Budesonide is a synthetic corticosteroid developed to provide strong local anti-inflammatory effects with minimal systemic side effects. It is widely used in the treatment of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), allergic rhinitis, and inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. The drug was developed in the 1970s by Astra AB (later part of AstraZeneca) during efforts to create safer corticosteroids with high topical potency and rapid metabolism in the liver. Initially introduced as an inhaled therapy for asthma, budesonide later became available in nasal, oral, and rectal formulations, expanding its use in respiratory and gastrointestinal disorders. Its inclusion in combination inhalers such as Symbicort further improved long-term management of airway diseases. Today, budesonide remains an important and widely prescribed anti-inflammatory medication due to its effectiveness and improved safety profile compared to older systemic steroids.
