Budesonide ER oral tablet side effects: How to manage them

Medical News Today

29-05-2025

As with other drugs, budesonide can cause side effects, such as headache and nausea. If side effects of budesonide become difficult to tolerate, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Budesonide comes as an extended-release (ER) oral tablet. ('ER' stands for extended release, which means the tablet releases the drug slowly, allowing your body to absorb it over time.) Budesonide also comes in other forms, but this article does not cover them.
Read on to learn about budesonide's potential common, mild, and serious side effects. » Learn more about budesonide, including details about its uses.
Budesonide can cause certain side effects, some of which are more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects persist, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
These are just a few of the more common side effects reported by people who took budesonide in clinical trials: headache
nausea
decreased level of cortisol
abdominal pain
fatigue
For more information about some of these side effects, see the 'Budesonide: Managing side effects' section.
Mild side effects can occur with budesonide use. This list does not include all possible mild side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to budesonide's prescribing information.
Mild side effects that people taking budesonide have reported include:
These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects continue, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Sharing your experience helps make medications safer for everyone by giving doctors and researchers more information about how the drug works in real life. If you develop a side effect while taking budesonide and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.
For more information about some of these side effects, see the 'Budesonide: Managing side effects' section.
Budesonide may cause serious side effects. The following list may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to budesonide's prescribing information.
If you develop serious side effects while taking budesonide, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you're having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.
Serious side effects that have been reported include: Allergic reaction
For some people, budesonide can cause an allergic reaction. There were no reports of this side effect in initial studies of the drug. But allergic reaction has been reported since budesonide ER oral tablets became available for use.
In general, symptoms of allergic reaction can be mild or serious.
Ways to manage
For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They'll also let you know whether you should keep taking the medication.
For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you've had a serious allergic reaction to budesonide, your doctor may recommend taking a different medication instead.
While taking budesonide, you may be able to take steps to make side effects easier to manage.
If you have problems with side effects that worsen or do not go away, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can discuss options for managing side effects or other available treatment options.
Headache was a common side effect reported in studies of budesonide. Steps you can take to manage symptoms associated with this side effect include: taking over-the-counter pain medications
exercising regularly
using a heat or ice pack
eating regular meals
Nausea was a common side effect reported in studies of budesonide. Steps you can take to manage symptoms associated with this side effect include: eating or drinking ginger
staying hydrated
avoiding spicy foods
Before taking budesonide, discuss your health history with your doctor. Budesonide may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. Be sure to talk with your doctor if any of the following apply to you:
Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.
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