Two medicines, side by side
Albuterol vs budesonide
Albuterol and budesonide are both labeled for asthma. Drugs@FDA records approvals of albuterol since 1981 and of budesonide since 1994. Pharmacies paid $0.288 per albuterol sulfate 2 mg tablet and $0.498 per budesonide DR 3 mg capsule (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. Budesonide's other strengths are brand-only: $3.29 per mL (Eohilia 2 mg/10 mL packet). In FDA's classes, albuterol is a beta2-adrenergic agonist and budesonide a corticosteroid.
Check it at the source: the albuterol FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 30, 2026); the budesonide FDA label on DailyMed (effective October 11, 2019).
Highlights of the albuterol record
Albuterol (Ventolin) · label of April 30, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsAlbuterol Inhalation Solution is indicated for the relief of bronchospasm in patients 2 to 12 years of age with asthma (reversible obstructive airway disease).
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- May 1, 1981
- Generic labelers
- 40 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.288 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- Resolved
- Recalls
- 20
Highlights of the budesonide record
Budesonide (Pulmicort) · label of October 11, 2019
Used for
From the label: indicationsPULMICORT RESPULES ® is an inhaled corticosteroid indicated for: • Maintenance treatment of asthma and as prophylactic therapy in children 12 months to 8 years of age ( 1 ) Limitations of Use: Not indicated for the relief of acute bronchospasm ( 1 ) 1.1 Maintenance Treatment of Asthma PULMICORT RESPULES is indicated for the maintenance treatment of asthma and as prophylactic therapy in children 12 months to 8 years of age. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- February 14, 1994
- Generic labelers
- 30 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.498 per capsule
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 9
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Albuterol label of April 30, 2026, Budesonide label of October 11, 2019); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do albuterol and budesonide differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, albuterol is a beta2-adrenergic agonist and budesonide a corticosteroid.
Generics: albuterol since 1989; budesonide since 2008 (Drugs@FDA).
| Albuterol | Budesonide | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Asthma | Asthma, Allergies, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis |
| Pharmacologic class | beta2-Adrenergic Agonist | Corticosteroid |
| How it works (label) | n/a | Budesonide is an anti-inflammatory corticosteroid that exhibits potent glucocorticoid activity and weak mineralocorticoid activity. |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | May 1, 1981 | February 14, 1994 |
| First generic approved | January 30, 1989 | November 18, 2008 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 40 labelers | 30 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.288 per tablet (Albuterol sulfate 2 mg tablet) | $0.498 per capsule (Budesonide DR 3 mg capsule) |
| 12-month price change | -38% | -3% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | Resolved | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 20 | 9 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 292,136 | 58,575 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Alternatives to albuterol
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions