Important: This page is general information, not medical advice. It does not recommend or prescribe any treatment. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting, stopping or changing any medicine.
Quick facts
- Drug class
- Corticosteroid [EPC], Corticosteroid Hormone Receptor Agonists [MoA]
- How it is given
- oral
- Type
- human prescription drug
- RxNorm ID
- 1244214
We do not publish dosing. How much of this medicine to take, how often, and for how long depends on your age, weight, kidney and liver function, other conditions and other medicines. That is a decision for the person who prescribes or dispenses it. Follow the directions on your own pack and ask your pharmacist if anything is unclear.
What it is used to treat
Budesonide delayed-release capsules are a corticosteroid indicated for: Treatment of mild to moderate active Crohn’s disease involving the ileum and/or the ascending colon, in patients 8 years and older. ( 1.1 ) Maintenance of clinical remission of mild to moderate Crohn’s disease involving the ileum and/or the ascending colon for up to 3 months in adults. ( 1.2 ) 1.1 Treatment of Mild to Moderate Active Crohn’s Disease Budesonide delayed-release capsules are indicated for the treatment of mild to moderate active Crohn’s disease involving the ileum and/or the ascending colon in patients 8 years of age and older. 1.2 Maintenance of Clinical Remission of Mild to Moderate Crohn’s Disease Budesonide delayed-release capsules are indicated for the maintenance of clinical remission of mild to moderate Crohn’s disease involving the ileum and/or the ascending colon for up to 3 months in adults.
About this medicine
Budesonide USP, the active ingredient of budesonide delayed-release capsules, is a synthetic corticosteroid. Budesonide, USP is designated chemically as (RS)-11β, 16α, 17,21-tetrahydroxypregna-1,4-diene-3,20-dione cyclic 16,17-acetal with butyraldehyde. Budesonide, USP is provided as a mixture of two epimers (22R and 22S). The molecular formula of budesonide, USP is C 25 H 34 O 6 and its molecular weight is 430.5 g/mol. Its structural formula is: Budesonide, USP is a white to off-white crystalline powder that is practically insoluble in water, sparingly soluble in alcohol, and freely soluble in methylene chloride. Its partition coefficient between octanol and water at pH 5 is 1.6 x 10 3 ionic strength 0.01. Each delayed-release capsule for oral administration contains 3 mg of micronized budesonide, USP with the following inactive ingredients: cetyl alcohol, corn starch, ethyl cellulose, hypromellose, macrogol, methacrylic acid copolymer type C, sodium lauryl sulfate, sugar, talc and triethyl citrate. The capsule shells have the following inactive ingredients: D&C yellow #10, FD&C blue #1, FD&C red #40, FD&C yellow #6, gelatin and titanium dioxide. The monogramming ink has the following inactive ingredients: D&C yellow #10, ethanol, FD&C blue #1, FD&C blue #2, FD&C red #40, iron oxide black, methanol, N-butyl alcohol, propylene glycol and shellac. 1
How it works
12.1 Mechanism of Action Budesonide is an anti-inflammatory corticosteroid and has a high glucocorticoid effect and a weak mineralocorticoid effect, and the affinity of budesonide to glucocorticoid receptors, which reflects the intrinsic potency of the drug, is about 200-fold that of cortisol and 15-fold that of prednisolone.
Who should not take it
Budesonide delayed-release capsules are contraindicated in patients with hypersensitivity to budesonide or any of the ingredients of budesonide delayed-release capsules. Serious hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis have occurred [see Adverse Reactions (6.2) ] . Hypersensitivity to budesonide or any of the ingredients in budesonide delayed-release capsules. ( 4 )
Warnings and cautions
Hypercorticism and Adrenal Axis Suppression: May occur with treatment; monitor for signs and symptoms; pediatrics and patients with hepatic impairment may be at increased risk. ( 2.4 , 5.1 , 8.4 , 8.6 ) Symptoms of Steroid Withdrawal in Patients Transferred from Other Systemic Corticosteroids: Taper slowly from corticosteroids with high systemic effects; monitor for withdrawal symptoms and unmasking of allergies (rhinitis, eczema). ( 5.2 ) Immunosuppression and Increased Risk of Infection: Increased risk of viral, bacterial, fungal, protozoal and helminthic infections, including potentially fatal varicella and measles infection. Monitor patients for new or worsening infection and consider drug discontinuation. Avoid use in patients with fungal infections, Strongyloides infestation, cerebral malaria and ocular herpes simplex. Screen for hepatitis B infection. ( 5.3 ) Karposi’s Sarcoma: Reported to occur in patients receiving corticosteroid therapy, most often for chronic conditions. ( 5.4 ) Other Corticosteroid Effects: Monitor patients with concomitant conditions where corticosteroids may have unwanted effects (e.g., hypertension, diabetes mellitus). ( 5.5 ) 5.1 Hypercorticism and Adrenal Axis Suppression Systemic effects such as hypercorticism and adrenal axis suppression may occur with use of corticosteroids, including budesonide [see Adverse Reactions (6.1) , Clinical Pharmacology (12.2) ] . Pediatric patients with Crohn’s disease have a slightly higher systemic exposure of budesonide and increased cortisol suppression than adults with Crohn’s disease [see Use in Specific Populations (8.4) , Clinical Pharmacology (12.2) ] . Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of hypercorticism and adrenal axis suppression during treatment with budesonide. Patients with moderate to severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh Class B and C respectively) could be at an increased risk of hypercorticism and adrenal axis suppression due to an increased systemic exposure of oral budesonide. Avoid use in patients with severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh Class C). […]
Reported side effects
The following clinically significant adverse reactions are described elsewhere in labeling: Hypercorticism and adrenal axis suppression [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] Symptoms of steroid withdrawal in those patients transferred from other systemic corticosteroids [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] Immunosuppression and increased risk of infection [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ] Kaposi’s sarcoma [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4) ] Other corticosteroid effects [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5) ] Most common adverse reactions (≥ 5%) in adults are: headache, respiratory infection, nausea, back pain, dyspepsia, dizziness, abdominal pain, flatulence, vomiting, fatigue, and pain. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC at 1-877-835-5472 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. Adults The data described below reflect exposure to budesonide in 520 patients with Crohn’s disease, including 520 exposed to 9 mg per day (total daily dose) for 8 weeks and 145 exposed to 6 mg per day for one year in placebo controlled clinical trials. Of the 520 patients, 38% were males and the age range was 17 to 74 years. Treatment of Mild to Moderate Active Crohn’s Disease The safety of budesonide was evaluated in 651 adult patients in five clinical trials of 8 weeks duration in patients with active mild to moderate Crohn’s disease. The most common adverse reactions, occurring in greater than or equal to 5% of the patients, are listed in Table 1. […]
Interactions with other medicines
CYP3A4 Inhibitors (e.g., ketoconazole, grapefruit juice): Can increase systemic budesonide concentrations: avoid use. ( 2.1, 7.1 ) 7.1 CYP3A4 Inhibitors Budesonide is a substrate for CYP3A4. Avoid use with CYP3A4 inhibitors. Concomitant oral administration of a strong CYP3A4 inhibitor (ketoconazole) caused an eight-fold increase of the systemic exposure to oral budesonide. Inhibitors of CYP3A4 (e.g., ketoconazole, itraconazole, ritonavir, indinavir, saquinavir, erythromycin, and cyclosporine) can increase systemic budesonide concentrations [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . Grapefruit Juice Avoid ingestion of grapefruit juice with budesonide. Intake of grapefruit juice which inhibits CYP3A4 activity with budesonide can increase the systemic exposure for budesonide [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] .
Use in specific groups
Pregnancy: Based on animal data, may cause fetal harm. ( 8.1 ) 8.1 Pregnancy Risk Summary Limited published studies report on the use of budesonide in pregnant women; however, the data are insufficient to inform a drug-associated risk for major birth defects and miscarriage. There are clinical considerations [see Clinical Considerations ] . In animal reproduction studies with pregnant rats and rabbits, administration of subcutaneous budesonide during organogenesis at doses approximately 0.5 times or 0.05 times, respectively, the maximum recommended human dose, resulted in increased fetal loss, decreased pup weights, and skeletal abnormalities. Maternal toxicity was observed in both rats and rabbits at these dose levels [see Data ] . Based on animal data, advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus. The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage of the indicated population is unknown. All pregnancies have a background risk of birth defect, loss, or other adverse outcomes. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2% to 4% and 15% to 20%, respectively. Clinical Considerations Disease-Associated Maternal and/or Embryo/Fetal Risk Some published epidemiological studies show an association of adverse pregnancy outcomes in women with Crohn’s disease, including preterm birth and low birth weight infants, during periods of increased disease activity (including increased stool frequency and abdominal pain). Pregnant women with Crohn’s disease should be counseled regarding the importance of controlling disease. Fetal/Neonatal adverse reactions Hypoadrenalism may occur in infants born of mothers receiving corticosteroids during pregnancy. Infants should be carefully observed for signs of hypoadrenalism, such as poor feeding, irritability, weakness, and vomiting, and managed accordingly [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] . Data Animal Data Budesonide was teratogenic and embryolethal in rabbits and rats. […]
If too much is taken
Reports of acute toxicity and/or death following overdosage of glucocorticoids are rare. Treatment consists of immediate gastric lavage or emesis followed by supportive and symptomatic therapy. If corticosteroids are used at excessive doses for prolonged periods, systemic corticosteroid effects such as hypercorticism and adrenal axis suppression may occur. For chronic overdosage in the case of severe disease requiring continuous steroid therapy, the dosage may be reduced temporarily. Single oral doses of 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg were lethal in female and male mice, respectively. The signs of acute toxicity were decreased motor activity, piloerection and generalized edema.
Before you take anything new
Tell your pharmacist or doctor about every medicine you take — including ones bought without a prescription, herbal products and supplements. Interactions are one of the most common avoidable causes of harm from medicines, and a pharmacist can check your full list in a couple of minutes.
This page is built from the openFDA record of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's approved labelling for this product, effective 19 June 2025. Label text has been shortened and reformatted for readability; safety wording has not been altered in meaning. FDA labelling describes products approved in the United States — brand names, strengths, formulations and approved uses may differ in your country. Always read the leaflet that comes with your own pack. PocketsInfo is not affiliated with, and is not endorsed by, the FDA. Retrieved 2026-07-30.