Content
- Compound
- approximate cost
- Characteristics of the drug
- The main effects of its use
- Antibiotic or not?
- Possible harm and contraindications
- Application features
- Basic instructions
- Use during pregnancy or lactation
- Video about the drug Pulmicort
Pulmicort treatment accelerates the recovery period, reduces the risk of complications and the appointment of antibiotics, but has clear rules for use, since it is a hormonal drug.
Compound
Glucocorticosteroid drugs are the main therapy for bronchial asthma, laryngospasm and bronchospasm, as well as croup in children. With the development of bronchial obstruction or pneumonia, inpatient treatment is necessary using intramuscular or intravenous injections, and sometimes intravenous drip prescription of medicines. The active ingredient of the drug is budesonide.
Additional substances are:
- sodium chloride;
- sodium citrate;
- disodium edetate;
- anhydrous citric acid;
- polysorbate 80;
- water for injections.
approximate cost
1 ml of solution contains 0.25 or 0.5 mg of budesonide.
Pulmicort is released in suspension for spraying. It is a cloudy, colorless solution, sometimes whitish. When the drug is inhaled, a slightly salty taste is felt. Has no smell.
The solution is filled into disposable polyethylene transparent containers of 2 ml, which open quickly and easily.
- Pulmicort with a dosage of 0.25 mg in 1 ml is usually prescribed for children, 0.5 mg in 1 ml for adults.
- Pulmicort 0.25 mg in pharmacies can be bought from 650 to 980 rubles. for 20 plastic containers.
- Pulmicort 0.5 mg is sold for about 800 - 1000 rubles. for 20 containers.
Characteristics of the drug
Pulmicort is a hormonal drug used topically by inhalation. It acts directly inside the respiratory tract. Provides anti-inflammatory, antispastic, anti-edema effects. Acts quickly due to direct contact with bronchial receptors. The maximum concentration of the drug in plasma is reached 20-30 minutes after the start of inhalation. With high efficiency, the drug is less toxic in comparison with oral glucocorticosteroids.
Budesonide is a high potency non-halogenated corticosteroid. It is used in the treatment of the following diseases:
- bronchial asthma;
- chronic obstructive bronchial disease;
- laryngotracheitis (croup);
- laryngospasm.
In bronchial asthma, the drug can be used up to 4-5 times a day. If the patient was taking oral corticosteroids prior to its appointment, then the standard doses of Pulmicort may be less effective. But in such cases, it is recommended to increase the dose of budesonide, given that even the maximum doses of it are less toxic for oral hormonal agents.
Taking the drug for bronchitis with obstruction provides for treatment only during exacerbations. And with laryngotracheitis, sometimes up to 5-6 inhalations are enough to eliminate the symptoms of the disease.
The main effects of its use
The drug has the following main effects:
- removes obstruction;
- relieves swelling of the bronchial mucosa;
- reduces inflammation;
- reduces puffiness;
- shortens attacks of asthma or croup.
The effectiveness is quite high, therefore, with the correct dosage of Pulmicort, a rapid restoration of the normal state of the bronchopulmonary system and improvement of the patients' well-being occurs. Although the drug is used topically in the form of a suspension, it still acts systemically on the body.
Antibiotic or not?
Budesonide is not an antibiotic and has no antibacterial properties. But this drug can be prescribed as an adjunctive therapy for antibiotic treatment.
There is evidence of an increased risk of pneumonia in the treatment of patients with chronic obstructive bronchial disease. In this area, studies are being carried out to clarify the mechanism of development of pneumonia during treatment with Pulmicort. One of the statements is that budesonide relieves inflammation, and the clinical picture of the disease is smoothed out. Also, in patients with COPD, pneumonia can often be perceived in the initial stages as another exacerbation of the underlying disease.
Therefore, the appointment of Pulmicort does not exclude the joint appointment of an antibiotic, since it is not effective enough for bacterial inflammation.
Possible harm and contraindications
Pulmicort is a hormonal drug that can cause unwanted treatment effects.
Side effects occur with the following frequency:
- very often (more than 1 case per 10 subjects);
- often (1 case per 10-100 subjects);
- infrequently (1 case per 100-1000 subjects);
- rarely (1 case per 1000-10000 examined).
| Often | Infrequently | Seldom |
| Oropharyngeal candidiasis | Feeling anxious | Hypersensitivity reactions of various forms of manifestation (rashes, dermatitis, anaphylactic reactions). |
| Pneumonia (in patients with COPD) | Depression | Symptoms of a systemic corticosteroid reaction (adrenal insufficiency, growth retardation). |
| Cough | Tremor | Psychomotor hyperreactivity |
| Hoarseness | Cataract | Sleep disturbance |
| Sore throat | Muscle spasm | Aggression |
| Redness of the throat | Mood swings | Bronchospasm |
| Stomatitis | Dysphonia |
Oral candidiasis develops due to the fact that the agent remains on the mucous membranes. To avoid this side effect, it is necessary to rinse the mouth after the procedure with plain water.
For the same reason, contact dermatitis or rashes in the contact area of the mask may occur. The suspension from the skin must be removed by thorough washing with warm water.
Pulmicort can cause systemic effects of glucocorticosteroids. But they are observed with long-term use of high doses of the drug, combined with oral corticoids, or with the use of steroids before switching to inhalation of budesonide. In case of insufficient growth in children, the dose of the drug should be reduced. In this case, it is necessary to consider the risks and benefits of exposure to the drug, if the risk outweighs the benefit - to prescribe an alternative drug.
Contraindications to the appointment of budesonide are the following conditions:
- hypersensitivity to budesonide;
- anaphylactic reactions to the drug;
- bronchospasm during inhalation of Pulmicort.
Application features
Pulmicort can be used when driving a car or work that requires increased mental activity. The drug does not affect or slightly affects concentration.
The agent must be taken with caution in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis or candidiasis. Also, for people with HIV and AIDS, the doctor should carefully consider the need to take the drug and take into account all the risks.
When budesonide is taken together with itraconazole, ketoconazole, HIV protease inhibitors, an increase in the systemic exposure of the hormone may be observed, so this combination should not be used. If this is not possible, then the interval between taking medications should be as long as possible.
The transition from oral corticoids to Pulmicort should begin during the patient's remission. In this case, the steroid used is not canceled for the first 10 days, but its dose is gradually reduced. In most cases, it is possible to completely replace the treatment with Pulmicort.
If, after the procedure, wheezing increases and bronchospasm develops, the drug should be canceled. Pulmicort is a hormonal drug that is not used to eliminate acute episodes of bronchial asthma. To do this, use short-acting bronchodilators.
Basic instructions
In order for the reception of Pulmicort to be effective, and the risks of side effects are minimal, the following rules should be adhered to:
- Carefully read the instructions for use of the suspension.
- Use the suspension only in the dose recommended by your doctor.
- If necessary, dilute Pulmicort with 0.9% saline or other solutions for sprays that contain salbutamol, fenoterol, acetylcysteine, sodium cromoglycate, or ipratropium bromide.
- Use an open container for 30 minutes.
- After the procedure, rinse the mouth with water.
- Wash your face, especially at the point of contact of the mask with warm water.
- Rinse all nebulizer parts.
Use during pregnancy or lactation
Pulmicort is used during pregnancy, despite the fact that it is a hormonal drug. In the study of the drug, it was found that it penetrates the blood-brain barrier, but does not have a teratogenic effect on the fetus.
Appointment of Pulmicort during pregnancy should be justified and rationally dosed. If a pregnant woman has bronchial asthma or chronic bronchitis with an asthmatic component, then a hormonal drug should be included in the treatment. Considering that it is Pulmicort that has a minimum of side effects in comparison with other hormones, its choice in the treatment of pregnant women will be the most concomitant.
For breastfeeding women, inhalation of budesonide is also used, but it should be borne in mind that the agent passes into breast milk. When studying the drug, it was found that there were no side effects in the child at the recommended dosage. If the dose is exceeded, candidiasis of the oral cavity is possible, which requires a revision of the rationality of the appointment of the drug and the doses used.
Bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive bronchitis, bronchospasm are diseases that require constant or periodic intake of hormonal medications. All hormonal agents can cause systemic effects on the body (growth retardation in children, adrenal insufficiency).
The lowest risk of side effects belongs to Pulmicort, which acts directly in the area of inflammation. As a hormonal drug, it has the inherent effects of glucocorticoids, while remaining safer for the patient.
Video about the drug Pulmicort
Pulmicort. An effective remedy for brochial asthma:
