Pulmicort: Description, Features And Methods Of Use

Pulmicort is a drug that consists of budesonide, a glucocorticoid with an anti-inflammatory effect. Its task is, among other things, to suppress the immune system and change the metabolism.

Pulmicort is a drug that contains budesonide and is administered via a metered dose inhaler or nebuliser for the control and prophylactic treatment of asthma, including for patients who need oral corticosteroids as well as those who may benefit from systemic dose reduction.

Budesonide is a corticosteroid that is sold in various forms for administration by different routes, each of which is used for a variety of diseases.

In this case, Pulmicort is an inhaled administration form indicated for the control of glucocorticoid therapy to monitor the underlying inflammation of the airways in patients suffering from bronchial asthma.

In other words, doctors prescribe it to support the treatment of inflammatory airways diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which we’ll cover later in this article. It is also used to treat exacerbation of laryngitis that requires hospitalization.

However, it should also be taken into account that this medication is only suitable for acute asthma attacks that have already started. Patients must use it regularly as per doctor’s instructions.

Companies first released this active ingredient in 1981, although a patent was already granted in 1971. When it first appeared on the market, it was only available for the treatment of asthma. Currently, it is an active substance on the list of key medicines of the World Health Organization (WHO).

Pulmicort: methods of its administration

Pulmicort is a budesonide that is intended to be administered by inhalation. However, as we mentioned earlier, there are also other routes of administration, including:

• Oral route. It’s a tablet for treating inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and microscopic colitis.
• Nasal spray. Intended for the treatment of allergic sinusitis and nasal polyposis.
• Suppositories and rectal remedies. Also used to treat inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and microscopic colitis.

What is COPD?

The main feature of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is that it affects the flow of air to the lungs. It usually occurs due to long-term exposure to toxic molecules such as those from smoking.

Patients suffering from this disease are more likely to develop other conditions, such as heart disease and lung cancer.

Symptoms usually do not appear until the disease is in a fairly advanced state and has already done significant damage. Additionally, symptoms usually worsen over time, especially if you smoke.

The most characteristic symptom is a daily cough and mucus production. Apart from them, there is also:

• Lack of energy.
• Tightness of the chest.
• Difficulties with breathing.
• Respiratory infections.
• Whistling while breathing.

Pulmicort and how it works

As you probably already know, Pulmicort contains budesonide, which is a glucocorticoid. Medicines of this type have, inter alia, significant anti-inflammatory effects, such as suppressing the immune system or changes in metabolism.

Due to the aforementioned effects, this drug is helpful in the fight against these diseases. It may have a strong local anti-inflammatory effect as well as inhibit the secretion of inflammatory mediators and the immune response mediated by cytokines.

However, we still do not know how the anti-inflammatory action of this drug works on the nasal mucosa.

Glucocorticoids are natural hormones that prevent or suppress inflammation and the immune response when administered in pharmacological doses.

These actions appear in various cells such as mast cells, eosinophils and lymphocytes. They are also present in intermediaries involved in allergic and non-allergic inflammation mediated by histamine, eicosanoids, leukotrienes, and cytokines.

To sum up

Pulmicort is a drug that contains budesonide. Doctors prescribe it to treat respiratory conditions such as asthma and COPD on a regular basis. It’s a nebulizer.

As with other steroids, long-term discontinuation of therapy with this drug should be gradual. People who suddenly stop taking it have to face serious health consequences.