Two medicines, side by side
Beclomethasone vs budesonide
Beclomethasone and budesonide are both labeled for asthma and allergies. Drugs@FDA records approvals of beclomethasone since 1976 and of budesonide since 1994. Pharmacies paid $30.23 per gram (Qnasl 80 mcg nasal spray) and $0.498 per budesonide DR 3 mg capsule (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ and one is a brand and one a generic, 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).
Check it at the source: the beclomethasone FDA label on DailyMed (effective June 25, 2024); the budesonide FDA label on DailyMed (effective October 11, 2019).
Highlights of the beclomethasone record
Beclomethasone (Qvar) · label of June 25, 2024
Used for
From the label: indicationsQVAR REDIHALER is indicated in the maintenance treatment of asthma as prophylactic therapy in adults and pediatric patients 4 years of age and older. Limitations of Use: QVAR REDIHALER is not indicated for the relief of acute bronchospasm. QVAR REDIHALER is a corticosteroid indicated for maintenance treatment of asthma as prophylactic therapy in adults and pediatric patients 4 years of age and older. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- May 12, 1976
- Generic labelers
- 2 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $30.23 per gram
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 0
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 (Beclomethasone label of June 25, 2024, Budesonide label of October 11, 2019); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do beclomethasone and budesonide differ on the record?
Both are in FDA's class corticosteroids.
Generics: beclomethasone since 2025; budesonide since 2008 (Drugs@FDA).
| Beclomethasone | Budesonide | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Asthma, Allergies | Asthma, Allergies, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis |
| Pharmacologic class | Corticosteroid | 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 12, 1976 | February 14, 1994 |
| First generic approved | December 16, 2025 | November 18, 2008 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 2 labelers | 30 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $30.23 per gram (Qnasl 80 mcg nasal spray) | $0.498 per capsule (Budesonide DR 3 mg capsule) |
| 12-month price change | +5% | -3% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 0 | 9 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 5,600 | 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 beclomethasone
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions