Is pneumonia a budesonide side effect?
Concern has previously been raised regarding an increased risk of pneumonia with use of inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) in patients with COPD [4,5]. However, a meta-analysis by Sin et al. [6] reported that 12 months treatment with the ICS budesonide, with or without formoterol, was not associated with an increased risk of pneumonia adverse events in patients with COPD. Over 12 months’ treatment, in all treatment groups, the risk of the budesonide adverse event pneumonia was low (approximately 3%). Therefore budesonide, when used at its recommended dose as combination therapy in Symbicort, is well tolerated and has a favourable safety profile for clinical use in COPD patients.
