Budamax Aqueous (Budesonide)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Budamax Aqueous Used For?
Budamax Aqueous contains budesonide, a corticosteroid medication that helps reduce inflammation in your nose. It’s specifically designed to prevent and treat allergic rhinitis symptoms.
Primary Uses
Budamax treats allergic rhinitis, which is inflammation or swelling of the nose lining that may cause blockage, runny nose, itching, and sneezing. This includes seasonal allergies (hay fever) caused by pollen during spring or summer, and year-round allergies (perennial allergic rhinitis) caused by house dust mites, pets, or molds. It’s also used for nasal polyps in adults 18 years and older.
How It Works
Budamax belongs to a family of medicines called corticosteroids, which work by reducing inflammation in your nasal passages. This helps relieve symptoms like congestion, runny nose, itching, and sneezing.
Good to know: It may take a few days (in rare cases up to 2 weeks) before you notice improvement in your symptoms. Starting treatment before hay fever season or exposure to allergens can help reduce symptom severity.
How to Take Budamax Aqueous
Budamax is a nasal spray that should be used regularly for best results. Always follow your doctor’s specific instructions, as they may differ from the general recommendations below.
Dosage Instructions
For allergic rhinitis/hay fever when starting treatment: TWO sprays into EACH nostril in the morning, OR ONE spray into EACH nostril twice daily (morning and evening). Once symptoms improve, your doctor may reduce the dose to ONE spray into EACH nostril in the morning. For nasal polyps (adults 18+ years): ONE spray into EACH nostril twice daily (morning and evening). Gently blow your nose before using. Use only in your nose. Do not exceed the recommended dose.
What If You Miss a Dose?
Use Budamax regularly at the same time each day. If you miss a dose, use it as soon as you remember. If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose as scheduled. Never take a double dose to make up for a missed dose.
Important: Never take a double dose to make up for a missed dose. Each pack contains instruction leaflets – read them carefully or ask your doctor or pharmacist for help if unclear.
Available Tablet Strengths
Side Effects
Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.
Common Side Effects
These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Tiredness
- Sneezing after spraying or irritated nose
- Nose bleeds
- Nasal crust
- Dry nose or mouth
- Itching or sore throat
- Cough
- Increased amount of sputum
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- Swelling of face, lips, mouth, tongue or throat causing difficulty swallowing or breathing
- Severe rash
- Ulcer (open wound) in your nose
- Signs of nasal or sinus infection (persistent fever, pain, swelling, or discolored nasal discharge)
- Changes in vision or blurred vision
Important Warnings
Before using Budamax, it’s important to discuss your medical history and current medications with your doctor to ensure safe use.
Who Should Not Take Budamax Aqueous
Do not use Budamax if you are allergic to budesonide, other corticosteroids, or any ingredients listed in the medication. Always check the ingredients to ensure you can safely use this medicine.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Tell your doctor if you have: frequent nose bleeds, severe nasal infections (especially thrush), nasal/sinus/chest infections, recent unhealed injury or surgery to your nose, open sores in your nose, severe nasal congestion or obstruction, tuberculosis or exposure to TB/chicken pox/measles, glaucoma, cataracts or eye infections, or diabetes. It may not be safe to use Budamax with these conditions.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Check with your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to breastfeed. Tell your doctor if you become pregnant while using Budamax.
Children’s Growth: Corticosteroids taken through the nose for long periods may affect how children grow. Some children may be sensitive to growth effects, so doctors may monitor a child’s height. For children 6-12 years, talk to the doctor if your child needs the spray for longer than two months per year.
Drug Interactions
Some medicines may interfere with Budamax and affect how it works. Always tell your doctor or pharmacist about all medicines you’re taking, including over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and supplements.
Important: These medicines may affect how well Budamax works or may be affected by Budamax. You may need different amounts or a different medicine – your doctor will advise you.
- Other corticosteroid medicines (tablets, asthma inhalers, nasal sprays, eye/nose drops)
- Antifungal medicines (ketoconazole, itraconazole)
- Cimetidine (for reflux and stomach ulcers)
- Certain antibiotics (erythromycin, clarithromycin)
Alcohol & Driving
Budamax may affect your ability to drive or operate machinery, and you should inform your doctor about alcohol consumption.
Alcohol
Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Be careful before you drive or use any machines or tools until you know how Budamax affects you. Budamax may cause dizziness in some people.
Storage
Keep Budamax in a cool, dry place where the temperature stays below 30°C. Do not freeze. Store away from moisture, heat, or sunlight – avoid storing in bathrooms, near sinks, in cars, or on window sills. Keep out of reach of children. Take any unwanted or expired medicine to a pharmacy for safe disposal.
Overdose Information
If you think you have used too much Budamax, seek urgent medical attention immediately. Phone the Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26), contact your doctor, or go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital, even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
Frequently Asked Questions
It may take a few days of regular use before you notice improvement in your symptoms. In rare cases, it can take up to 2 weeks. For best results, start using Budamax before hay fever season or before exposure to known allergens.
Gently blow your nose before using. Follow the instruction leaflet in each pack carefully. Use only in your nose. The usual starting dose is two sprays in each nostril in the morning, or one spray in each nostril twice daily.
Use it as soon as you remember. If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule. Never take a double dose to make up for a missed dose.
Budamax can be used by children 6 years and older. However, long-term use may affect growth in some children, so doctors may monitor height. For children 6-12 years, discuss with the doctor if use is needed for longer than two months per year.
Tell your doctor about all medical conditions, especially nasal infections, recent nose injuries or surgery, tuberculosis exposure, glaucoma, cataracts, or diabetes. Also inform them about all other medicines you’re taking, including over-the-counter medications and supplements.
Seek immediate medical help if you experience swelling of face/lips/throat causing breathing difficulty, severe rash, open wounds in your nose, signs of infection (fever, pain, discolored discharge), or vision changes.
Check with your doctor if you are pregnant, planning pregnancy, breastfeeding, or planning to breastfeed. Tell your doctor immediately if you become pregnant while using Budamax.
Important Disclaimer
This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.