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What Is Budesonide?

Budesonide is a prescription corticosteroid available in inhaled, oral, and rectal formulations. Inhalation suspension is used for asthma maintenance in children age 12 months to 8 years. Delayed-release capsules treat selected Crohn disease, while extended-release tablets and rectal foam are used for selected forms of ulcerative colitis. Directions differ substantially across formulations.

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What Is Budesonide?

Budesonide is a prescription corticosteroid available in inhaled, oral, and rectal formulations. Inhalation suspension is used for asthma maintenance in children age 12 months to 8 years. Delayed-release capsules treat selected Crohn disease, while extended-release tablets and rectal foam are used for selected forms of ulcerative colitis. Directions differ substantially across formulations.

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How Does Budesonide Reduce Inflammation?

Budesonide binds glucocorticoid receptors and changes expression of genes involved in inflammatory activity. Corticosteroids reduce activity of inflammatory cells and mediators, including eosinophils, lymphocytes, cytokines, and leukotrienes. Local delivery to the lungs or bowel targets inflammation at the treated site, while some absorbed drug is inactivated during first-pass metabolism in the liver.

Which Conditions Are Treated With Budesonide?

Budesonide inhalation suspension is used for asthma maintenance in children age 12 months to 8 years. Delayed-release capsules treat mild to moderate Crohn disease involving the ileum or ascending colon from age 8. Extended-release tablets induce remission in adults with active mild to moderate ulcerative colitis. Rectal foam treats active mild to moderate distal ulcerative colitis.

How Is Budesonide Dosed in Different Formulations?

Dosing depends on the formulation and condition. Inhalation suspension commonly ranges from 0.25 mg to 1 mg daily in one or two doses. Adult Crohn disease treatment uses 9 mg of delayed-release capsules each morning for up to 8 weeks. Extended-release tablets use 9 mg each morning for up to 8 weeks in adult ulcerative colitis.

What Safety Problems Need Attention With Budesonide?

Budesonide can cause adrenal suppression, excess corticosteroid effects, infection risk, allergic reactions, and eye problems such as cataracts or glaucoma. Inhaled forms can cause oral candidiasis and reduced growth velocity in children. Oral bowel formulations carry warnings for immunosuppression, infection, and Kaposi sarcoma. Risks rise with greater systemic exposure or strong CYP3A4 inhibitors.

Frequently Asked Questions About Budesonide

Is budesonide a corticosteroid?

Yes. Budesonide is a glucocorticoid corticosteroid used in inhaled, oral, and rectal formulations.

Does budesonide treat asthma?

Yes. Budesonide inhalation suspension is approved for maintenance treatment of asthma in children age 12 months to 8 years.

Is oral budesonide used for Crohn disease?

Yes. Delayed-release capsules treat mild to moderate active Crohn disease involving the ileum or ascending colon in patients age 8 and older.

Are all budesonide formulations used the same way?

No. Inhaled, oral, and rectal budesonide products have different indications, doses, age ranges, and administration instructions.

References

Budesonide. MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a608007.html. Date Accessed September 18, 2026.

DailyMed - BUDESONIDE capsule, delayed release. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=4943ef5b-f48b-49d6-b419-467f71ef64e0. Date Accessed September 18, 2026.

DailyMed - PULMICORT RESPULES (budesonide) suspension. https://www.dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=33cd9834-76df-4f26-3fa2-aab6b9eee8f2. Date Accessed September 18, 2026.

DailyMed - UCERIS (budesonide) aerosol, foam. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=230e4596-2a9b-4d55-b0a0-0cabbcff5289. Date Accessed September 18, 2026.

DailyMed - UCERIS (budesonide) tablet, extended release. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=92cbb190-8851-46ed-bfe0-166ca62ef2e9. Date Accessed September 18, 2026.