Drug Interactions with Pulmicort: Exploring other medications, alcohol, and additional substances
Pulmicort, a brand-name prescription drug, is a long-term asthma treatment for certain adults and children. It comes in three forms: Pulmicort Flexhaler (dry powder inhaler), Pulmicort Respules (liquid-filled containers for nebulizer), and Pulmicort Turbuhaler (dry powder inhaler, no longer available in the US but may be available in other countries).
However, it's important to be aware of potential interactions Pulmicort may have with other medications, supplements, foods, and medical conditions.
Medications: Budesonide, the active ingredient in Pulmicort, can be combined in nebulizers with bronchodilators such as ipratropium bromide, salbutamol, or terbutaline. When used with other medications, there is a possibility of enhanced side effects or altered effectiveness. Consultation with a healthcare provider is advised.
Supplements and Foods: Consumption of large amounts of grapefruit juice should be avoided during treatment with Pulmicort, as it can increase systemic exposure to the drug, potentially leading to increased side effects. No specific interactions with dietary supplements like elderberry or melatonin have been documented for Pulmicort, but caution is typically advised when combining with other substances.
Other considerations: Pulmicort may worsen or complicate certain medical conditions such as active infections (viral, bacterial, fungal), glaucoma, osteoporosis, or recent infections like chickenpox or measles because it can reduce the body's immune response.
Specific Interactions:
- If you have had an allergic reaction to Pulmicort or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Pulmicort.
- If you have a severe milk allergy, your doctor will likely not prescribe Pulmicort Flexhaler due to the small amounts of milk proteins it contains.
- Pulmicort may interact with CYP3A4 inhibitors, which can increase the risk of side effects from Pulmicort. Examples include ketoconazole, ritonavir, clarithromycin, duvelisib, and vigabatrin.
- Pulmicort may interact with vigabatrin, increasing the risk of eye-related side effects with Pulmicort and vigabatrin.
- Pulmicort may interact with desmopressin, increasing the risk of side effects from desmopressin.
- Cannabis (marijuana) and cannabis products, such as cannabidiol (CBD), have been specifically reported to interact with Pulmicort Flexhaler and Pulmicort Respules.
- Pulmicort isn't known to interact with any vaccines.
- There's no known interaction between Pulmicort and alcohol, but drinking alcohol can trigger asthma symptoms in some people.
- Certain medical conditions and factors may increase the risk of interactions with Pulmicort. These include systemic corticosteroid use, allergic reaction to Pulmicort or any of its ingredients, milk allergy, tuberculosis, untreated infection, ocular herpes, not being immunized for measles or chickenpox, weak bones, eye problems such as glaucoma or cataracts, liver problems, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and osteoporosis.
Other considerations: Having acute severe asthma is a contraindication for Pulmicort, as it's not meant to be used as a rescue inhaler for acute asthma attacks.
Further considerations: Pulmicort isn't typically used alone to treat asthma; a rescue inhaler is usually also prescribed. Additionally, Pulmicort isn't known to interact with lab tests. However, the herbal supplement St. John's wort may interact with Pulmicort, potentially causing the drug to not work as well as usual.
Always discuss all medications and supplements with a healthcare professional to manage potential interactions safely.
Deciders should be aware that Pulmicort, a drug used for long-term asthma treatment, may interact with CYP3A4 inhibitors such as ketoconazole, ritonavir, clarithromycin, duvelisib, and vigabatrin, potentially increasing the risk of side effects. If a person has a milk allergy, they may not be able to use Pulmicort Flexhaler due to the small amounts of milk proteins it contains. Additionally, Medical-conditions like active infections, glaucoma, osteoporosis, or recent infections like chickenpox or measles could potentially worsen or complicate the usage of Pulmicort.
