Monograph Details
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Respiratory Tract
> Asthma/COPD
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PULMICORT FLEXHALER |
| Manufacturer |
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AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals |
| Legal Classification |
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Rx
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| Pharmacological Class |
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Steroid. |
| Generic Name |
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Budesonide (micronized) 90micrograms/inh, 180micrograms/inh; dry pwd for inhalation. |
| Also |
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• PULMICORT RESPULES
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| Indications |
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Maintenance treatment of asthma as prophylactic therapy. Asthma requiring systemic corticosteroid therapy, to reduce need for systemic corticosteroids. |
| Children |
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<6 years: not recommended. ≥6 years: Initially 180micrograms twice daily; may consider starting at 360micrograms twice daily, if appropriate. Max 360micrograms twice daily. Rinse mouth after use. |
| Adults |
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≥18 years: Initially 360micrograms twice daily; may consider starting at 180micrograms twice daily, if appropriate. Max 720micrograms twice daily. Rinse mouth after use. |
| Contraindications |
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Not for primary treatment of acute attack. |
| Precautions |
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Maintain regular regimen. Infections. If exposed to chickenpox or measles, consider antiinfective prophylactic therapy. Adrenal insufficiency may occur when transferring patients from systemic corticosteroids to inhaled corticosteroids: see literature. Monitor for growth suppression in children. Post-op or during stress: monitor adrenal response. Monitor for hypercorticism and HPA axis suppression (if occur discontinue gradually). Transferring from oral corticosteroids: see literature. Pregnancy (Cat.B). Nursing mothers: not recommended. |
| Interactions |
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Caution with CYP3A4 inhibitors (eg, ketoconazole). |
| Adverse Reactions |
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Pulmicort Flexhaler: nasal congestion, allergic rhinitis, viral upper respiratory tract infection, oral candidiasis, viral gastroenteritis, nausea, bronchospasm (rare). Pulmicort Respules: Respiratory or other infection, GI upset, moniliasis, fatigue, cough, dysphonia, rash, epistaxis, bronchospasm (rare). |
| How Supplied |
Flexhaler (90mcg/dose)—1 (60 inh)
Flexhaler (180mcg/dose)—1 (120 inh)
Respules—30 |
| Additional Resources |
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• Related Prescribing Note |
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