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Hydrocortisone
Trade Name Products that contain hydrocortisone in varying forms.
(Cortef) (Cortenema) (Hydrocortone) (Biosone) (Cortifoam) (Hydrocortone Phosphate) (A-HydroCort) (Solu-Cortef)
INDICATIONS
A medication in oral and injectable form that is used for the treatment of severe inflammation, asthma, autoimmune disease, adrenal insufficiency, and COPD.
SIDE EFFECTS
Euphoria, insomnia, psychotic behavior, high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, swelling, cataracts, glaucoma, peptic ulcer disease, gastritis, increased appetite, elevated blood sugar, low blood potassium, delayed wound healing (common), bone growth suppression in children, nausea (common), vomiting (common), acne (common), indigestion (common), thirst (common), muscle weakness, susceptibility to infections, pancreatitis, and excessive hair growth.
Rare side effects include irregular heart beat, hallucinations, thrombophlebitis, and seizures.
INTERACTIONS and PRECAUTIONS
1. Barbiturates (phenobarbital), phenytoin, rifampin can all decrease the effect of hydrocortisone.
2. Indomethacin and aspirin can increase GI irritation and gastrointestinal bleeding.
3. ABRUPT withdrawal from long term use can cause serious illness.
4. Gradually reduce drug dosage after long term therapy (discuss this with your physician).
5. Monitor weight, blood electrolytes, and blood pressure.
6. Patients SHOULD NOT receive a smallpox vaccination while on a high dose of this medication.
7. Use with oral anticoagulants (Coumadin) can decrease the anticoagulant effect.
8. Use with oral hypoglycemic agents (glyburide, glipizide, acetohexamide) can decrease the antidiabetic effect.
9. Use with antihistamines can decrease the hydrocortisone effect.
10. Use with aspirin can increase the hydrocortisone effect.
11. Use with chlorthalidone may cause potassium depletion.
12. Use with cholestyramine or colestipol may cause decreased hydrocortisone absorption effect.
13. Use with oral contraceptives can increase hydrocortisone effect.
14. Use with cyclosporine can increase the risk of infection.
15. Use with digoxin can result in dangerous potassium depletion and possible digoxin toxicity.
16. Use with thiazide diuretics (hydrochlorothiazide) may result in potassium depletion.
We hope the above information on Hydrocortisone was useful to you.
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