Drug interactions
Budesonide + Furosemide
Severity: Moderate
Budesonide and Furosemide: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Loop diuretics increase urinary potassium loss, and corticosteroids can add to this through mineralocorticoid effects. With systemic budesonide exposure the combination may produce clinically relevant hypokalemia. The risk is higher with oral, high-dose or CYP3A4-inhibited budesonide.
What this interaction means in plain words
Budesonide and Furosemide can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Budesonide belongs to Respiratory; Furosemide belongs to Cardiovascular.
Why it happens
Additive pharmacodynamic potassium wasting from loop diuretic action and glucocorticoid mineralocorticoid effect.
What to do
Monitor serum potassium and magnesium during co-therapy, particularly with oral or high-dose budesonide. Supplement potassium or adjust therapy if hypokalemia develops.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
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Other interactions of Budesonide
Other interactions of Furosemide
- Amifostine + Furosemide Major
- Amikacin + Furosemide Major
- Carbenoxolone + Furosemide Major
- Cephaloridine + Furosemide Major
- Cisplatin + Furosemide Major
- Digoxin + Furosemide Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Budesonide with Furosemide?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Budesonide and Furosemide can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Loop diuretics increase urinary potassium loss, and corticosteroids can add to this through mineralocorticoid effects. With systemic budesonide exposure the combination may produce clinically relevant hypokalemia. The risk is higher with oral, high-dose or CYP3A4-inhibited budesonide.
How serious is the interaction between Budesonide and Furosemide?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Monitor serum potassium and magnesium during co-therapy, particularly with oral or high-dose budesonide. Supplement potassium or adjust therapy if hypokalemia develops.
What other medicines interact with Budesonide?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Budesonide with, for example, Aldesleukin, Atazanavir, Bcg vaccine live. The full list is on the Budesonide page.
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