Side effects of budesonide nasal spray

These common side effects of budesonide nasal spray can happen in more than 1 in 100 people. There are things you can do to help cope with them:

This will usually settle down as you get used to the medicine.

Stop using your nasal spray for a few days, then start again.

Speak to your doctor or a pharmacist if this advice does not help and the side effects still bother you or do not go away.

Very few people have serious side effects when using budesonide nasal spray.

You're more likely to have a serious side effect if you use budesonide for more than a few months or take a high dose.

Tell a doctor or call 111 straight away if you get:

• damage to your nose or sores inside your nose
• changes in your eyesight, such as blurred vision or a cloudy lens in the eye – these can be signs of increased pressure in your eyes (glaucoma) or a cataract

Serious allergic reaction

In rare cases, budesonide nasal spray may cause a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis).

Call 999 now if:

• your lips, mouth, throat or tongue suddenly become swollen
• you're breathing very fast or struggling to breathe (you may become very wheezy or feel like you're choking or gasping for air)
• your throat feels tight or you're struggling to swallow
• your skin, tongue or lips turn blue, grey or pale (if you have black or brown skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet)
• you suddenly become very confused, drowsy or dizzy
• someone faints and cannot be woken up
• a child is limp, floppy or not responding like they normally do (their head may fall to the side, backwards or forwards, or they may find it difficult to lift their head or focus on your face)

You or the person who's unwell may also have a rash that's swollen, raised, itchy, blistered or peeling.

These can be signs of a serious allergic reaction and may need immediate treatment in hospital.

These are not all the side effects of budesonide nasal spray. For a full list see the leaflet inside your medicines packet.