Budesonide Nasal Spray: What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider?
- Not had chickenpox or the measles (and have not been vaccinated against them)
- Tuberculosis, herpes, or any other infections
- Recently had nasal surgery
- Sores or injury to the inside of your nose
- Any allergies, including allergies to food, dyes, or preservatives.
Also, let your healthcare provider know if you are:
- Pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant
- Breastfeeding.
Make sure to tell your healthcare provider about all medicines you are taking, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Specific Precautions and Warnings With Budesonide Nasal Spray
Some warnings and precautions to be aware of prior to taking
budesonide nasal spray include the following:
- If you are switching from an oral steroid to budesonide nasal spray (which is a nasal steroid), your healthcare provider should slowly decrease your dose of the oral steroid. Stopping an oral steroid too quickly can be dangerous.
- As mentioned, budesonide nasal spray is a steroid and may suppress the immune system. Although this is more likely to occur with oral steroids, it is still possible with nasal steroids. Taking steroids may put you at a higher risk for infections. Certain infections (such as chickenpox or the measles) may be more dangerous if you are using budesonide nasal spray. Let your healthcare provider know right away if you are exposed to chickenpox or the measles, especially if you have not had these infections and have not been vaccinated against them. In rare cases, budesonide nasal spray can lead to yeast infections in the nose and throat as a result of suppressing the immune system.
- The medication can suppress the body's ability to make natural steroids. Usually, this happens when too much budesonide is taken (or when a drug interaction with budesonide nasal spray occurs). In such circumstances, the medication should be stopped slowly to give your body a chance to begin making natural steroids again.
- Like all steroids, budesonide nasal spray may slow down the growth rate of children and teenagers. Contact your child's healthcare provider if you are concerned about a slow growth rate in your child.
- Before starting budesonide nasal spray, be sure to tell your healthcare provider if you currently have any type of infection. Also, let your healthcare provider know if you have ever had tuberculosis or a herpes infection of the eye, as the medication may weaken the immune system, allowing these infections to become worse.
- Corticosteroids (such as budesonide nasal spray) can slow down healing. Therefore, if you have had recent nasal surgery or nasal sores, you should wait until healing has occurred before using the drug. Also, corticosteroids can cause nosebleeds and nasal sores or irritation.
- Budesonide nasal spray can potentially interact with other medications (see Drug Interactions With Budesonide Nasal Spray).
- Budesonide nasal spray is considered a pregnancy Category B medication. This means that it is probably safe for use during pregnancy, although the full risks are not currently known (see Rhinocort Aqua and Pregnancy).
- Budesonide (the active ingredient) passes through breast milk. Therefore, if you are breastfeeding or plan to start, discuss this with your healthcare provider prior to taking the drug (see Rhinocort Aqua and Breastfeeding).
