Description
Same active ingredient (budesonide) as Pulmicort®, the US brand. Budecort Respules 0.5 mg is an Indian brand, made and licensed in India. Compare all Generic Pulmicort (Budesonide) options.
About Budecort Respules 0.5 mg
Budecort Respules 0.5 mg is a prescription nebulizer suspension containing 0.5 mg of budesonide in each 2 mL single-dose ampule, made by Cipla Limited, used for the long-term control of asthma. Breathed in as a fine mist through a mask or mouthpiece, it is designed for babies, toddlers and young children, and for anyone who cannot manage a handheld inhaler, even with a spacer.
How does it work?
The nebulizer turns the liquid into tiny droplets that travel deep into the airways with normal, relaxed breathing. There, budesonide calms the inflammation that narrows the breathing tubes. It is a preventer: it lowers the number of flare-ups over time but gives no quick relief during wheezing.
Who is it for?
In the US, budesonide inhalation suspension is labeled for maintenance treatment of asthma in children aged 12 months to 8 years. In the UK and many other countries it is also used in older children and adults, and doctors sometimes give nebulized budesonide for croup, a viral illness that causes a barking cough in young children. The 0.5 mg strength is the usual starting point for little ones.
Usual doses
Under US labeling for children from 12 months to 8 years, the total daily dose is 0.5 mg to 1 mg, given once a day or split into two, and it should not exceed 1 mg a day. UK labeling allows 0.5–1 mg twice daily for children under 12, reduced to the lowest amount that keeps symptoms controlled. Your child’s doctor chooses the dose; do not change it yourself.
How to use Budecort Respules
- Wash your hands and set up a jet nebulizer with its compressor. An ultrasonic nebulizer is not suitable for this suspension.
- Tear one ampule from the strip, swirl it gently to mix the contents, and twist off the top.
- Squeeze every drop into the nebulizer cup.
- Fit a snug face mask for a young child, or a mouthpiece for an older one.
- Sit the child upright and let them breathe normally until no more mist appears, usually 5 to 10 minutes.
- Afterward, wipe the skin under the mask and offer a drink of water or rinse the mouth.
Tips for nebulizing young children
- Choose a calm moment, since crying cuts the amount reaching the lungs.
- Keep the mask sealed on the face; holding it a little way off wastes most of the dose.
- A story, video or song makes the routine easier.
- Wash the cup and mask after every use as the nebulizer maker instructs, and let them air-dry.
How quickly does it help?
Improvement may appear within 2 to 8 days, while the full effect can take 4 to 6 weeks. Give it daily, not only when your child is wheezy.
What are the side effects?
Children may get a sore throat, cough, runny nose, ear infections, oral thrush or reddened skin where the mask sits. Occasionally mood or behavior changes, such as restlessness, are seen. Long-term use can slightly slow growth, so doctors measure height regularly. Seek urgent care if breathing worsens during or straight after a treatment, if there is facial swelling or hives, or if your child struggles to breathe, cannot feed or talk, or looks pale or blue.
Cautions
Tell the doctor if your child is exposed to chickenpox or measles without being immune, or has tuberculosis or another untreated infection. Medicines such as ritonavir, itraconazole and ketoconazole raise budesonide levels. For adults who use it, budesonide is regarded as one of the safer inhaled steroid choices during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Pack sizes and storage
Strips of 5 respules, sold in packs of 30, 60 or 90, from $25. Keep unused ampules in their foil pouch, protected from light, below 86°F (30°C), and do not freeze. Use an opened ampule straight away, and use the rest of an opened pouch within the time stated on the leaflet.
Frequently asked questions
Can I mix it with a reliever in the nebulizer?
Only if your doctor or pharmacist says so. Relievers such as Asthalin Respules, which contain albuterol (salbutamol), are usually given separately.
What if my child needs a larger dose?
The doctor may prescribe Budecort Respules 1 mg.
When can a child switch to an inhaler?
Many children move to an aerosol with a spacer, such as Budecort Inhaler 100 mcg, once they are old enough. Compare options in the asthma category.
General guidance for families, not a replacement for your pediatrician. Budecort Respules 0.5 mg is a prescription medicine to be used only as directed.
Helpful guides
- Types of Asthma Inhalers: Relievers, Preventers and How to Use Them CorrectlyLearn the types of asthma inhalers (relievers, preventers and combination inhalers), how each one works, and step-by-step tips for correct inhaler technique.