is approved for asthma in certain children.)

With bone mineral density loss, your bones become weakened. This may lead to serious complications, such as osteoporosis and bone fractures.

Certain factors can increase the risk of bone mineral density loss from taking budesonide inhalation suspension. These include:

lack of adequate nutrition
lack of physical activity
taking other drugs that weaken bones
family history of osteoporosis (weak bones)

Ways to manage

Your child’s doctor can provide more information on how they’ll monitor your child’s bone health during treatment with budesonide inhalation suspension. They may modify or discontinue treatment with budesonide inhalation suspension, depending on your child’s bone health during treatment.

Allergic reaction

For some people, budesonide inhalation suspension can cause an allergic reaction. These reactions were rare in the drug’s studies.

Symptoms can be mild or serious, and they may include:

itchiness
skin rash
swelling under the skin, usually affecting eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
swelling of the mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe
flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)

Ways to manage

For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your child’s doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your child’s symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether your child should keep taking the medication.

For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If your child has had a serious allergic reaction to budesonide inhalation solution, your child’s doctor may recommend taking a different medication instead.

Warnings for budesonide

Below are some factors you may want to discuss with your child’s doctor before your child begins treatment with budesonide inhalation suspension.

Warnings

It may not be safe for your child to take budesonide inhalation suspension if they have specific health conditions. These are sometimes called drug-condition interactions. Other things may also affect whether budesonide inhalation suspension is a safe treatment option for your child.

Before starting treatment with budesonide inhalation suspension, tell your child’s doctor about your child’s health and medications they take. Things to consider include:

bone mineral density loss
lack of physical activity or lack of adequate nutrition
family history of osteoporosis
eye problems, including increased pressure in the eye
liver problems, such as hepatitis
past allergic reaction to budesonide inhalation suspension or any of its ingredients

Budesonide and pregnancy

It’s not known whether budesonide inhalation suspension should be taken during pregnancy. Keep in mind that budesonide inhalation suspension is approved for use in children ages 12 months to 8 years.

Budesonide and breastfeeding

It’s not known whether budesonide inhalation suspension should be taken while breastfeeding. Keep in mind that budesonide inhalation suspension is approved for use in children ages 12 months to 8 years.

Budesonide and alcohol

It’s not known whether budesonide inhalation solution interacts with alcohol. Keep in mind that budesonide inhalation solution is approved for use in children ages 12 months to 8 years.

What to ask your doctor

This article describes common and serious side effects of budesonide inhalation suspension. If your child’s doctor prescribes this medication for your child, they can discuss possible side effects with you. Let your child’s doctor know if you have concerns or questions about treatment with this medication.

Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your child’s doctor:

Are there other medications than budesonide inhalation suspension that won’t affect my child’s growth rate or bone strength?
If my child has bothersome or serious side effects from budesonide inhalation suspension, what other treatments can we try?
Are there ways to lower my child’s risk for infection during treatment with budesonide inhalation suspension?

Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.