Two medicines, side by side
Budesonide vs prednisone
Budesonide and prednisone are both labeled for asthma, allergies and crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Drugs@FDA records approvals of budesonide since 1994 and of prednisone since 1955. Pharmacies paid $0.498 per budesonide DR 3 mg capsule and $0.0643 per prednisone 20 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).
Check it at the source: the budesonide FDA label on DailyMed (effective October 11, 2019); the prednisone FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 22, 2025).
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 prednisone record
Prednisone (Meticorten) · label of April 22, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsPrednisone tablets and solutions are indicated in the following conditions: 1. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- February 21, 1955
- Generic labelers
- 45 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0643 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 10
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Budesonide label of October 11, 2019, Prednisone label of April 22, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do budesonide and prednisone differ on the record?
Both are in FDA's class corticosteroids.
Generics: budesonide since 2008; prednisone since 1971 (Drugs@FDA).
| Budesonide | Prednisone | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Asthma, Allergies, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis | Osteoarthritis, Asthma, Allergies, Herpes and shingles, Leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, Multiple sclerosis, Eczema (atopic dermatitis), Anemia, Organ transplant rejection |
| 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 | February 21, 1955 |
| First generic approved | November 18, 2008 | December 23, 1971 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 30 labelers | 45 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.498 per capsule (Budesonide DR 3 mg capsule) | $0.0643 per tablet (Prednisone 20 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -3% | -15% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 9 | 10 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 58,575 | 499,950 |
| 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)
Do their labels mention each other?
Budesonide label, warnings and precautionsPatients who have been previously maintained on 20 mg or more per day of prednisone (or its equivalent) may be most susceptible, particularly when their systemic corticosteroids have been almost completely withdrawn.
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA
What next?
- Alternatives to budesonide
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions