Budesonide Nasal Spray : Uses, Side Effects, Interactions & More

Budesonide nasal spray is used to relieve sneezing, runny, stuffy, or itchy nose caused by hay fever or other allergies (caused by an allergy to pollen, mold, dust, or pets). Budesonide nasal spray should not be used to treat symptoms (eg, sneezing, stuffiness, runny nose, itchy nose) caused by the common cold. Budesonide nasal spray is in a class of medications called corticosteroids. It works by blocking the release of certain natural substances that cause allergy symptoms.

Budesonide comes as a suspension (liquid) (prescription and nonprescription) to spray into the nose. Budesonide nasal spray is usually sprayed into each nostril once a day. If you are an adult, you will start your treatment with a higher dose of budesonide nasal spray and then decrease your dose when your symptoms improve. If you are giving a child a budesonide nasal spray, you will start treatment with a lower dose of the medicine and increase the dose if the child’s symptoms do not improve. Decrease the dose when your child’s symptoms improve. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any parts you do not understand. Use budesonide exactly as directed. Do not use more or less or use it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

An adult should help children under 12 to use budesonide nasal spray. Children under 6 years old should not use this medicine.

Budesonide nasal spray should only be used in the nose. Do not swallow the nasal spray and be careful not to spray it in your eyes or mouth.

Each bottle of budesonide nasal spray should only be used by one person. Do not share budesonide nasal spray because it can spread germs.

Budesonide nasal spray controls the symptoms of hay fever or allergies, but it does not cure these conditions. Your symptoms may start to improve 1 to 2 days after the first time you use budesonide, but it may take up to 2 weeks before you feel the full benefit of budesonide. Budesonide works best when used regularly. Use budesonide on a regular schedule unless your doctor has told you to use it as needed. Call your doctor if your symptoms get worse or do not improve after using budesonide nasal spray daily for 2 weeks.

Budesonide nasal spray is designed to provide a certain amount of sprays. After the marked number of sprays have been used, the remaining sprays in the bottle may not contain the correct amount of medicine. You should keep track of the number of sprays you have used and discard the bottle after you have used the marked number of sprays, even if it still contains some liquid.

Before you use budesonide nasal spray for the first time, read the written directions that come with it. Follow these steps:

1. Shake the bottle gently before each use.
2. Remove the dust cover.
3. If you are using the pump for the first time or have not used it for 2 or more days in a row, you must prime it by following steps 4-5 below. If you have used the pump before and have not missed 2 days in a row of medication, go to step 6.
4. Hold the pump with the applicator between your index and middle fingers and the bottom of the bottle resting on your thumb. Point the applicator away from your face.
5. If you are using the pump for the first time, press and release the pump eight times. If you have used the pump before, but not in the last 2 days, press and release the pump once until you see a fine mist. If you have not used the pump for more than 14 days, rinse the applicator tip and prime with two or more sprays until you see a fine spray.
6. Blow your nose until your nostrils are clear.
7. Keep one nostril closed with your finger.
8. Tilt your head slightly forward and carefully place the tip of the nasal applicator in the other nostril. Make sure to keep the bottle upright.
9. Hold the pump with the applicator between your index and middle fingers and the bottom resting on your thumb.
10. Begin to inhale through your nose.
11. As you inhale, use your index and middle fingers to firmly press down on the applicator and release a spray.
12. Tilt your head back and gently inhale through your nostril and exhale through your mouth.
13. If your doctor told you to use extra sprays in that nostril, repeat steps 6-12.
14. Repeat steps 6 through 13 for the other nostril.
15. Do not blow your nose for 15 minutes after using the nasal spray.
16. Wipe the applicator with a clean cloth and cover it with the protective sleeve.

Ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the manufacturer’s information for the patient.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Before using budesonide nasal spray,

• Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to budesonide, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in budesonide nasal spray. Check the package label for a list of ingredients.
• Tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following :; clarithromycin (Biaxin, in Prevpac); HIV protease inhibitors such as atazanavir (Reyataz, in Evotaz), indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept), ritonavir (Norvir, in Kaletra, in Technivie), or saquinavir (Invirase); itraconazole (Onmel, Sporanox); ketoconazole (Extina, Nizoral, Xolegel); nefazodone; or telithromycin (Ketek). Also tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are using steroid medications such as dexamethasone, methylprednisolone (Medrol), and prednisone (Rayos) for asthma, allergies, or rash. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you closely for side effects.
• Tell your doctor if you have recently had nose surgery, have injured your nose in any way, or have nose sores. Also tell your doctor if you have or have ever had cataracts (clouding of the lens of the eye), glaucoma (an eye disease), asthma (sudden episodes of wheezing, shortness of breath, and difficulty breathing), any type of infection, a herpes infection of the eye (an infection that causes a sore on the eyelid or surface of the eye) or liver disease. Tell your doctor if you have chickenpox, measles, or tuberculosis (TB; a type of lung infection), or if you have been around someone who has one of these conditions.
• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. If you become pregnant while using budesonide, call your doctor.

Use the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not use a double dose to make up for the one you forgot.

Budesonide nasal spray may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• dryness, stinging, burning or irritation in the nose
• tiredness
• weakness
• vomiting
• nausea
• joint or muscle pain
• nosebleeds

Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of the following symptoms, stop using budesonide nasal spray and call your doctor immediately or get emergency medical treatment:

• vision problems
• fever, sore throat, chills, cough, and other signs of infection
• whistling sound from the nose
• hives
• rash
• itching
• swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
• hoarseness
• wheezing
• chest tightening
• difficulty breathing or swallowing
• white patches in the throat, mouth, or nose

You should know that this medicine can make children grow at a slower rate. Talk to your child’s doctor if your child needs to use this medicine for more than 2 months out of the year.

Budesonide nasal spray may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while using this medicine.

If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor can submit a report online to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program (http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch) or by phone (1-800-332-1088).

Keep this medicine in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of the reach of children. Store at room temperature and away from light, excess heat, and moisture (not in the bathroom). Do not freeze.

Unnecessary medications must be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children, and others cannot consume them. However, you should not flush this medicine down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medications is through a drug take-back program. Talk to your pharmacist or contact your local garbage / recycling department to find out about take-back programs in your community. See the FDA Safe Drug Disposal website (http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p) for more information if you do not have access to a take-back program.

It is important to keep all medicines out of the sight and reach of children, since many containers (such as those containing weekly pills and those for eye drops, creams, patches and inhalers) are not resistant to children and small children can easily open them. To protect young children from poisoning, always close the safety caps and immediately place the medicine in a safe place, one that is upright and out of their sight and reach. http://www.upandaway.org

You should clean your nasal spray applicator periodically. You will need to remove the dust cap and then gently pull the applicator out of the bottle. Wash the dust cap and applicator in warm water and rinse in cold water, allow to dry at room temperature, and then put them back in the bottle.

If the spray tip is clogged, wash it off with lukewarm water, then rinse with cold water and dry. Do not use pins or other sharp objects to remove the blockage.

Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about budesonide nasal spray.

It is important that you keep a written list of all prescription and over-the-counter (over-the-counter) medications you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should take this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you go into hospital. It is also important information to take with you in case of emergencies.