Pulmicort
® (
budesonide inhalation) is a prescription medication used to prevent
asthma attacks. It comes in two forms -- the
Pulmicort Flexhaler® (a special kind of inhaler) and
Pulmicort Respules® that are inhaled using a nebulizer (a device that changes liquid medications into fine droplets that are inhaled into the lungs). The Pulmicort Flexhaler has replaced the Pulmicort Turbuhaler
®, which is no longer manufactured.
(Click Pulmicort Uses for more information on what it is used for, including possible off-label uses of the medication.)
It is made by AstraZeneca.
Normally, air moves easily into and out of the lungs through a network of airways. However, when you have
asthma, the inside walls of your airways are inflamed (swollen). This inflammation makes the airways very sensitive, and they tend to react strongly to things that you are allergic to or find irritating
(see Asthma Triggers). When the airways react, a few things happen -- the muscles around these airways tighten, inflammation inside the airways increases, and the cells inside the airways produce more mucus. This narrows the airways and makes it harder to breathe.
Pulmicort is an
asthma medication that belongs to a group of drugs called inhaled corticosteroids, or steroids for short. Inhaled steroids go directly into the lungs and help to decrease the inflammation of airways that makes asthma attacks more likely. Because this medication does not work quickly, it should not be used for treating an asthma attack. Rather, it is used once or twice a day in order to prevent asthma attacks.
Because Pulmicort is inhaled directly into the lungs, the rest of the body is exposed to lower steroid levels, compared to steroids taken by mouth. This helps reduce or eliminate many of the side effects associated with long-term steroid use.
(Click Asthma Treatment for information about other medicines used for treating asthma.)
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