What is Hydrocortisone?
Hydrocortisone, a steroid medication, is used to treat many conditions, including allergies, skin disorders, ulcerative colitis, and arthritis. It is also prescribed for lupus or multiple sclerosis.In people with insufficiency (a decrease in the production of natural steroids by the adrenal glands), hydrocortisone can be used as a substitute for steroids.It is used to treat blood cell disorders like anemia or thrombocytopenia.Hydrocortisone can also be used to treat certain cancers, such as leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma.This medication guide does not list all uses of hydrocortisone.
Side effects of Hydrocortisone
If you experience any of the following symptoms of an allergic reaction, seek immediate medical attention: difficulty breathing, hives, swelling of your lips, face, tongue, or throat.
The side effects of hydrocortisone can be serious. If you experience:
- Blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain, or seeing halos around light
- Loss of muscle mass, muscle weakness
- New or unusual pains in your muscles, joints, or bones;
- You may experience severe headaches with ringing in the ears or pain behind the eyes.
- Unusual changes in mood or behavior
- A seizure;
- The injection site may show hollowing of the skin or other changes.
- Numbness or tingling
- Fluid accumulation—shortness of breath (even when lying down), swelling, and rapid weight gain (especially around the midsection);
- New signs of infection include fever or chills; coughing or sores on the skin or in your mouth; diarrhea or burning when you urinate.
- Increased adrenal gland hormones—slow wound healing, skin discoloration and thinning, increased body hair, fatigue, menstrual irregularities, sexual changes,
- Reduced adrenal gland hormones: fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, skin discoloration, and weakness
Hydrocortisone can affect growth in children. If your child's growth isn't normal while taking hydrocortisone, tell your doctor.
Some of the common side effects associated with hydrocortisone include:
- Acne, dry skin
- Increased sweating
- Nausea, bloating;
- Weight gain due to increased appetite
- Sleep problems (insomnia).
There may be other side effects. For medical advice on side effects, call your doctor. Contact the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) immediately if any adverse reactions arise, at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Warnings
If you have a fungus in any part of your body, then you should avoid using hydrocortisone.Inform your doctor of any illnesses or infections you may have experienced in the last few weeks.
Before you take this drug
If you are allergic or have a fungus infection in any part of your body, you should avoid using hydrocortisone.
Steroids may weaken your immunity, increasing the likelihood of getting an infection. Inform your doctor of any illnesses or infections you've had in the last few weeks.
Inform your physician of any of the following issues:
- High blood
- Tuberculosis;
- Kidney disease
- Cirrhosis, or other liver diseases.
- A thyroid disorder
- Low bone mineral density (osteoporosis);
- Diverticulitis and ulcerative colitis are terms used to describe stomach ulcers.
- Diabetes;
- A colostomy or ileostomy;
- Mental illness or depression
- Glaucoma, or cataracts
- Herpes infection in the eyes
- A muscle disorder, such as myasthenia gravis.
Long-term use can lead to osteoporosis, especially if the user smokes, does not exercise, consumes insufficient calcium or vitamin D, or has a family history.Hydrocortisone is not known to harm an unborn child. However, it is possible that using this medication during pregnancy can cause a hormonal deficiency in the baby. Inform your doctor if you are pregnant.If you are using hydrocortisone, it is not recommended that you breastfeed.
How to take Hydrocortisone?
Hydrocortisone can be injected directly into the muscle or infused into a vein. This injection will be given by a healthcare provider.If you cannot take the medication by mouth, hydrocortisone can be given as an injection.You will need to have your doctor check on you regularly.You may need to adjust your dose if you are suffering from a serious condition, such as a fever, an infection, surgery, or a medical crisis. Inform your doctor of any situation like this that may affect you.Do not abruptly stop taking hydrocortisone. You should follow your doctor's advice about reducing your dose.
What happens if I miss the dose?
If you are unable to keep your appointment for the hydrocortisone shot, call your doctor.
What happens if I overdose?
Call 1-800-222-1222 for poison help or seek immediate medical attention.Overdoses of hydrocortisone are unlikely to cause life-threatening symptoms. High doses of hydrocortisone can cause thinning of the skin, easy bruises, changes in body weight (especially on your face, neck, and back), acne or facial hair growth, menstrual issues, impotence, or loss of sexual interest.
What should be avoided?
Don't receive a live vaccine if you are using hydrocortisone. It may not protect you as well from disease, and the vaccine may not perform as well. Live vaccines are measles (MMR), rubella, typhoid (rotavirus), yellow fever (typhoid), varicella, chickenpox, zoster, shingles, polio (rotavirus), typhoid (rotavirus), syphilis (typhoid), and adenovirus.Avoid being around people who are ill or infected. If you have been exposed to measles or chickenpox, call your doctor immediately for treatment. These conditions are serious and can even be fatal for people taking steroid medications.
Interaction with other drug
It is sometimes not safe to take certain medications together. Some drugs may affect the blood levels of drugs that you are taking, increasing side effects or making them less effective.
Tell your doctor all the medicines you are taking. Hydrocortisone can be affected by many drugs, including:
- Hormonal replacement therapy or birth control pills
- Heart medication
- Insulin, or oral diabetes medication;
- Medicine to prevent organ rejection;
- Medicine to treat an infection
- Seizure medication;
- A blood thinner, such as warfarin( coumadin or jantoven);
- Aspirin or an nsaid such as ibuprofen (nonsteroidal pain reliever), naproxen (nonsteroidal pain reliever), celecoxib (nonsteroidal pain reliever), indomethacin, advil, aleve, and motrin
This list is incomplete, and other drugs can also affect hydrocortisone. This includes over-the-counter and prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. This list does not include all possible drug interactions.
