Inhalations with Pulmicort for children: use, dosage for nebulizer, instructions for dilution with saline

What is Pulmicort for inhalation

The international name of Pulmicort is Budesonide. This is a drug based on a steroid hormone that has a diverse effect on the human body. The secretion produced by the adrenal cortex is widely used in medicine due to its powerful immunoregulatory effect and anti-inflammatory effect. The product is produced in the form of a suspension with a solid, easily resuspended dispersed phase, placed in polyethylene containers. Before use, the weighed powder should be diluted with saline solution.

Is it a hormonal drug or not?

The pharmacological effect of the drug consists of penetration into the cytoplasm of cells and a targeted change in physiological reactions, which classifies the drug as a type of hormonal drug. Systemic corticosteroids are the most effective treatment for bronchial asthma and diseases of the upper respiratory tract. The release of the drug in the form of a suspension for inhalation expanded the scope of introduction of GCS into therapeutic practice due to the fact that this method reduces the risk of unwanted reactions of the body.

Important points

Like other medications, Pulmicort has its own special instructions. These include:

• Before and after inhalation, you must thoroughly wash the medicine container and mask. It is advisable to do this with warm water and soap.
• For bronchitis, a glucocorticosteroid is often prescribed with Berodual. Berodual is a combined bronchodilator drug used for airway obstruction.
• When transferring a patient from one medication to Pulmicort, he may experience such negative manifestations as nausea, increased blood pressure, and vomiting. If these signs go away quickly, there is no need to worry. This is a normal reaction of the body to a new substance.

You may be interested in: Ambrobene syrup for children: instructions for use

If symptoms become pathological and persist for several days, you should stop treatment and consult a specialist.

pharmachologic effect

Pulmicort has a specific effect on tissues, changing physiological reactions in organs that have receptors to which the hormone binds. Stimulation of andrenoreceptors helps improve bronchial patency. The recommended dosage of Budesonide has a positive effect on the glands that produce mucus and phlegm, resulting in reduced swelling.

Pulmicort for children is able to relieve swelling of the bronchi and eliminate the symptoms of the disease during an exacerbation. The mechanism of action of Budesonide is based on blocking the synthesis of bronchoconstrictor substances by influencing encoding genes. Low lipophilicity promotes penetration into the lungs through mucous secretions and eliminates bronchospasm by reducing the synthesis of nitric oxide. The maximum effect of treatment with the drug is achieved 7-14 days after the start of therapy.

Indications for use in children

The topical drug reduces the risk of complications and side effects that occur when taking GCS orally, while providing a similar anti-inflammatory effect. Such properties determine the use of Pulmicort for children starting from the age of six months. Glucocorticosteroid therapy is indicated for a child in the following cases:

• attacks of bronchial asthma;
• obstructive bronchitis and other obstructive diseases;
• allergic asthma attacks;
• laryngitis;
• coughing attacks of unspecified etiology.

Pulmicort for a cough in a child is prescribed in the form of inhalations using a special compressor inhaler. Such procedures are effective for dry cough, inflammation of the larynx (laryngitis), maintenance treatment of bronchial asthma, if the use of nebulization inhalers is impossible. It is not advisable to use the drug during an acute attack of asthma. For inhalation, Budesonide is diluted with saline solution.

Possible negative reactions to the use of pulmicort

Taking Pulmicort can cause growth retardation in a child. However, as soon as the doctor stops this remedy, normal development is restored. In general, negative reactions are more likely to occur in adults who have been prescribed an overdose. In addition, in rare cases, the following negative reactions occur:

• irritation of the throat area;
• candidiasis and a feeling of dryness in the mouth;
• bronchospasms;
• pain in the head;
• dry cough;
• allergic response of the body.

Important: Doctors do not recommend using pulmicort frequently, since there is a high risk of developing adrenal hyperfunction.

There are also cases where children experienced overexcitement, development of depression and malaise. In addition, using an inhaler may cause a rash on the skin and bruising.

Don't miss useful information: Inhalations with Derinat for children and adults

Instructions for use for children

The doctor selects an effective dose for the child individually, based on his medical history. According to the instructions, the minimum daily dose for starting treatment for children from 6 months and adolescents up to 12 years is 0.25 mg. In some cases, pediatricians prescribe Pulmicort to infants from 3 months. If the response to initiation of treatment with the drug is positive, the dose of inhaled corticosteroids can be increased to 1 mg/day.

The frequency of procedures depends on the dosage. For a minimum dose of 0.25 mg, you can breathe through a nebulizer once a day. Increasing the amount of the drug requires switching to 2 or 3 times a day inhalations, while the medicinal solution must be re-diluted before each procedure. Be sure to give your child inhalation at night in the evening before bed.

How many days to use

The active substance of the drug penetrates faster to target cells due to preliminary inhalation of beta-adrenergic stimulants, so therapy with an inhaled hormonal agent gives positive results even in severe forms of the disease after 3 days. If longer therapy is required to completely eliminate symptoms, the use of glucocorticosteroids is permitted in the absence of side effects. Containers remaining after the course should be stored in packaging with instructions, avoiding direct exposure to the sun.

Directions for use and dosage

Like any other medications, the hormone in question should be used in strict accordance with the instructions for use. Let's consider the dosage of the product and the method of diluting it with saline.

Dosage for children

For any disease in a child, the dose of the drug is selected by the doctor, taking into account the diagnosis, severity of the disease, age, weight and some other characteristics of the body. During the course of treatment, the specialist may adjust the dose, which depends on the patient’s response to the therapy.

According to the instructions for use, the dosage of the medicine should be as follows:

• Among patients under one year of age, the initial dose of the solution is from 0.25 to 0.5 mg throughout the day.
• In case of particularly severe bronchial asthma for children 3-6 years old, the dose can be increased to 1 mg.
• For children 7-8 years old, 1 to 2 mg of the drug is used throughout the day.
• To maintain normal activity of the bronchopulmonary system, the patient is prescribed 0.5 mg per day.
• With exacerbation of obstructive pulmonary disease or asthmatic status, the dose is increased by the doctor to 1-1.5 mg.

You might be interested in: Instructions for using Ambroxol syrup for children

If the daily dose of medication prescribed by the doctor does not exceed one milligram, inhalation is done once. If the dosage is higher, inhalation is carried out twice during the day.

How to properly dilute Pulmicort with saline solution

Pulmicort nebulas are used for inhalation using a nebulizer. The device is a special device that sprays drugs into tiny particles. The nebulizer is equipped with attachments that make it very convenient to use. To spray the medicine, the mask is connected with a special tube to an air compressor. This allows you to bring the drug into a vapor state.

To dilute Pulmicort with saline, follow the instructions:

1. Rinse the container intended for the medication thoroughly and dry it with a paper napkin.
2. Squeeze the contents of the nebula into a container.
3. Add saline solution to the container up to the 2 ml mark.
4. Close the lid and turn on the nebulizer.

With the help of such an inhaler, it is possible to deliver the active components of the hormone directly into the respiratory tract, which entails rapid relief of the patient’s condition.

How to breathe Pulmicort through a nebulizer

To carry out inhalation with Pulmicort for children, a special nebulizer device is used. During the procedure, a mask is used to cover the child's nose and mouth. The nebulizer mouthpiece is suitable for use by adults and teenagers; children will find it uncomfortable to breathe with it. Before starting the procedure, it is recommended to wash your hands with soap and treat the child’s face with an antibacterial agent.

The dosage of Pulmicort for inhalation for children should correspond to the doctor’s prescription. The drug should be inhaled for no more than 10 minutes, and the inhalation should be active and deep. After using the nebulizer, you must rinse your mouth with water and wash your face. All components of the device must be thoroughly washed and dried before next use.

Drug interactions

Clinically significant results of interaction between drugs used to treat asthma and hormonal drugs based on Budesonide have not been recorded. Quantitative or qualitative changes in effects when taking the drugs simultaneously are described in the table:

Interaction with other drugs

Important information:

• combined use with Ketoconazole increases plasma concentrations up to 6 times. To prevent pronounced effects and side effects, it is recommended to lengthen the interval between the use of Ketoconazole and inhalations with Pulmicort;
• the use of Itroconazole also affects plasma concentrations. Follow the recommendations as when interacting with Ketoconazole;
• simultaneous use of Phenytoin, Phenobarbital, Rifampicin and Pulmicort reduces the activity of budesonide;
• To enhance the effects of Pulmicort, doctors advise inhalation using beta-adrenergic stimulants, then using a drug based on budesonide.

Find out the program for preparing children for school at home.

The development and routine of a child at 3 months is written at this address.

Follow the link and read about the diagnosis of pulpitis in primary teeth and its treatment.

Take note:

• a hormonal agent for inhalation in the form of a powder or suspension is prescribed only by a pulmonologist. The doctor will show you how to dilute the drug and how to use a nebulizer;
• take into account the doctor’s recommendations, buy a compressor nebulizer, especially if the child has bronchial asthma. Inhalations with Pulmicort will relieve the child of suffering during attacks that often occur at night;
• The modern device is also useful during the treatment of diseases of the bronchi and lungs.

READ ALSO: Antipyretic, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial suspension Nurofen for children: instructions for use and precautions

Side effects and overdose

The use of the drug in recommended doses is well tolerated by patients. Rare side effects include:

• dry mouth;
• candidal lesions;
• increased excitability;
• skin irritation.

A one-time excess of the dosage does not lead to tangible consequences. With long-term treatment with Pulmicort with chronic excess dosage, the following clinical phenomena may occur, in which the dose is gradually reduced:

• hyperpigmentation;
• weight gain;
• weakness, dizziness;
• hypertension;
• appearance of stretch marks.

Special instructions for use

After the manipulation, a person needs to wash his face in order to prevent a rash on the skin. In addition, when using the product in question, you should adhere to a number of rules:

• rinse your mouth well after each manipulation;
• Interaction of budesonide (Pulmicort) with ketonazole or other similar inhibitors is not recommended. If there is an urgent need for such a tandem, it is recommended to increase the intermediate time between procedures;
• people who are transferred from GCS to the corticosteroid pulmicort require special attention. Since there is a risk of adrenal gland malfunction;
• Those individuals who have previously received high inhaled dosages of GCS also need strict supervision by the attending physician. If the patient experiences stress, adrenal insufficiency may develop;
• if the patient switches from systemic GCS to aerosol, there is a possibility of manifestation of a violation of the pituitary-adrenal function;
• the consequence of switching from oral corticosteroids to aerosol corticosteroids can result in the manifestation of pain in the joints and muscle mass. Nausea, vomiting, severe fatigue and headaches are less common;
• if previously GCS were taken orally, then with the transition to inhalation, sometimes the consequence of such a transition is the occurrence of an allergic reaction, the manifestation of eczema on the body and the development of pharyngitis.

Important: Treatment with pulmicort is considered very effective as a preventive measure against the onset of asthma.

With the help of pulmicort it is possible to overcome coughs of various origins. Moreover, this hormonal medication is especially effective for people suffering from bronchial asthma.

Analogs

In order to choose the right analogue of Pulmicort for inhalation, a child needs to consult a doctor. Making a decision on your own based on indications for use, composition or price is not recommended due to the fact that only a specialist knows the effect of the drug on the body of a particular patient. Inhaled glucocorticosteroids, which help with respiratory diseases and contain the active substance Budesonide, are:

• Tafen Nazal;
• Benacort.
• Alcedin;
• Beclazon.

Pulmicort or Berodual - which is better?

The effectiveness of using a particular drug can only be assessed by a doctor familiar with the patient’s medical history, so the decision about which drug is better should not be based only on customer reviews or recommendations. You should choose a medicine for your child based on the pediatrician’s prescriptions. Below are the main differences between the two drugs:

Contraindications

In pediatrics, the drug cannot be used in the following cases:

• age up to six months;
• intolerance to budesonide or auxiliary components of the drug.

The drug is prescribed with caution to young patients suffering from certain diseases:

• respiratory infections of a bacterial or viral nature;
• fungal infections of the body;
• active form of tuberculosis;
• severe liver pathologies.

READ ALSO: Rinofluimucil nasal spray: instructions for use for children and special instructions for parents

Price

You can find out how much Pulmicort costs in Moscow by visiting the websites of pharmacies, with catalogs of medical drugs posted on them, which indicate the characteristics and cost of the available funds. In order to order and buy an inhalation suspension in the online store at prices from city pharmacies, you should select the required item and fill in the necessary data. Information on the cost of the drug is presented in the table:

In what form is it released?

This solution can be purchased in several forms:

• nebulas 0.25 and 0.50 mg/ml;
• ampoules of 2 ml;
• in powder form, in dosage per 100 or 200 doses. In addition, you can find a dosage of 125 mg in pharmacies.

Don't miss useful information: Alkaline solution for inhalation at home with a nebulizer

Given the variety of release forms of this drug, before using it, you should get advice and a prescription from your doctor.