What is Hydrocortisone?
Hydrocortisone (Oral)
Hydrocortisone is in a class of drugs called steroids. Hydrocortisone prevents the release of substances in the body that cause inflammation.
Hydrocortisone is used to treat many different conditions such as allergic disorders, skin conditions, ulcerative colitis, arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, or breathing disorders.
Hydrocortisone may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Hydrocortisone Rectal (Foam, Enema)
Hydrocortisone is a steroid medicine that reduces inflammation in the body.
The information in this medication guide is specific to hydrocortisone rectal foam or enema.
Hydrocortisone rectal is used to treat hemorrhoids and itching or swelling of the rectal area caused by hemorrhoids or other inflammatory conditions of the rectum or anus.
Hydrocortisone rectal is also used together with other medications to treat ulcerative colitis, proctitis, and other inflammatory conditions of the lower intestines and rectal area.
Hydrocortisone rectal foam or enema may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about Hydrocortisone?
Hydrocortisone (Oral)
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to hydrocortisone, or if you have a fungal infection anywhere in your body.
Before taking hydrocortisone, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions, and about all other medicines you are using. There are many other diseases that can be affected by steroid use, and many other medicines that can interact with steroids.
Your steroid medication needs may change if you have any unusual stress such as a serious illness, fever or infection, or if you have surgery or a medical emergency. Tell your doctor about any such situation that affects you during treatment.
Steroid medication can weaken your immune system, making it easier for you to get an infection or worsening an infection you already have or have recently had. Tell your doctor about any illness or infection you have had within the past several weeks.
Avoid being near people who are sick or have infections. Call your doctor for preventive treatment if you are exposed to chicken pox or measles. These conditions can be serious or even fatal in people who are using steroid medication.
Do not receive a “live” vaccine while you are taking hydrocortisone. Vaccines may not work as well while you are taking a steroid.
Do not stop using hydrocortisone suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Talk to your doctor about how to avoid withdrawal symptoms when stopping the medication.
Carry an ID card or wear a medical alert bracelet stating that you are taking a steroid, in case of emergency.
Hydrocortisone Rectal (Foam, Enema)
The information in this medication guide is specific to hydrocortisone rectal foam or enema.
Do not take hydrocortisone rectal by mouth. It is for use only in your rectum.
This medication comes with patient instructions for safe and effective use. Follow these directions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions. You may need to use this medication for up to 8 weeks.
Call your doctor at once if you have any bleeding from your rectum, feeling short of breath (even with mild exertion), swelling of your ankles or feet, or rapid weight gain.
There may be other drugs that can interact with hydrocortisone rectal. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.
Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve or if they get worse after using this medicine for a few days.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Hydrocortisone?
Hydrocortisone (Oral)
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to hydrocortisone, or if you have a fungal infection anywhere in your body.
Steroid medication can weaken your immune system, making it easier for you to get an infection. Steroids can also worsen an infection you already have, or reactivate an infection you recently had. Before taking this medication, tell your doctor about any illness or infection you have had within the past several weeks.
If you have any of these other conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take hydrocortisone:
- liver disease (such as cirrhosis)
- kidney disease
- a thyroid disorder
- diabetes
- a history of malaria
- tuberculosis
- osteoporosis
- a muscle disorder such as myasthenia gravis
- glaucoma or cataracts
- herpes infection of the eyes
- stomach ulcers, ulcerative colitis, or diverticulitis
- depression or mental illness
- congestive heart failure; or
- high blood pressure
FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether hydrocortisone is harmful to an unborn baby. Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
Hydrocortisone can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Steroids can affect growth in children. Talk with your doctor if you think your child is not growing at a normal rate while using this medication.
Hydrocortisone Rectal (Foam, Enema)
Before using this medication, tell your doctor if you have:
- congestive heart failure
- a history of tuberculosis
- stomach ulcer or diverticulitis
- a colostomy or ileostomy
- fever or any type of infection
- kidney disease
- high blood pressure; or
- myasthenia gravis
If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use hydrocortisone rectal foam or enema, or you may need a dose adjustment or special tests during treatment.
Also tell your doctor if you have diabetes. Steroid medicines may increase the glucose (sugar) levels in your blood or urine. You may also need to adjust the dose of your diabetes medications.
FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether hydrocortisone rectal is harmful to an unborn baby. Before using this medication, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
It is not known whether hydrocortisone passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Hydrocortisone Side Effects
What are the possible side effects of Hydrocortisone?
Hydrocortisone (Oral)
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
- problems with your vision
- swelling, rapid weight gain, feeling short of breath
- severe depression, unusual thoughts or behavior, seizure (convulsions)
- bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood
- pancreatitis (severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, nausea and vomiting, fast heart rate)
- low potassium (confusion, uneven heart rate, extreme thirst, increased urination, leg discomfort, muscle weakness or limp feeling); or
- dangerously high blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, buzzing in your ears, anxiety, confusion, chest pain, shortness of breath, uneven heartbeats, seizure)
Less serious side effects may include:
- sleep problems (insomnia), mood changes
- acne, dry skin, thinning skin, bruising or discoloration
- slow wound healing
- increased sweating
- headache, dizziness, spinning sensation
- nausea, stomach pain, bloating; or
- changes in the shape or location of body fat (especially in your arms, legs, face, neck, breasts, and waist)
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Hydrocortisone Rectal (Foam, Enema)
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
- feeling short of breath, even with mild exertion
- swelling of your ankles or feet
- muscle weakness
- rapid weight gain, especially in your face and midsection
- severe rectal pain or burning
- bleeding from your rectum
- severe stomach pain
- sudden and severe headache or pain behind your eyes; or
- seizure (convulsions)
Less serious side effects may include:
- mild rectal pain or burning
- acne
- changes in your menstrual periods
- increased sweating; or
- increased facial or body hair growth
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Hydrocortisone Interactions
What other drugs affect Hydrocortisone?
Hydrocortisone (Oral)
There are many other medicines that can interact with steroids. Below is only a partial list of these medicines:
- aspirin (taken on a daily basis or at high doses)
- a diuretic (water pill)
- a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin)
- cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune)
- insulin or diabetes medications you take by mouth
- ketoconazole (Nizoral)
- rifampin (Rifadin, Rifater, Rifamate, Rimactane); or
- seizure medications such as phenytoin (Dilantin) or phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton)
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with hydrocortisone. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.
Hydrocortisone Rectal (Foam, Enema)
Before using hydrocortisone rectal, tell your doctor if you also use insulin or other diabetes medications you take by mouth.
There may be other drugs that can interact with hydrocortisone rectal. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.
What should I avoid while taking Hydrocortisone?
Hydrocortisone (Oral)
Avoid being near people who are sick or have infections. Call your doctor for preventive treatment if you are exposed to chicken pox or measles. These conditions can be serious or even fatal in people who are using steroid medication.
Do not receive a “live” vaccine while you are being treated with hydrocortisone. Vaccines may not work as well while you are taking a steroid.
Avoid drinking alcohol while you are taking hydrocortisone.
Hydrocortisone Rectal (Foam, Enema)
Avoid getting a vaccine during your treatment with hydrocortisone rectal. Vaccines may not work as well while you are using a steroid medicine.
Hydrocortisone Dosage
How should I take Hydrocortisone?
Hydrocortisone (Oral)
Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.
Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results from this medication.
Your steroid medication needs may change if you have unusual stress such as a serious illness, fever or infection, or if you have surgery or a medical emergency. Tell your doctor about any such situation that affects you.
This medication can cause you to have unusual results with certain medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using hydrocortisone.
Do not stop using hydrocortisone suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Talk to your doctor about how to avoid withdrawal symptoms when stopping the medication.
Carry an ID card or wear a medical alert bracelet stating that you are taking a steroid, in case of emergency. Any doctor, dentist, or emergency medical care provider who treats you should know that you are taking steroid medication.
Store hydrocortisone at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
Hydrocortisone Rectal (Foam, Enema)
Use this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not use the medication in larger or smaller amounts, or use it for longer than recommended by your doctor.
Do not take hydrocortisone rectal by mouth. It is for use only in your rectum.
This medication comes with patient instructions for safe and effective use. Follow these directions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions. You may need to use this medication for up to 8 weeks.
Wash your hands before and after using this medicine.
Try to empty your bowel and bladder just before using the hydrocortisone rectal foam or enema.
Use only the applicator provided with the medication to insert it into your rectum.
For best results from the enema, lie down on your left side for at least 30 minutes after using the foam or enema to allow the liquid to distribute throughout your intestines. Try to hold in the enema all night if possible. Avoid using the bathroom during this time.
Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve or if they get worse after using this medicine for a few days.
Store this medication at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
What happens if I overdose on Hydrocortisone?
Hydrocortisone (Oral)
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have received too much of this medicine.
A single large dose of hydrocortisone is not expected to produce life-threatening symptoms. However, high doses taken over a long period of time may cause weight gain, roundness of the face, increased facial hair growth, bruising, swelling, and muscle pain or weakness.
Hydrocortisone Rectal (Foam, Enema)
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.
An overdose of hydrocortisone rectal foam or enema is not expected to produce life-threatening symptoms. However, long-term use of high steroid doses can lead to symptoms such as thinning skin, easy bruising, changes in the shape or location of body fat (especially in your face, neck, back, and waist), increased acne or facial hair, menstrual problems, impotence, or loss of interest in sex.
What happens if I miss a dose of Hydrocortisone?
Hydrocortisone (Oral)
If you miss a dose or forget to take your medicine, contact your doctor or pharmacist for instructions.
Hydrocortisone Rectal (Foam, Enema)
Use the medication as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and use the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Sourced from everydayhealth.com