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Detailed medicine guidance

Who can and cannot use budesonide inhalers

NHS medicines information on who can use budesonide inhalers and who may not be able to use them.

About this information

This NHS content is written for people in England. Medicine names, availability, prescribing and services may differ in other countries.

Who can use budesonide inhalers

Most adults can use inhalers that contain budesonide for asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Babies and children can use budesonide inhalers for asthma. Some brands may only be suitable for children aged 5 years old and over, and some may only be suitable for adults to use.

Most adults can use budesonide in a nebuliser.

Children aged under 18 years old can use budesonide in a nebuliser only if it's with advice from a specialist doctor. This is because children need to be monitored to make sure their condition is not getting worse.

Who may not be able to use budesonide inhalers

Budesonide inhalers are not suitable for some people. To make sure they're safe for you, tell a doctor or nurse if you:

  • have ever had an allergic reaction to budesonide or any other medicine
  • have ever had TB (tuberculosis)
  • are taking or have recently taken other steroid medicines
  • are pregnant or trying to get pregnant

View the original NHS website page ↗. Refreshed 19 August 2026.

Licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 ↗. MyPHU is independent and is not endorsed by the NHS.

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