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Budesonide (Pulmicort)

Raw research findings for this medication. Mostly single studies, not curated or confirmed robust.

About Budesonide

What it is

Budesonide is a corticosteroid that the liver clears very efficiently on first pass, so it acts mainly where it is delivered. Inhaled, it prevents asthma symptoms and COPD flare-ups (also combined with formoterol as Symbicort); as a nasal spray it treats allergic rhinitis; as gut-targeted capsules (Entocort, Uceris) it treats Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and microscopic colitis. It is sold as Pulmicort and Rhinocort, among other names.

How genes come into it

Budesonide is broken down by CYP3A4, so strong CYP3A4 blockers can raise its levels enough to cause body-wide steroid effects. Studies on inhaled budesonide in asthma looked at GLCCI1, IL10, IL17A and genes flagged by genome-wide studies for how much lung function improved. The findings come from a few studies, and there is no CPIC or DPWG guideline.

What research found

Every published finding on gene variants and Budesonide. Upload your DNA file to see which of these rows apply to you.

Rated evidence (2 rated variants)

PharmGKB weighs all studies of a variant and rates how strong the evidence is, from 1A (strongest) to 4.

GLCCI1 rs37973: Level 3. Efficacy: Asthma. 1.

rs2392165: Level 3. Efficacy: Asthma. 1.

Response (5 findings)

Studies of how well it worked in people carrying a variant.

rs2392165: Genotypes AG + GG are associated with increased response to budesonide in children with Asthma as compared to genotype AA.

IL10 rs3024498: Genotypes CC + CT is associated with decreased clinical benefit to budesonide, fluticasone/salmeterol, formoterol or omalizumab in children with Asthma as compared to genotype TT.

IL17A rs3819024: Genotypes AG + GG is associated with decreased clinical benefit to budesonide, fluticasone/salmeterol, formoterol or omalizumab in children with Asthma as compared to genotype AA.

SUMF1 rs793391: Genotype GT is associated with increased clinical benefit to budesonide or corticosteroids in people with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Study findings and evidence levels: PharmGKB (CC BY-SA 4.0). Guidelines: CPIC and DPWG, as bundled in PharmCAT. Most studies were done mainly in people of European ancestry.

Related Drugs

More drugs from the same category

AeroBid (Corticosteroids)

Corticosteroids (class) (Corticosteroids)

Decadron (Corticosteroids)

Not a prescribing recommendation. This page is educational information about pharmacogenomic research and clinical guidelines - it is not medical or dosing advice, and not a prediction of how any medication will work for you. Never start, stop, or change a medication or dose based on it; talk to your doctor or pharmacist, who can order clinical-grade testing if appropriate.

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Content updated September 2026.

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