This NHS content is written for people in England. Medicine names, availability, prescribing and services may differ in other countries.
Budesonide nasal (nose) spray is used to treat cold-like symptoms caused by allergic rhinitis. This is swelling (inflammation) of the inside of your nose that can be brought on by allergies like hay fever.
It's also used to shrink nasal polyps (painless, soft growths inside the nose) to relieve a blocked nose.
Budesonide is a type of medicine called a steroid (or corticosteroid). Steroids are a copy of a substance your body makes naturally. They're not the same as anabolic steroids.
Budesonide nasal spray is available on prescription for adults and children aged 6 years old and over. You can also buy it from pharmacies and shops for adults aged 18 years old and over.
Budesonide also comes as:
- an inhaler – for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- tablets, including tablets that dissolve on your tongue, capsules and granules – for inflammatory conditions such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, autoimmune hepatitis and eosinophilic oesophagitis
- rectal foam and enemas – for ulcerative colitis
View the original NHS website page ↗. Refreshed 19 August 2026.
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