Pulmicort Flexhaler

(budesonide)

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Controls asthma.

Skip Upsides & Downsides section. Skip to side effects section.

Our bottom line

Pulmicort Flexhaler (budesonide) is good for controlling and preventing asthma symptoms, but it's not a rescue inhaler and must be taken daily.

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  • Price before coupon
    $335.24
  • Lowest price with coupon
    $248.97
  • Savings
    26%
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Quick facts about Pulmicort Flexhaler
  • Drug class: Respiratory
  • Rx status: Prescription only
  • Generic status: No lower cost generic available

Upsides

  • Pulmicort Flexhaler (budesonide) is an inhaled corticosteroid, which is the most effective class of medicines to manage asthma when taken daily. People can notice an improvement in asthma control within 24 hours of starting treatment.
  • Taking Pulmicort Flexhaler (budesonide) into the lungs has fewer side effects than taking a pill by mouth.
  • Safe for use by children 6 years and older.
  • Doesn't need to be primed again after the first prime, even if you haven't used it for a long time.
Tried Pulmicort Flexhaler? Write a review!

Downsides

  • Can take 1 to 2 weeks or more for full benefit on asthma symptoms.
  • Can cause fungal infections of the mouth and throat, especially if you don't rinse your mouth after use.
How it works

Pulmicort Flexhaler (budesonide) is a corticosteroid. It lowers inflammation in your lungs, which controls asthma and prevents asthma attacks.

Quick facts about Pulmicort Flexhaler
  • Drug class: Respiratory
  • Rx status: Prescription only
  • Generic status: No lower cost generic available

Used for

Dosage forms

  • Inhaler
Tried Pulmicort Flexhaler? Write a review!

Prices and coupons

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What to expect when you take Pulmicort Flexhaler (budesonide) for Asthma

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  • First few hoursHours
    First few daysDays
    First few weeksWeeks
    First few monthsMonths
  • Effectiveness
  • Starts to kick in
    Full effects
  • First few hoursHours
    First few daysDays
    First few weeksWeeks
    First few monthsMonths
  • Possible side effects
  • Mouth yeast infection
  • Sore throat
  • Stuffy nose
  • Nausea
  • Viral stomach flu
  • Viral infection of airways, nose, and throat
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Side effect rates for Pulmicort Flexhaler (budesonide)

From 456 clinical trials of Pulmicort Flexhaler when taken for asthma (360 mcg bid)
  • Common cold symptoms
    9%9%
    8%8%
  • Stuffy nose
    3%3%
  • Sore throat
    3%3%
    2%2%
  • Runny, stuffy nose
    2%2%
    1%1%
  • Viral infection of airways, nose, and throat
    2%2%
    1%1%
  • Nausea
    2%2%
    1%1%
  • Viral stomach flu
    2%2%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
Where we got our data »

The placebo bar shows how common a side effect was for people taking a sugar pill instead of Pulmicort Flexhaler.

Pulmicort Flexhaler (budesonide)
Placebo

People taking Pulmicort Flexhaler felt side effect more

People taking Pulmicort Flexhaler felt side effect less

No difference

Risks and Warnings for Pulmicort Flexhaler (budesonide)

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    • Higher risk if:
    • › Milk protein allergy

    Pulmicort Flexhaler (budesonide) contains a milk product called lactose. Don't take Pulmicort Flexhaler (budesonide) Flexhaler if you have an allergy to milk products. Call 911 or your doctor right away if you develop severe rash, itching, swelling or difficulty breathing while taking Pulmicort Flexhaler (budesonide).