Budesonide
Brand names: Pulmicort, Rhinocort, Symbicort (combination)
Budesonide is a corticosteroid used in children in inhaled form for asthma prophylaxis, nebulised for croup, and in oral or rectal forms for inflammatory bowel disease, depending on the preparation.
ClinCalc Pro is rebuilding its dose data from primary open sources — the manufacturer SmPC (eMC), the WHO Model Formulary and other official references — under clinician review. This drug's structured dose is not yet published here. Confirm all doses against the product SmPC and your local formulary before prescribing.
Clinical monograph
How it works
It binds glucocorticoid receptors to suppress inflammatory gene expression and cytokine production, reducing airway or mucosal inflammation locally with relatively limited systemic exposure.
Prescribing in practice
- Inhaled corticosteroids can suppress growth velocity and the adrenal axis in children, so use the lowest effective dose and monitor height regularly.
- Rinsing the mouth after inhaled doses reduces oral candidiasis and hoarseness, and the formulation chosen must match the indication.
- High or prolonged dosing increases the risk of systemic corticosteroid effects.
Monitoring
Monitor growth, asthma control or disease activity, and inspect for oral thrush with inhaled use.
Counselling the patient
- Use the inhaled preparation regularly for prevention, not for sudden symptom relief.
- Rinse the mouth and spit out after each inhaled dose.
- Attend reviews so the child's growth and dose can be checked.
Evidence & guidelines
Inhaled budesonide is a recommended preventer in paediatric asthma guidance, with monitoring for growth and adrenal effects.
Reference: BTS/SIGN Asthma Guidelines; NICE CG187 (Croup); Drug verified in RxNorm (NLM); confirm dosing against the manufacturer SPC (eMC). Verify against your local formulary and current prescribing references before prescribing. Monograph status: clinician-reviewed (2026-07-04).
Related
Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.