Budesonide
Brand: Entocort EC (US/EU) / Budenofalk (EU) / Budecort (IN) / Budesonide (BD)
Corticosteroid
High first-pass glucocorticoid
Pharmacokinetics
| Half-life | 3 hours |
| Tmax | 1.5 h |
| Bioavailability | 10 % (approx) |
| Protein Binding | 90 % |
| Volume of Distribution | 3 L/kg (approx) |
| Clearance Route | hepatic |
| Active Metabolites | yes |
| Notes | Extensive CYP3A4 first-pass metabolism; low systemic steroid exposure. |
⚠️ Safety & Warnings
Severity: Moderate
Adverse Effects:
Adrenal suppression (less than prednisolone), edema, mood changes
Contraindications:
Systemic fungal infections
Precautions:
Avoid strong CYP3A4 inhibitors; taper if prolonged use