Budesonide (Systemic, Oral Inhalation)

(byoo DES oh nide)

What key warnings do I need to know about before giving this drug to my child?

• When changing from an oral steroid to a breathed in one, there may be problems. Signs such as weakness, feeling tired, dizziness, upset stomach, throwing up, not thinking clearly, or low blood sugar may happen. Call your child's doctor right away if any of these signs happen. If your child has a bad crash and is hurt, has surgery, or any infection, he/she may need extra doses of oral steroids. These extra steroids will help your child's body deal with these extra stresses. Have your child wear medical alert ID (identification).
• Sometimes drugs are not safe when your child takes them with other drugs. They can cause bad side effects. This is one of those drugs. Be sure to talk to your child’s doctor about all the drugs your child takes.

Is it safe for my child to take this drug?

• Do not give this drug to a child younger than 1 year of age.
• Not if your child has an allergy to budesonide or any other part of this drug.
• Be sure to let the doctor know if your child has any allergies or side effects to drugs, foods, or dyes. Make sure to tell about the allergy and what signs your child had. This includes telling about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat; or any other signs.
• If your child is allergic to milk, talk with the doctor.
• Not if your child is having a breathing attack.

Why does my child need this drug?

• It is used to treat asthma.
• It is used to treat Crohn's disease.

How does this drug work?

• Budesonide stops or lowers irritation and swelling.
• It lowers or stops the body's reaction to the allergen.
• It lowers the body's harmful response to diseases of the immune system.

How is this drug given?

• Oral capsule:
• Give in the morning if giving once a day.
• Give this drug with or without food. Give with food if it causes an upset stomach.
• Have your child swallow capsule whole. Do not let your child chew, break, or crush.
• Puffer (inhaler):
• For breathing in only.
• Prime puffer (inhaler) before first use by twisting brown grip as far as it will go both ways. Then repeat twisting.
• Check your child's puffer (inhaler) use with the doctor at each visit. Read and follow facts on how to use the puffer. Make sure your child's uses the puffer the right way.
• Do not use a spacer with the puffer (inhaler).
• Have your child rinse out mouth after each use.
• If your child is using a puffer (inhaler), wait 10 minutes before giving this drug.
• Liquid for breathing in:
• For breathing in only as a liquid (solution) by a special machine (nebulizer) into the lungs.
• Follow how to give this drug as you have been told by your child's doctor. Do not give more than you were told to give.
• Do not mix other drugs in nebulizer.
• Shake well before use.
• Have your child rinse out mouth after each use.
• Wash face if using a face mask.
• If your child is using a puffer (inhaler), wait 10 minutes before giving this drug.

How long does this drug take to work?

• Your child may start feeling better a few days after starting this drug.
• It may take a few weeks to see the full effect.
• If treating Crohn's disease, it may take a few months to see the full effect.

What do I do if my child misses a dose? (does not apply to patients in the hospital)

• Give a missed dose as soon as you think about it.
• If it is close to the time for your child's next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your child's normal time.
• Do not give 2 doses or extra doses.
• Do not change the dose or stop your child's drug. Talk with your child's doctor.

What safety measures do I need to take when my child is using this drug?

• Keep a list of all your child's drugs (prescription, natural products, vitamins, OTC) with you. Give this list to your child's doctor.
• Have your child wear disease medical alert ID (identification).
• Talk with the doctor before your child gets any vaccines. Use with this drug may either raise the chance of very bad infection or make the vaccine not work as well.
• If your child has been taking this drug for many weeks, talk with your child's doctor before stopping. You may want to slowly stop this drug.
• Do not run out of this drug.
• Do not give this drug to treat an asthma attack.
• Avoid having your child near anyone with chickenpox or measles.
• If your child has high blood sugar (diabetes), talk with the doctor. This drug can raise blood sugar.
• If your child has high blood pressure, talk with the doctor.
• If your child has liver disease, talk with the doctor.
• If your child has stomach ulcers, talk with the doctor.
• If your child has TB (tuberculosis), talk with your child's doctor.
• If your child has a weak heart, talk with the doctor.
• Check all drugs your child is taking with your child's doctor. This drug may not mix well with some other drugs.
• Do not give antacids within 2 hours of this drug.
• Tell dentists, surgeons, and other doctors that your child is using this drug.
• Avoid giving your child grapefruit and grapefruit juice.
• Watch your child's growth carefully.

What are some side effects of this drug?

• Puffer (inhaler):
• Headache.
• Nose stuffiness.
• Mouth sores. To avoid mouth sores, rinse the mouth with water and then spit water out.
• Lung infection.
• Oral capsule:
• Chance of getting an infection. Avoid people with infections, colds, or flu.
• Headache.
• Upset stomach or throwing up. Many small meals, good mouth care, sucking hard, sugar-free candy, or chewing sugar-free gum may help.
• Pimples (acne).
• Mood changes.
• Liquid for breathing in:
• Lung infection.
• Nose stuffiness.
• Cough.
• Ear infection.
• Mouth sores. To avoid mouth sores, rinse the mouth with water and then spit water out.
• Unsafe allergic effects may rarely happen.

When do I need to call my child's doctor?

• If any of this news causes you to be worried, any of the unwanted side effects happen, or if your child is not better after taking this drug.
• If you think there was an overdose, call your local poison control center or ER right away.
• If your child shows signs of a very bad reaction, call your child's doctor or the ER right away. These include wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; seizures; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat; or if your child is not acting normal.
• If your child shows any signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.5°F (38°C) or higher, chills, very bad sore throat, ear or sinus pain, cough, more sputum or change in color or sputum, pain with passing urine, mouth sores, wound that will not heal, or anal itching or pain.
• If your child has been exposed to chickenpox and has not had chickenpox or had a chickenpox vaccine.
• If your child is exposed to measles and has not had measles or been given a measles vaccine.
• If your child is feeling very tired, weak, or touchy; is trembling; has a fast heartbeat, confusion, sweating, or dizziness if a dose was missed or the drug was recently stopped.
• If your child has a very bad upset stomach or is throwing up.
• If your child has trouble breathing.
• If your child has a big weight gain.
• If your child has very bad mouth irritation.
• If your child has a sudden change in eyesight.
• If your child gets a rash.
• If your child’s health problem does not get better or if you believe your child’s health problem is worse.

How do I store and/or throw out this drug?

• Oral capsule:
• Store at room temperature.
• Protect from heat.
• Protect from water. Do not store in a bathroom or kitchen.
• Puffer (inhaler):
• Store at room temperature. Throw away after date shown on the puffer (inhaler).
• Protect from water. Do not store in a bathroom or kitchen.
• Liquid for breathing in:
• Store upright at room temperature. Throw away any part not used after 2 weeks.
• Protect from light.

General drug facts

• If your child has a very bad allergy, he/she needs to wear an allergy ID at all times.
• You may get this drug by drug order only. If there are refills, call your pharmacy. If your child does not have refills left, you may need to call your child's doctor.
• Get rid of this drug when your child no longer needs it or if the drug is outdated.
• Most drugs may be thrown away in household trash after mixing with coffee grounds or kitty litter and sealing in a plastic bag.
• In Canada, take any unused drugs to the pharmacy. Also, visit http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/iyh-vsv/med/disposal-defaire-eng.php#th to learn about the right way to get rid of unused drugs.http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/iyh-vsv/med/disposal-defaire-eng.php#th to learn about the right way to get rid of unused drugs.
• Do not share your child's drug with others and do not give anyone else's drug to your child.
• Keep all drugs out of the reach of children and pets.
• Keep a list of all your child's drugs (prescription, natural products, vitamins, OTC) with you. Give this list to your child's doctor.
• Call your doctor for help with any side effects. If in the U.S., you may also call the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or if in Canada, you may also call Health Canada's Vigilance Program at 1-866-234-2345.
• Talk with the doctor before giving your child any new drug, including OTC, natural products, or vitamins.
• If you do not use a drug the right way, it may not be safe. Follow what your child’s doctor tells you.

Copyright © 1978- Lexi-Comp Inc., The Children's Hospital, Denver, CO., and Pediatric Pharmacy Advocacy Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This information is protected under US and international copyright law. Unauthorized use or reproduction is prohibited.