What is this drug used for?
• It is used to treat asthma.
• It may be given to you for other reasons. Talk with the doctor.
• Do not use this drug to treat an asthma attack. Use a rescue inhaler. Talk with your doctor.
Frequently reported side effects of this drug
• Nosebleed
• Common cold symptoms
• Throat irritation
• Nose irritation
Other side effects of this drug: Talk with your doctor right away if you have any of these signs of:
• Adrenal gland problems like severe nausea, vomiting, severe dizziness, passing out, muscle weakness, severe fatigue, mood changes, lack of appetite, or weight loss
• Cushing syndrome like weight gain in upper back or abdomen; moon face; severe headache; or slow healing
• Infection
• Chest pain
• Anxiety
• Severe diarrhea
• Severe nausea
• Vomiting
• Lack of appetite
• Severe headache
• Burning or numbness feeling
• Severe loss of strength and energy
• Bone pain
• Joint pain
• Vision changes
• Trouble breathing
• Wheezing
• Cough
• Thrush
• Signs of a significant reaction like wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; seizures; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Note: This is not a comprehensive list of all side effects. Talk to your doctor if you have questions.
Pronunciation
(byoo DES oh nide)
Generic Availability: US
May be product dependent
Storage and Stability
Dry powder inhaler: Store at 20°C to 25°C (68°F to 77°F). Discard when the dose counter reads “0″.
Nebulization suspension: Store upright at 20°C to 25°C (68°F to 77°F). Keep in aluminum package to protect from light until ready for use. Do not refrigerate or freeze. Once aluminum package is opened, unused suspension should be used within 2 weeks. Continue to protect unopened ampules from light in foil envelope.
Pulmicort Nebuamp [Canadian product]: Store upright at 5°C to 30°C (41°F to 86°F). Keep in packaged envelope of foil laminate to protect from light. Once envelope is opened, use ampules within 3 months; opened ampules must be used within 12 hours.
Adverse Reactions
- Cardiovascular: Chest pain (suspension), syncope (powder)
- Central nervous system: Emotional lability (suspension), fatigue (suspension), headache, hypertonia (powder), insomnia (powder), pain (powder), voice disorder (powder)
- Dermatologic: Contact dermatitis (suspension), eczema (suspension), pruritus (suspension), pustular rash (suspension), skin rash
- Endocrine & metabolic: Weight gain
- Gastrointestinal: Abdominal pain, anorexia (suspension), diarrhea (suspension), dysgeusia (powder), dyspepsia, gastroenteritis (suspension), nausea, oral candidiasis (powder), viral gastroenteritis (powder), vomiting, xerostomia (powder)
- Hematologic & oncologic: Cervical lymphadenopathy (suspension), ecchymosis (powder), purpura (suspension)
- Hypersensitivity: Hypersensitivity reaction
- Infection: Candidiasis (suspension), herpes simplex infection (suspension), infection, viral infection (suspension)
- Neuromuscular & skeletal: Arthralgia, back pain (powder), bone fracture, hyperkinesia (suspension), myalgia, neck pain (powder), weakness
- Ophthalmic: Conjunctivitis (suspension), eye infection (suspension)
- Otic: Otalgia (suspension), otic infection (suspension), otitis externa (suspension), otitis media (more common in suspension)
- Respiratory: Allergic rhinitis (powder), cough, epistaxis (suspension), flu-like symptoms (suspension), nasal congestion (powder), nasopharyngitis (powder), pharyngitis, respiratory infection (more common in suspension), respiratory tract infection (powder), rhinitis, sinusitis, stridor (suspension), viral upper respiratory tract infection (powder)
Miscellaneous: Fever
Rare but important or life-threatening: Adrenocortical insufficiency, aggressive behavior, anxiety, avascular necrosis of femoral head, bronchitis, bruise, depression, glaucoma, growth suppression, hypercorticoidism, increased intraocular pressure, irritability, nervousness, osteoporosis, pain, pharyngitis, psychosis, throat irritation, wheezing
