Cortiment (Budesonide)

Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor if you are not sure.

• The recommended dose is one tablet in the morning preferably after breakfast.
• Swallow the tablet whole with a glass of water. The tablet must not be broken, crushed or chewed.
• Usually you will take this medicine daily for a maximum of eight weeks.
• Keep taking CORTIMENT tablets as your doctor has told you, even if you start feeling better.

Usual adult dose:

One 9 mg tablet once daily in the morning preferably after breakfast, for up to eight weeks.

Overdose:

If you take more CORTIMENT tablets than you should, inform your doctor immediately.

If you think you have taken too much CORTIMENT contact your healthcare professional, hospital emergency department or regional Poison Control Centre immediately, even if there are no symptoms.

Missed dose:

If you forget to take CORTIMENT tablet, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. Do not double dose to make up for the forgotten tablet.

Like all medicine, this medicine can cause side effects although not everybody gets them.

This medication usually has fewer side effects than other corticosteroid because CORTIMENT works in the gut and only small amount are absorbed into the body.

If you have an allergic reaction, see a doctor right away. Signs may include hives, swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue and throat. This can make it difficult to breathe.

The following side effects may happen with this medicine. Common side effects that may affect up to 1 in 10 people include:

• feeling sick.
• abdominal pain.
• bloated stomach.
• dry mouth.
• headache.
• feeling tired.
• Insomnia.
• muscle pain.
• upset stomach.

Other side effects include: dizziness, back pain, and muscle cramps.

If these side effects become bothersome, contact your doctor.These are not all the possible side effects you may feel when taking CORTIMENT. If you experience any side effects not listed here, contact your healthcare professional.

Medicines like CORTIMENT (corticosteroids) may affect the normal production of steroid hormones in your body. The effects include:

• changes to bone mineral density (thinning of the bones).
• glaucoma (increased pressure in the eye pressure).
• effects on the adrenal gland (small gland near the kidney).

CORTIMENT may lower your ability to fight infections and you should:

• avoid contact with people who have chicken pox or measles.
• contact your doctor if you have signs of infection such as:
  • fever.
  • pain.
  • ache, chills, feeling tired.
  • nausea, vomiting.

Using corticosteroid for a long time reduces your ability to handle stress. Before having an operation or emergency, contact your doctor if you are under stress and have symptoms such as:

• tiredness, weakness, feeling faint.
• Nausea, vomiting.

Using a corticosteroid may cause you to have too much steroid in your blood (hypercorticism). Talk to your doctor if you have symptoms of too much medicine such as:

• rounded face (moon face).
• fatty pad between your shoulders (buffalo hump).
• acne, bruise easily, ankle swelling.
• more or thicker hair on the body and face.

If you take other steroid medicines for allergies, switching to CORTIMENT may cause these allergies to come back. Contact your doctor if any allergies get worse.

Mental health problems may occur when taking steroids like CORTIMENT. This happens rarely when high doses are taken for a long time. Talk to a doctor if you or someone you know develops mental problems, especially depression or thoughts of self-harm (suicide) when taking CORTIMENT.

Talk about any health conditions or problems you may have, including if you:

• have liver or kidney problems.
• are about to have an operation.
• have chicken pox or measles or have recently have been near anyone with chicken pox.
• have an infection.
• have or had history of diabetes.
• have or had cataracts or increased pressure in the eye (glaucoma).
• have or had tuberculosis.
• have high blood pressure.
• have brittle bone.
• have stomach ulcers.
• have any other medical condition.
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if CORTIMENT tablets can harm your unborn baby.
• are breastfeeding or plan to beast-feed. CORTIMENT can pass into breast milk and may harm your baby. You and your healthcare provider should decide if you will take CORTIMENT or breastfeed. You do not do both.
• are on other steroid therapy.

CORTIMENT is not recommended for use in children.

The following may interact with CORTIMENT:

• steroids, such as prednisolone or dexamethasone.
• cholestyramine, used to lower cholesterol levels or reduce itching caused by liver problems, antacids. Therefore these drugs should be taken two hours before or after CORTIMENT.
• ketoconazole or itraconazole, used to treat fungal infections.
• medicines that contain estrogens, such as hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and some oral contraceptives.
• cardiac glycosides and diuretics.
• HIV protease inhibitors such as ritonavir and nelfinavir.
• carbamazepine, used to treat epilepsy.

Do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while taking CORTIMENT. These can increase the levels of CORTIMENT in your blood.

CORTIMENT contains lactose monohydrate, a type of sugar. If you have been told by your doctor that you have intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicine.

Tell your healthcare professional about all the medicines you take, including any drugs, vitamins, minerals, natural supplements or alternative medicines.