What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Budesonide and ketoconazole
Budesonide's FDA label of October 11, 2019 names ketoconazole in its drug interactions section; the ketoconazole label PlainMeds reads does not name budesonide. The budesonide label: “DRUG INTERACTIONS CYP3A4 Inhibitors: Can increase systemic budesonide concentrations.”
Check it at the source: the budesonide FDA label on DailyMed (effective October 11, 2019, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP); the ketoconazole FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 28, 2026, E. Fougera & Co. a division of Fougera Pharmaceuticals, LLC).
What does the budesonide label say about ketoconazole?
Budesonide label, drug interactionsAfter oral administration of ketoconazole, a strong inhibitor of CYP3A4, the mean plasma concentration of orally administered budesonide increased.
Budesonide label, warnings and precautionsInteractions with Strong Cytochrome P450 3A4 Inhibitors Caution should be exercised when considering the coadministration of PULMICORT RESPULES with ketoconazole, and other known strong CYP3A4 inhibitors (e.g., ritonavir, atazanavir, clarithromycin, indinavir, itraconazole, nefazodone, nelfinavir, saquinavir, telithromycin) because adverse effects related to increased systemic exposure to budesonide may occur [see Drug Interactions (7.1), Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ].
Eohilia label (TAKEDA PHARMACEUTICALS AMERICA, INC., February 3, 2025), drug interactionsDRUG INTERACTIONS CYP3A4 Inhibitors (e.g., ketoconazole, grapefruit juice): Can increase systemic budesonide concentrations.
Source: FDA drug label (Eohilia, NDA213976), TAKEDA PHARMACEUTICALS AMERICA, INC., effective February 3, 2025 (SPL set 56f2023a-69b2-4470-b4ad-af7ec1be527a), via openFDA
Source: FDA drug label (Tarpeyo, NDA215935), Calliditas Therapeutics AB, effective January 21, 2026 (SPL set 938cada4-d6bf-4252-836f-dd40f9eadb4d), via openFDA
Source: FDA drug label (PULMICORT RESPULES), AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, effective October 11, 2019 (SPL set 33cd9834-76df-4f26-3fa2-aab6b9eee8f2), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What does the ketoconazole label say about budesonide?
Ketoconazole's label (effective January 28, 2026) does not name budesonide in these sections. A label lists what its studies and reports found; it is not a complete list.
Source: FDA drug label (ketoconazole), E. Fougera & Co. a division of Fougera Pharmaceuticals, LLC, effective January 28, 2026 (SPL set cad7c647-34a9-4e4e-83b3-8d78e58f588f), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
These are the labels' own sentences. PlainMeds does not grade interactions; a pharmacist or prescriber can say what they mean for one person's medicines.
Both medicines on the record
| Budesonide | Ketoconazole | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Asthma, Allergies, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis | Fungal infections |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | $0.498 per capsule 3 mg capsule | $0.249 per gram 2% cream |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
Source: FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026 and the FDA Drug Shortage Database (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Check more medicines together
- up to five at once