Budesonide. An updated review of its pharmacological properties, and therapeutic efficacy in asthma and rhinitis.

Inhaled budesonide is now well established in the management of adult and childhood asthma, and when nebulised, shows considerable promise in recurrent wheezing and in severe asthma in infants. Studies conducted since the drug was previously reviewed in the Journal in 1984 have confirmed the comparable efficacy of equal doses of budesonide and beclomethasone dipropionate, the ability of budesonide to reduce oral maintenance corticosteroid requirements, and demonstrated its potential as first-line treatment of mild to moderate asthma. Recent studies have established the usefulness and good tolerability of intranasal budesonide in the treatment of seasonal allergic and perennial rhinitis where the drug is more effective than disodium cromoglycate and at least as effective as beclomethasone dipropionate. After up to 10 years of treatment with inhaled budesonide there is no evidence that the drug damages the tracheobronchial lining or the nasal mucosa. Inhaled corticosteroids continue to play an important role in the treatment of asthma with an increasing focus on their role as first-line therapy, and widespread clinical experience has shown budesonide is an effective and well tolerated member of this class which should be considered where inhaled or intranasal administration of a corticosteroid is indicated.