Budesonide is used for:

Budesonide is a glucocorticoid steroid for the treatment of asthma, non-infectious rhinitis (including hay fever and other allergies), and for treatment and prevention of nasal polyposis. Additionally, it is used for inflammatory bowel disease.

Preventing asthma symptoms. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Budesonide is an inhaled corticosteroid. It works by decreasing irritation and swelling in the airways, which helps to control or prevent asthma symptoms.

Do NOT use Budesonide if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Budesonide
• you are having an acute asthma attack

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Budesonide :

Some medical conditions may interact with Budesonide. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have increased pressure in the eye; glaucoma; cataracts; a herpes infection of the eye; a bacterial, fungal, or parasitic infection; a viral infection (eg, chickenpox, shingles); diarrhea; measles; tuberculosis; or osteoporosis
• if you have had a positive tuberculosis skin test or have recently been vaccinated

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Budesonide. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Barbiturates (eg, phenobarbital), carbamazepine, hydantoins (eg, phenytoin), or rifampin because they may decrease Budesonide 's effectiveness
• Hormonal contraceptives (eg, birth control pills, patches, implants), imidazole antifungals (eg, ketoconazole, itraconazole), or macrolide antibiotics (eg, erythromycin, clarithromycin) because they may increase the risk of Budesonide 's side effects
• Live vaccines or ritodrine because the risk of their side effects may be increased by Budesonide

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Budesonide may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Budesonide :

Use Budesonide as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• An extra patient leaflet is available with Budesonide. Talk to your pharmacist if you have questions about this information.
• Budesonide is inhaled through the mouth.
• You will need to prime a new inhaler before you use it for the first time. Twist the inhaler cover and lift it off. Hold the unit upright (mouthpiece on top) and turn the grip fully to the right, then fully to the left until it clicks. Repeat. Do not reprime the inhaler. You will only need to prime the inhaler once even if you do not use it for a long period of time. The inhaler is now ready for use.
• To use a dose, twist the inhaler cover and lift it off. Hold the unit upright (mouthpiece on top) and turn the grip fully to the right, then fully to the left until it clicks. Do NOT shake the inhaler. Turn your head away from the inhaler and breathe out fully. Place the mouthpiece between your lips and inhale forcefully and deeply. You may not feel the medicine. Remove the inhaler from your mouth and breathe out. Do NOT breathe out through the inhaler. Do not bite or chew the mouthpiece.
• Replace the mouthpiece cover after each use.
• Rinse the mouthpiece with water after each use to help prevent mouth or throat infections. Do not swallow the rinse water. Spit it out.
• Do not use Budesonide with a spacer.
• Keep the inhaler clean and dry at all times.
• Continue to use Budesonide even if you feel well. Do not miss any doses.
• Use Budesonide on a regular schedule to get the most benefit from it.
• If you miss a dose of Budesonide , take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Budesonide.

Important safety information:

• Improvement in asthma control can occur within 24 hours of beginning treatment; the maximum effect of Budesonide may take as long as 1 to 2 weeks, or longer. If symptoms do not improve within that period of time or if they become worse, contact your health care provider.
• Do NOT take more than the recommended dose or stop using without checking with your doctor.
• Do not decrease your dose or use for longer than prescribed without checking with your doctor.
• Use caution if you switch from an oral steroid (eg, prednisone) to Budesonide. It may take several months for your body to make enough natural steroids to handle events that cause physical stress. Such events may include injury, surgery, infection, loss of blood electrolytes, or a sudden asthma attack. These may be severe and sometimes fatal. Contact your doctor right away if any of these events occur. You may need to take an oral steroid (eg, prednisone) again. Carry a card at all times that says you may need an oral steroid (eg, prednisone) if any of these events occur.
• Tell your doctor at once if you switch from an oral corticosteroid to this medicine and you notice symptoms such as muscle and joint pain, exhaustion, depression, unusual weakness, or severe or persistent nausea or vomiting.
• Budesonide may lower the ability of your body to fight infection. Avoid contact with people who have colds or infections. Tell your doctor if you notice signs of infection like fever, sore throat, rash, or chills.
• If you have not had chickenpox, shingles, or measles, avoid contact with anyone who does. Tell your doctor right away if you are exposed to anyone who has these infections.
• Do not receive a live vaccine (eg, measles, mumps) while you are taking Budesonide. Talk with your doctor before you receive any vaccine.
• Tell your doctor or dentist that you take Budesonide before you receive any medical or dental care, emergency care, or surgery.
• Budesonide will not stop an asthma attack once it has already started. Be sure to carry a short-acting bronchodilator with you at all times to treat any breathing problems that may occur between doses of Budesonide (eg, severe or sudden onset of wheezing or shortness of breath). If you have any questions about which medicines stop asthma attacks, check with your doctor or pharmacist.
• Tell your doctor at once if you notice that your short-acting bronchodilator inhaler does not work as well, if you need to use it often (eg, 4 or more times a day for more than 2 days in a row; more than 1 canister in 8 weeks), or if you have a decrease in your peak flow meter results.
• Budesonide may sometimes cause severe breathing problems right after you use a dose. When this problem occurs, it is often after the first use of a new canister or vial. If this happens, use your short-acting bronchodilator and seek medical care at once. Do not use any more doses of Budesonide unless instructed by your doctor.
• Lab tests, including lung function, adrenal function, and bone density and eye exams, may be performed while you use Budesonide. These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
• Corticosteroids may affect growth rate in CHILDREN and teenagers in some cases. They may need regular growth checks while they use Budesonide.
• Budesonide should be used with extreme caution in CHILDREN younger than 6 years old; safety and effectiveness in these children have not been confirmed.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Budesonide while you are pregnant. It is not known if Budesonide is found in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Budesonide.

Possible side effects of Budesonide :

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Nasal congestion; throat irritation.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); ear pain or discharge; new or worsening asthma symptoms (eg, increased wheezing); depression; mental or mood changes; severe or persistent diarrhea or stomach pain; shortness of breath after using Budesonide ; signs of infection (eg, fever, chills, or sore throat); vision changes; white patches in the mouth or throat.

What is the shelf life of the pills?

• The expiry date is mentioned on each blister. It is different for different batches. The shelf life is 2 years from the date of manufacture and would differ from batch to batch depending on when they were manufactured.

Other Useful Information:

Radiation: 1. Rays of energy. Gamma rays and X-rays are two of the types of energy waves often used in medicine. 2. The use of energy waves to diagnose or treat disease.

Replantation: 1. Literally, the act of planting again. 2. In surgery, the restoration of any part of the body to its original site. Also known as reimplantation.

The Chinese surgeon Zhong Wei Chen (1929-2004) was the "father of replantation." Dr. Chen was the first to reattach a severed hand with success which he did in 1963. Dr. Chen also developed many microsurgical procedures including techniques for preserving severed extremities, reattaching amputated fingers and thumbs, reconstructing muscles and repairing nerves and blood vessels.

Rheumatism: Rheumatism is an older term, used to describe any of a number of painful conditions of muscles, tendons, joints, and bones.

Rheumatism conditions have been classified as either localized, regional, or generalized. Localized rheumatism conditions include bursitis and tendinitis. Regional rheumatism conditions include chest wall pain, temporomandibular joint pain, and myofascial pain syndromes. Generalized rheumatism conditions include fibromyalgia.

Another category of rheumatism is psychogenic rheumatism. With this term it is understood that the patient is reporting inconsistent pains of muscles and joints that do not correspond to true anatomy and physiology. The patient is felt to have underlying psychological causes for the symptoms.

Rheumatology: A subspecialty of internal medicine that involves the non-surgical evaluation and treatment of the rheumatic diseases and conditions. Rheumatic diseases and conditions are characterized by symptoms involving the musculoskeletal system. Many of the rheumatic diseases and conditions feature immune system abnormalities. Therefore, rheumatology also involves the study of the immune system. Classical rheumatology training includes 4 years of medical school, 1 year of internship in internal medicine, 2 years of internal medicine residency, and 2 years of rheumatology fellowship. There is a subspecialty board for rheumatology certification. The American College of Rheumatology is the official organization acting on behalf of the field of rheumatology in the United States.

T cell: A type of white blood cell that is of key importance to the immune system and is at the core of adaptive immunity, the system that tailors the body's immune response to specific pathogens. The T cells are like soldiers who search out and destroy the targeted invaders.

Immature T cells (termed T-stem cells) migrate to the thymus gland in the neck, where they mature and differentiate into various types of mature T cells and become active in the immune system in response to a hormone called thymosin and other factors. T-cells that are potentially activated against the body's own tissues are normally killed or changed ("down-regulated") during this maturational process.

There are several different types of mature T cells. Not all of their functions are known. T cells can produce substances called cytokines such as the interleukins which further stimulate the immune response. T-cell activation is measured as a way to assess the health of patients with HIV/AIDS and less frequently in other disorders.

T cell are also known as T lymphocytes. The "T" stands for "thymus" -- the organ in which these cells mature. As opposed to B cells which mature in the bone marrow.

Teleology: The study of the ultimate purpose of the design of something in nature.

For example, "what is the true purpose of the nose?" is a teleological question and, to say that all evolutionary changes occur for a definite purpose is a teleological explanation of evolution.

"Teleology" comes from ancient Greek roots but it (and teleological) did not enter English until the 18th century. It is a compound of the Greek "tele-, telos," meaning "end or purpose" + the ending "logos" meaning "the science or study of" = the study of the ends or purposes.

Testosterone: A "male hormone" -- a sex hormone produced by the testes that encourages the development of male sexual characteristics, stimulates the activity of the male secondary sex characteristics, and prevents changes in them following castration. Chemically, testosterone is 17-beta-hydroxy-4-androstene-3-one.

Testosterone is the most potent of the naturally occurring androgens. The androgens cause the development of male sex characteristics, such as a deep voice and a beard; they also strengthen muscle tone and bone mass.

High levels of testosterone appear to promote good health in men, for example, lowering the risks of high blood pressure and heart attack. High testosterone levels also correlate with risky behavior, however, including increased aggressiveness and smoking, which may cancel out these health benefits.

Testosterone may be given to treat medical conditions, including female (but not male) breast cancer, hypogonadism (low gonadal function) in the male, cryptorchism (nondescent of the testis into the scrotum), and menorrhagia (irregular periods).