
budesonide
Budesonide nasal spray (Rhinocort Allergy) is an over-the-counter (OTC) allergy medication for adults and children age 6 years and older. It's a corticosteroid that relieves nasal allergy symptoms, such as runny or stuffy nose, itchy nose, and sneezing. Budesonide nasal spray (Rhinocort Allergy) is sprayed into each nostril once per day. Side effects can include nose bleeds and irritation in the nose. This medication is available as a generic.
What is Budesonide nasal spray (Rhinocort Allergy)?
What is Budesonide nasal spray (Rhinocort Allergy) used for?
- Nasal allergy symptoms (e.g., runny nose, stuffy nose, itchy nose, sneezing)
How Budesonide nasal spray (Rhinocort Allergy) works
Budesonide nasal spray (Rhinocort Allergy) is an intranasal corticosteroid. When it's sprayed into the nose, the medication lowers inflammation in your nose. This helps relieve seasonal allergy symptoms like stuffy or runny nose, itchy nose, and sneezing.
Drug facts
| Common Brands | Rhinocort Allergy |
|---|---|
| Drug Class | Corticosteroid |
| Controlled Substance Classification | Not a controlled medication |
| Generic Status | Lower-cost generic available |
| Availability | Over-the-counter |
More on Budesonide nasal spray (Rhinocort Allergy) essentials
Side effects of Budesonide nasal spray (Rhinocort Allergy)
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Bloody nose (8%)
- Sore throat (4%)
Less Common Side Effects
- Difficulty breathing
- Cough
- Irritation in the nose
Budesonide nasal spray (Rhinocort Allergy) serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Severe allergic reaction: hives; rash; swelling in the face, lips, tongue, or throat; trouble breathing
The following Budesonide nasal spray (Rhinocort Allergy) side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
More common
Body aches or pain
chills
congestion
dryness or soreness of the throat
general feeling of discomfort or illness
headache
hoarseness
joint pain
loss of appetite
muscle aches and pains
pain or tenderness around the eyes and cheekbones
shivering
shortness of breath or troubled breathing
stuffy or runny nose
sweating
tender, swollen glands in the neck
tightness of the chest or wheezing
trouble with sleeping
trouble with swallowing
unusual tiredness or weakness
voice changes
vomiting
Less common
Bruising
darkening of the skin
dizziness
excessive muscle tone
fainting
fractures
large, flat, blue, or purplish patches in the skin
lower back or side pain
muscle stiffness
muscle tension or tightness
painful or difficult urination
redness or swelling in the ear
skin rash
sore mouth or tongue
white patches in the mouth or on the tongue
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
Back pain
Less common
Acid or sour stomach
belching
change in taste or bad, unusual, or unpleasant (after) taste
difficulty with breathing
difficulty with moving
ear congestion
headache, severe and throbbing
indigestion
muscle cramping
neck pain
stomach discomfort, upset, or pain
swollen joints
unable to sleep
unexplained runny nose or sneezing
weakness
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
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Pros and cons of Budesonide nasal spray (Rhinocort Allergy)
Pros
- First-choice medication for treating nasal allergy symptoms
- Only used once per day
- Available over the counter
- Can be used for children as young as 6 years old
Cons
- Might cause nose bleeds
- Might take up to 2 weeks to feel the full benefits from the medication
- Not meant for relieving nasal symptoms related to the common cold
Pharmacist tips for Budesonide nasal spray (Rhinocort Allergy)
- Your symptoms should start to get better within a day after you start using budesonide nasal spray (Rhinocort Allergy). But it can take about 2 weeks of daily use to get the most relief. Speak with a healthcare professional for recommendations if you're not feeling better after 2 weeks of using budesonide nasal spray (Rhinocort Allergy) every day.
- Using budesonide nasal spray (Rhinocort Allergy) can raise your risk for having a nose bleed. To stop a nose bleed, sit upright and lean forward. Pinch the soft part of your nose above your nostrils for at least 10 minutes while you breathe through your mouth. Get medical help right away if the bleeding is hard to stop or if you feel dizzy.
- Each bottle of budesonide nasal spray (Rhinocort Allergy) contains 120 sprays. Don't use the bottle after 120 sprays, even if there's some medication left inside. Additional sprays won't have the correct amount of medication you'll need for a full dose.
- Store budesonide nasal spray (Rhinocort Allergy) at room temperature in the original container to protect it from light.
- Even though you spray budesonide nasal spray (Rhinocort Allergy) into the nose, it can still interact with many other medications. Ask a member of your care team whether it's safe for you to use budesonide nasal spray (Rhinocort Allergy) if you take other medications.
How to use budesonide nasal spray (Rhinocort Allergy) nasal spray:
- Be sure to prime each new bottle of budesonide nasal spray (Rhinocort Allergy) that you use. Shake the bottle well and spray 8 times into the air away from your face.
- Review the steps on how to use nasal sprays like budesonide nasal spray (Rhinocort Allergy). Shake the bottle well before you spray the medication into the nose. Contact a member of your care team if you have any questions.
- Before using budesonide nasal spray (Rhinocort Allergy), blow your nose to clear your nostrils. This makes sure there's nothing blocking the medication's way when it's sprayed into the nose.
- After using budesonide nasal spray (Rhinocort Allergy), avoid blowing your nose for at least 15 minutes so the medication can stay in your nose.
- If you haven't used budesonide nasal spray (Rhinocort Allergy) for 2 days in a row or for 2 weeks, you'll need to reprime the bottle. Spray into the air away from your face until you see a fine mist come out.
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Risks and warnings for Budesonide nasal spray (Rhinocort Allergy)
Budesonide nasal spray (Rhinocort Allergy) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Nose bleeds, discomfort, and injury
- Risk factors: Nasal surgery | Injury to the nose | Ulcers in the nose
Using budesonide nasal spray (Rhinocort Allergy) can sometimes cause nose bleeds. Some people also had damage in the nose after using this medication. This damage can sometimes lead to serious injuries to the bony cartilage between your nostrils (the nasal septum). Using budesonide nasal spray (Rhinocort Allergy) can also make it more difficult for any injuries or damage to the inside of the nose to heal.
Contact your primary care provider if you experience painful discomfort in your nose, have regular nosebleeds, hear a whistling sound from your nose when you breathe, or have painful sores in your nose as you use budesonide nasal spray (Rhinocort Allergy).
Risk of infection
- Risk factors: Using budesonide nasal spray (Rhinocort Allergy) for several months | Taking other medications that weakens your immune system | Currently have an infection
Corticosteroids like budesonide nasal spray (Rhinocort Allergy) can weaken your immune system and raise your risk for getting an infection. These infections can include fungal infections in the nose or throat area, which are more likely to happen when you use corticosteroid nasal sprays for several months. Other possible infections include viral infections like chickenpox. Once you develop an infection, you might have a harder time recovering from your illness.
Although there haven't been any reports of serious infections linked directly with budesonide nasal spray (Rhinocort Allergy), be on the lookout for any signs of infection while you're using this medication. Stop using budesonide nasal spray (Rhinocort Allergy) and contact your primary care provider if you have a fever, pain, aches, or chills, pain while swallowing, redness in the mouth, or white patches in your nose or throat. You might need to stop using Budesonide nasal spray (Rhinocort Allergy) and take prescribed medication to treat the infection.
Altered stress hormone levels
- Risk factors: Using budesonide nasal spray (Rhinocort Allergy) for a long time | Using too much of budesonide nasal spray (Rhinocort Allergy)
Using budesonide nasal spray (Rhinocort Allergy) for long periods of time or using too much of it can cause more medication to get absorbed into the body. This can affect your body in different ways since corticosteroids like budesonide nasal spray (Rhinocort Allergy) act similarly to cortisol, a natural stress hormone made by your body.
When your body absorbs more of the medication than intended, you might experience symptoms of too much cortisol. These symptoms include weight gain around your gut, fatty deposits around your face and upper back, and fat loss around the arms and legs.
On the other hand, budesonide nasal spray (Rhinocort Allergy) can also cause your body to make less natural cortisol. Symptoms of low cortisol include muscle weakness, loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting.
If either problem is severe enough, you might need additional medical treatment. Use budesonide nasal spray (Rhinocort Allergy) only as directed and don't use more than the maximum number of sprays per day. Use the lowest dose possible for the shortest amount of time.
Delayed growth in children
- Risk factors: Using budesonide nasal spray (Rhinocort Allergy) for longer than 2 months
Corticosteroids like budesonide nasal spray (Rhinocort Allergy) might cause slower growth in children. To lower this risk, children should use the lowest dose of budesonide nasal spray (Rhinocort Allergy) for the shortest amount of time needed to treat their symptoms. Discuss with your child's pediatrician or primary care provider if you're concerned about how budesonide nasal spray (Rhinocort Allergy) might affect your child's growth. Speak with them about whether this medication is right for your child.
Allergic reactions
Allergic reactions to budesonide nasal spray (Rhinocort Allergy) are possible. These reactions can include life-threatening facial swelling, shock, and anaphylaxis (closing of the throat). Get medical attention right away if you notice hives, rash, red skin, swelling of the lips or tongue, or difficulty breathing after you use budesonide nasal spray (Rhinocort Allergy).
Eye and vision problems
- Risk factors: History of glaucoma or cataracts | History of high pressure in the eye
Although it's not common, budesonide nasal spray (Rhinocort Allergy) can raise the pressure in your eyes and cause vision problems, including glaucoma or cataracts. Talk to your optometrist (eye specialist) before you use budesonide nasal spray (Rhinocort Allergy) if you have glaucoma or cataracts. Contact your optometrist if you notice any concerning changes to your vision while you're using the medication.
Budesonide nasal spray (Rhinocort Allergy) dosage
| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8.6g of 32mcg | 1 nasal spray | $15.32 | $15.32 |
Typical dosage for Budesonide nasal spray (Rhinocort Allergy)
Each spray provides 32 mcg of budesonide.
- Age 12 years and older: The typical starting dose is 2 sprays into each nostril once per day. Once your allergy symptoms get better, you can use 1 spray into each nostril once per day.
- Age 6 to under 12 years: The typical starting dose is 1 spray into each nostril once per day. If allergy symptoms don't get better, you can use 2 sprays in each nostril once per day. Then once allergy symptoms get better, you can go back to 1 spray in each nostril once per day.
- Age under 6 years: Ask your child's pediatrician or primary care provider.
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Interactions between Budesonide nasal spray (Rhinocort Allergy) and other drugs
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Aceclofenac
- Acemetacin
- Amtolmetin Guacil
- Balofloxacin
- Bemiparin
- Besifloxacin
- Boceprevir
- Bromfenac
- Bufexamac
- Bupropion
- Celecoxib
- Ceritinib
- Choline Salicylate
- Ciprofloxacin
- Clonixin
- Cobicistat
- Conivaptan
- Darunavir
- Dexibuprofen
- Dexketoprofen
- Diclofenac
- Diflunisal
- Dipyrone
- Droxicam
- Duvelisib
- Enoxacin
- Etodolac
- Etofenamate
- Etoricoxib
- Felbinac
- Fenoprofen
- Fepradinol
- Feprazone
- Fleroxacin
- Floctafenine
- Flufenamic Acid
- Flumequine
- Flurbiprofen
- Fosnetupitant
- Gatifloxacin
- Gemifloxacin
- Ibuprofen
- Idelalisib
- Indomethacin
- Ivosidenib
- Ketoprofen
- Ketorolac
- Larotrectinib
- Lefamulin
- Levofloxacin
- Lomefloxacin
- Lorlatinib
- Lornoxicam
- Loxoprofen
- Lumacaftor
- Lumiracoxib
- Lutetium Lu 177 Dotatate
- Macimorelin
- Meclofenamate
- Mefenamic Acid
- Meloxicam
- Morniflumate
- Moxifloxacin
- Nabumetone
- Nadifloxacin
- Nadroparin
- Naproxen
- Nepafenac
- Netupitant
- Niflumic Acid
- Nimesulide
- Nimesulide Beta Cyclodextrin
- Norfloxacin
- Ofloxacin
- Oxaprozin
- Oxyphenbutazone
- Parecoxib
- Pazufloxacin
- Pefloxacin
- Phenylbutazone
- Piketoprofen
- Piroxicam
- Pranoprofen
- Proglumetacin
- Propyphenazone
- Proquazone
- Prulifloxacin
- Ritonavir
- Rofecoxib
- Rufloxacin
- Salicylic Acid
- Salsalate
- Sargramostim
- Sodium Salicylate
- Sparfloxacin
- Sulindac
- Telaprevir
- Tenoxicam
- Tiaprofenic Acid
- Tolfenamic Acid
- Tolmetin
- Tosufloxacin
- Valdecoxib
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Auranofin
- Erythromycin
- Ketoconazole
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