budesonide, Entocort EC (cont.)

Pharmacy Author:

Omudhome Ogbru, PharmD

Omudhome Ogbru, PharmD

Dr. Ogbru received his Doctorate in Pharmacy from the University of the Pacific School of Pharmacy in 1995. He completed a Pharmacy Practice Residency at the University of Arizona/University Medical Center in 1996. He was a Professor of Pharmacy Practice and a Regional Clerkship Coordinator for the University of the Pacific School of Pharmacy from 1996-99.

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Medical and Pharmacy Editor:

Jay W. Marks, MD

Jay W. Marks, MD

Jay W. Marks, MD, is a board-certified internist and gastroenterologist. He graduated from Yale University School of Medicine and trained in internal medicine and gastroenterology at UCLA/Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

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Budesonide also may cause low potassium, weight gain, allergic reactions, insomnia, and mood changes. High doses of budesonide may decrease the formation and increase the breakdown of bone. Higher doses also may suppress the body's ability to make its own natural glucocorticoid, cortisol. People with suppressed production of cortisol (which can be determined by testing) need increased amounts of glucocorticoids, probably by the oral or intravenous route, during periods of high physical stress or acute diseases. Corticosteroids can mask signs of infection and impair the body's natural immune response to infection. Patients on corticosteroids are more susceptible to infections, and can develop more serious infections than healthy individuals. For example, chickenpox and measles viruses can produce serious and even fatal illnesses in patients on high doses of corticosteroids.

Reference: FDA Prescribing Information

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