Two medicines, side by side
Budesonide vs methylprednisolone
Budesonide and methylprednisolone are both labeled for asthma, allergies and crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Drugs@FDA records approvals of budesonide since 1994 and of methylprednisolone since 1957. Pharmacies paid $0.498 per budesonide DR 3 mg capsule and $0.121 per methylprednisolone 4 mg tablet (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). Methylprednisolone's other strengths are brand-only: $6.28 per Solu-medrol 40 mg vial.
Check it at the source: the budesonide FDA label on DailyMed (effective October 11, 2019); the methylprednisolone FDA label on DailyMed (effective June 22, 2026).
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
Highlights of the methylprednisolone record
Methylprednisolone (Solu-Medrol) · label of June 22, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsMethylprednisolone tablets are indicated in the following conditions: 1. Endocrine Disorders Primary or secondary adrenocortical insufficiency (hydrocortisone or cortisone is the first choice; synthetic analogs may be used in conjunction with mineralocorticoids where applicable; in infancy, mineralocorticoid supplementation is of particular importance). […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- October 24, 1957
- Generic labelers
- 35 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.121 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- In shortage
- Recalls
- 46
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Budesonide label of October 11, 2019, Methylprednisolone label of June 22, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do budesonide and methylprednisolone differ on the record?
Both are in FDA's class corticosteroids.
Generics: budesonide since 2008; methylprednisolone since 1978 (Drugs@FDA).
| Budesonide | Methylprednisolone | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Asthma, Allergies, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis | Osteoarthritis, Allergies, Herpes and shingles, Leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, Multiple sclerosis, Asthma, Eczema (atopic dermatitis), Anemia |
| Pharmacologic class | Corticosteroid | Corticosteroid |
| How it works (label) | Budesonide is an anti-inflammatory corticosteroid that exhibits potent glucocorticoid activity and weak mineralocorticoid activity. | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | February 14, 1994 | October 24, 1957 |
| First generic approved | November 18, 2008 | March 28, 1978 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 30 labelers | 35 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.498 per capsule (Budesonide DR 3 mg capsule) | $0.121 per tablet (Methylprednisolone 4 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -3% | -22% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | In shortage |
| Recalls recorded | 9 | 46 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 58,575 | 170,232 |
| 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 budesonide
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions