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Budesonide is a type of steroid, corticosteroid, used to reduce inflammation. It is available as an oral tablet or extended release tablet to treat Crohn's disease. It is also available in inhaled form for COPD and asthma. The prescription medication is indicated for treatment of respiratory symptoms or lung inflammation. Budesonide is available in some over-the-counter nasal sprays such as Rhinocort.
Inhaled corticosteroids help to prevent asthma attacks and improve lung function. Because inhaled corticosteroids deliver the medicine directly into the lungs, smaller doses of corticosteroid are needed to effectively control asthma symptoms compared to what would be needed if the same medication was taken orally. This also reduces the likelihood of side effects.
Budesonide is being used to treat Covid-19, both for early treatment and in the hospital. On 12 April 2021, the UK National Health Service (NHS) issued an interim position statement stating that inhaled budesonide can be prescribed off-label for those 50 and older for Covid-19 treatment.
Published Medical Articles
Inhaled budesonide in the treatment of early COVID-19 (STOIC): a phase 2, open-label, randomised controlled trial
Inhaled budesonide for COVID-19 in people at high risk of complications in the community in the UK (PRINCIPLE): a randomised, controlled, open-label, adaptive platform trial
Risk factors for developing COVID-19: a population-based longitudinal study (COVIDENCE UK)
Intranasal Corticosteroids Are Associated with Better Outcomes in Coronavirus Disease 2019
Association Between Inhaled Corticosteroid Use and the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection: A Nationwide Population-based Study in South Korea