Budesonide is a medication that belongs to a class of medications called corticosteroids. It is used to treat several conditions, including asthma, Crohns disease, and primary immunoglobulin A nephropathy.

For asthma, budesonide is used to prevent difficulty breathing, chest tightness, wheezing, and coughing caused by asthma. It works by decreasing swelling and irritation in the airways to allow for easier breathing. Budesonide comes as a powder to inhale by mouth using an inhaler and as a suspension to inhale by mouth using a special jet nebulizer. Budesonide powder for oral inhalation is usually inhaled twice a day, while budesonide suspension for oral inhalation is usually inhaled once or twice a day.

For Crohns disease, budesonide is used to decrease inflammation (swelling) in the digestive tract. Budesonide may help control symptoms, but it will not cure the condition. Your doctor will watch you carefully to see how well budesonide works for you. If your symptoms are controlled, your doctor may decrease your dose of budesonide.

It is important to follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Use budesonide exactly as directed. Do not use more or less of it or use it more often than prescribed by your doctor.