Patients who experience breathing difficulties due to asthma or bowel discomfort due to Crohn's disease may be prescribed budesonide. Budesonide is a type of corticosteroid treatment used to prevent lung inflammation or alleviate bowel inflammation. This medication is not recommended for all patients. Patients should discuss the contraindications for budesonide with a medical professional prior to treatment.
Breastfeeding or Pregnant
The U.S Food and Drug Administration has assigned budesonide to pregnancy category C. Corticosteroids can cause fetal complications such as hypoadrenalism when used by pregnant mothers. This medication can also be excreted within a woman's breast milk. Breastfeeding or pregnant women should avoid using budesonide to limit the risk of fetal or infant medical complications, unless the benefits of the drug far outweigh the risks of use.
Budesonide Hypersensitivity
Patients who are hypersensitive to budesonide should not receive treatment with this medication, RxList reports. Allergic patients who use this medication can experience a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction.
Sudden Asthma Attack
Budesonide is not a fast-acting asthma treatment and should not be used to treat patients who experience a sudden or acute asthma attack, the FDA explains. Sudden asthma attack symptoms should be controlled using an alternate, fast-acting asthma medication.
Younger Than Six Years Old
Pediatric patients who are younger than 6 years of age should not receive treatment with budesonide. The safety and efficacy of this treatment have not been evaluated in children within this age group, RxList reports.
