Drug interactions
Budesonide + Sulindac
Severity: Moderate
Budesonide and Sulindac: 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
Corticosteroids and NSAIDs both damage the gastrointestinal mucosa, and using them together raises the risk of peptic ulceration and GI bleeding. Budesonide has lower systemic exposure than other steroids, so the risk is smaller with oral or inhaled forms, but it is still present with oral systemic exposure.
What this interaction means in plain words
Budesonide and Sulindac 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; Sulindac belongs to Musculoskeletal.
Why it happens
Additive gastrointestinal mucosal injury from NSAID prostaglandin inhibition and corticosteroid effects on mucosal repair.
What to do
Use the lowest effective NSAID dose for the shortest time and consider gastroprotection with a proton pump inhibitor in high-risk patients. Advise patients to report black stools or abdominal pain.
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 Sulindac
- Ketorolac intranasal + Sulindac Contraindicated
- Ketorolac + Sulindac Contraindicated
- Aceclofenac + Sulindac Major
- Acetylsalicylic acid + Sulindac Major
- Alteplase + Sulindac Major
- Amiloride + Sulindac Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Budesonide with Sulindac?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Budesonide and Sulindac 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. Corticosteroids and NSAIDs both damage the gastrointestinal mucosa, and using them together raises the risk of peptic ulceration and GI bleeding. Budesonide has lower systemic exposure than other steroids, so the risk is smaller with oral or inhaled forms, but it is still present with oral systemic exposure.
How serious is the interaction between Budesonide and Sulindac?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Use the lowest effective NSAID dose for the shortest time and consider gastroprotection with a proton pump inhibitor in high-risk patients. Advise patients to report black stools or abdominal pain.
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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