My doctor prescribed Budecort 0.5mg respules for asthma, but I feel throat irritation after using them. Is it normal?

Dear Reader,

It is completely understandable to be concerned about discomfort after taking your prescribed Budecort 0.5mg Respules, especially when you are focused on improving your breathing.

The good news is that mild throat irritation, soreness, or a slightly hoarse voice are among the common and expected local side effects of inhaled corticosteroid medicines like Budecort. This typically occurs because a small amount of the medicine may deposit in the back of the mouth and throat during the nebulization process.

Is It Normal?

• Yes, it is often normal. This irritation is usually minor and is not a sign that the medicine is harming your body overall.
• The steroid component in Budecort is essential for reducing long-term inflammation in your airways (the “preventer”), so please do not stop using the medicine without speaking to your doctor first.

How to Prevent and Relieve It

The most effective steps involve optimising your technique and ensuring a thorough clean-up afterwards:

1. Rinse and Spit: The single most important measure is to gargle and rinse your mouth thoroughly with plain water and spit it out immediately after every nebulization session with Budecort. Do not swallow the water. This washes away residual medicine, which prevents irritation and also reduces the risk of a fungal infection called oral thrush.
2. Wash Your Face: If you are using a face mask, wash your face where the mask was placed to prevent skin irritation.
3. Check Technique: Ensure you are sitting upright and breathing slowly and deeply through the mouthpiece (or mask) until the mist stops. Proper, calm inhalation helps deliver the medicine primarily to your lungs, rather than settling in your throat.

If the discomfort becomes severe or if you notice white patches in your mouth or throat (signs of thrush), please contact your healthcare provider immediately for an assessment.

Wishing you good health.