Pulmicort: What Is It And What Is It For?

Pulmicort contains budesonide, which is a glucocorticoid. These drugs have a great anti-inflammatory effect.

Pulmicort is a preparation of budesonide for  administration by inhalation by spraying this active substance. Budesonide is a corticosteroid drug that is marketed in different forms, each one indicated for different pathologies.

In this case, Pulmicort is an inhaled form of administration indicated for the background treatment with glucocorticoids for the control of the underlying inflammation of the airways in patients with bronchial asthma.

In other words, it is indicated for the basic treatment of diseases which lead to inflammation of the respiratory tract. This is for example the case of asthma or COPD which we will talk about a little later. It also helps to treat subglottic laryngitis, for which hospitalization is indicated.

However, it should be taken into account that this medication is not indicated for  acute asthma attacks when they have started.  It should be used on a regular basis, as prescribed by the doctor.

In addition,  this active principle was marketed in 1984,  although its patent was released in 1973. When it entered the market, it was indicated for the treatment of asthma.

The patent for this drug was released in 1973 and its commercialization began in 1981 as a drug to treat asthma. It is also an active principle which is included in the list of essential drugs created by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Forms of administration of budesonide

Pulmicort  is a budesonide preparation for inhaled administration. However, budesonide can also be administered by other routes, as discussed above. Thus, among the latter, we find:

• Oral use:  in pill form. It is used primarily for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and microscopic colitis.
• Nasal spray:  this form of administration is indicated for the treatment of allergic rhinitis and nasal poliposis.
• Suppositories or other rectal forms:  in this case, budesonide is indicated for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and microscopic colitis.

What is COPD?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a condition that  affects the flow of air from the lungs. It usually appears due to exposure to toxic particles for a long time. Among these particles, we can highlight those that make up tobacco.

Patients with this disease  are more likely to suffer from other conditions  such as certain heart diseases, lung cancer and other conditions.

On the other hand, with regard to symptoms,  these usually do not appear until the disease is relatively advanced  and has produced significant damage. In addition, the symptoms tend to worsen over time, especially if the patient is a smoker.

The most characteristic symptom is the daily cough and the production of mucus. However, here are others:

• Lack of energy.
• Pressure in the chest.
• Difficulty in breathing.
• Infections in the respiratory tract.
• Hissing when breathing.

Mechanism of action: how does Pulmicort work on the body?

As we already know, Pulmicort contains budesonide, which is a glucocorticoid. These drugs have a great anti-inflammatory effect,  such as depression of the immune system or changes in metabolism.

Thanks to these effects, the drug is effective against this type of disease. It is able to produce a strong local anti-inflammatory effect  and inhibit the release of inflammatory mediators as well as the immune response involving cytokines.

However,  the mechanism of the anti-inflammatory activity of this drug in the nasal mucosa is still poorly understood.

Glucocorticoids are natural hormones that prevent or suppress inflammation and immune responses when given in pharmacological doses.

They exhibit these effects at the level of different cells such as mast cells, eosinophils or lymphocytes, among others, and at the level of mediators involved in allergic and non-allergic inflammation  such as histamine, eicosanoids, leukotrienes and cytokines.

What should we remember about Pulmicort?

Pulmicort is a medicine that contains budenoside. It is recommended  for the basic treatment of respiratory tract diseases  such as asthma or COPD. It is a spray that is administered by inhalation.

Like other corticosteroids, stopping long-term treatment with this drug should be done gradually. If treatment is stopped suddenly,  serious health consequences can occur.