Hydrocortisone

Hydrocortisone Brand Names

A-Hydrocort | Ala-Cort | Ala-Scalp | Anucort-HC | Anumed-HC | Anusol HC | Balneol for Her | Caldecort | Cetacort | Colocort | Cortaid | Cortaid Advanced | Cortaid Intensive Therapy | Cortaid Sensitive Skin | CortAlo | Cortef | Cortenema | Corticaine | Corticool | Cortifoam | Cortizone | Cortizone-10 | Cortizone-10 Cooling Relief | Cortizone-10 Intensive Healing | Cortizone-10 Plus | Dermarest Dricort | Dermarest Eczema | Dermarest Itch Relief | Encort | First – Hydrocortisone | Gly-Cort | GRx HiCort | Hemmorex-HC | Hemorrhoidal-HC | Hemril | Hycort | Hydro Skin | Hydrocortisone in Absorbase | Hydrocortone | Hydroskin | Hytone | Instacort | Lacticare HC | Locoid | Locoid Lipocream | MiCort-HC | Monistat Complete Care Instant Itch Relief Cream | Neosporin Eczema | NuCort | Nutracort | NuZon | Pandel | Penecort | Preparation H Hydrocortisone | Proctocort | Proctocream-HC | Procto-Kit | Procto-Med HC | Procto-Pak | Proctosert HC | Proctosol-HC | Proctozone-HC | Rectacort HC | Rectasol-HC | Rederm | Sarnol-HC | Scalacort | Scalpicin Anti-Itch | Solu-Cortef | Texacort | Tucks HC | Vagisil Anti-Itch | Walgreens Intensive Healing | Westcort

What is Hydrocortisone

Hydrocortisone is a naturally-occurring steroid hormone secreted by the adrenal cortex that has glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid activity. Synthetic hydrocortisone is available pharmaceutically in a variety of rectal, parenteral, oral, and topical dosage forms.

As a naturally occurring glucocorticoid that also has salt-retaining properties systemic hydrocortisone is used primarily as replacement therapy in adrenocortical deficiency states, and when emergency anti-inflammatory treatment is needed.

Rectal hydrocortisone products are particularly useful in inflammatory gastrointestinal conditions limited to the rectum and anus.

Systemic hydrocortisone may be used in many other allergic, immune, and inflammatory conditions in adult and pediatric patients; however, systemic corticosteroids that have more potent glucocorticoid activity and minimal mineralocorticoid activity, such as prednisone, are preferred for such uses, as they induce better response and reduce the risks of excess mineralocorticoid side effects.

Systemic corticosteroids may be added to other long-term maintenance medications in the management of uncontrolled severe persistent asthma and short courses may be used for asthma exacerbations; however, systemic hydrocortisone is rarely used for these purposes.

Topical hydrocortisone is considered low potency and is used in mild to moderate corticosteroid-responsive dermatoses, and many topical dosage forms are available without a prescription.

Low potency topical corticosteroids are the safest for chronic use and may be used on the face or intertriginous areas, with occlusion, and in infants and young children.

Indications

1. acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL)
2. Addison’s disease
3. adrenocortical insufficiency
4. allergic conjunctivitis
5. allergic rhinitis
6. alopecia
7. anaphylactic shock
8. anaphylaxis
9. angioedema
10. ankylosing spondylitis
11. anterior segment inflammation
12. asthma
13. atopic dermatitis
14. berylliosis
15. bursitis
16. carpal tunnel syndrome
17. chorioretinitis
18. chronic lung disease (CLD)
19. chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
20. chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
21. Churg-Strauss syndrome
22. congenital adrenal hyperplasia
23. contact dermatitis
24. corneal ulcer
25. Crohn’s disease
26. cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL)
27. dermatitis herpetiformis
28. dermatomyositis
29. discoid lupus erythematosus
30. endophthalmitis
31. epicondylitis
32. erythema multiforme
33. erythroblastopenia
34. exfoliative dermatitis
35. food allergy
36. gouty arthritis
37. granuloma annulare
38. Graves’ ophthalmopathy
39. hemolytic anemia
40. hemorrhoids
41. herpes zoster ocular infection
42. Hodgkin lymphoma
43. hypercalcemia
44. hypoglycemia
45. hypoplastic anemia
46. hypotension
47. immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)
48. insect bites or stings
49. iritis
50. juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA)
51. juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA)/juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)
52. keloids
53. keratitis
54. lichen planus
55. lichen simplex
56. lichen striatus
57. Loeffler’s syndrome
58. mixed connective tissue disease
59. multiple myeloma
60. mycosis fungoides
61. necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum
62. nephrotic syndrome
63. non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL)
64. optic neuritis
65. osteoarthritis
66. pemphigus
67. perennial allergies
68. pityriasis rosea
69. pneumonitis
70. polyarteritis nodosa
71. polychondritis
72. polymorphous light eruption
73. polymyositis
74. pompholyx
75. postoperative ocular inflammation
76. proctitis
77. proteinuria
78. pruritus
79. psoriasis
80. psoriatic arthritis
81. pulmonary edema
82. rheumatic carditis
83. rheumatoid arthritis
84. Rhus dermatitis
85. sarcoidosis
86. seasonal allergies
87. seborrheic dermatitis
88. septic shock
89. serum sickness
90. Stevens-Johnson syndrome
91. systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
92. temporal arteritis
93. tenosynovitis
94. thrombocytopenia
95. thyroiditis
96. trichinosis
97. tuberculosis infection
98. ulcerative colitis
99. urticaria
100. uveitis
101. vernal keratoconjunctivitis
102. Wegener’s granulomatosis
103. xerosis

Side Effects

1. abdominal pain
2. acne vulgaris
3. acneiform rash
4. adrenocortical insufficiency
5. alopecia
6. amenorrhea
7. amnesia
8. anaphylactoid reactions
9. anemia
10. angina
11. angioedema
12. anorexia
13. anxiety
14. appetite stimulation
15. arrhythmia exacerbation
16. arthralgia
17. arthropathy
18. avascular necrosis
19. blurred vision
20. bone fractures
21. bradycardia
22. candidiasis
23. cardiac arrest
24. cardiomyopathy
25. cataracts
26. constipation
27. contact dermatitis
28. Cushing’s syndrome
29. delirium
30. depression
31. diabetes mellitus
32. diaphoresis
33. diarrhea
34. dizziness
35. dysmenorrhea
36. ecchymosis
37. edema
38. EEG changes
39. elevated hepatic enzymes
40. emotional lability
41. erythema
42. esophageal ulceration
43. euphoria
44. exfoliative dermatitis
45. exophthalmos
46. fever
47. fluid retention
48. folliculitis
49. gastritis
50. GI bleeding
51. GI perforation
52. glossitis
53. glycosuria
54. growth inhibition
55. hallucinations
56. headache
57. heart failure
58. hepatomegaly
59. hiccups
60. hirsutism
61. hypercholesterolemia
62. hyperglycemia
63. hypernatremia
64. hypertension
65. hyperthyroidism
66. hypertrichosis
67. hypocalcemia
68. hypokalemia
69. hypotension
70. hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) suppression
71. hypothyroidism
72. immunosuppression
73. impaired cognition
74. impaired wound healing
75. increased intracranial pressure
76. infection
77. injection site reaction
78. insomnia
79. irritability
80. lethargy
81. leukocytosis
82. lupus-like symptoms
83. maculopapular rash
84. malaise
85. mania
86. memory impairment
87. menstrual irregularity
88. metabolic alkalosis
89. miliaria
90. myalgia
91. myocardial infarction
92. myopathy
93. nausea
94. neuritis
95. ocular hypertension
96. ocular infection
97. optic neuritis
98. osteopenia
99. osteoporosis
100. palpitations
101. pancreatitis
102. papilledema
103. paresthesias
104. peptic ulcer
105. perineal pain
106. peripheral neuropathy
107. petechiae
108. phlebitis
109. physiological dependence
110. postmenopausal bleeding
111. pruritus
112. pseudotumor cerebri
113. psychosis
114. pulmonary edema
115. purpura
116. rash
117. restlessness
118. retinopathy
119. seizures
120. sinus tachycardia
121. skin atrophy
122. skin hyperpigmentation
123. skin hypopigmentation
124. skin irritation
125. skin ulcer
126. sodium retention
127. striae
128. stroke
129. syncope
130. telangiectasia
131. tendon rupture
132. thromboembolism
133. thrombosis
134. tolerance
135. urticaria
136. vasculitis
137. vertigo
138. visual impairment
139. vomiting
140. weakness
141. weight gain
142. weight loss
143. withdrawal
144. xerosis

Monitoring Parameters

• blood glucose
• blood pressure
• growth rate
• serum cortisol
• serum potassium
• weight

Contraindications

• abrupt discontinuation
• acne rosacea
• acne vulgaris
• asthma
• benzyl alcohol hypersensitivity
• breast-feeding
• cataracts
• coagulopathy
• corticosteroid hypersensitivity
• Cushing’s syndrome
• diabetes mellitus
• diverticulitis
• epidural administration
• fungal infection
• geriatric
• GI disease
• GI perforation
• glaucoma
• growth inhibition
• heart failure
• hemophilia
• hepatic disease
• herpes infection
• hypertension
• hypothyroidism
• immunosuppression
• increased intracranial pressure
• infection
• inflammatory bowel disease
• intrathecal administration
• measles
• myasthenia gravis
• myocardial infarction
• neonates
• ocular exposure
• ocular infection
• ophthalmic administration
• osteoporosis
• peptic ulcer disease
• perioral dermatitis
• peripheral vascular disease
• pheochromocytoma
• pregnancy
• premature neonates
• psychosis
• renal disease
• seizure disorder
• skin abrasion
• skin atrophy
• sulfite hypersensitivity
• surgery
• thromboembolic disease
• tuberculosis
• ulcerative colitis
• vaccination
• varicella
• viral infection
• visual disturbance

Interactions

• Abatacept
• Acetaminophen; Aspirin, ASA; Caffeine
• Acetaminophen; Caffeine; Magnesium Salicylate; Phenyltoloxamine
• Acetaminophen; Caffeine; Phenyltoloxamine; Salicylamide
• Acetaminophen; Chlorpheniramine; Dextromethorphan; Phenylephrine
• Acetaminophen; Chlorpheniramine; Phenylephrine; Phenyltoloxamine
• Acetaminophen; Dextromethorphan; Guaifenesin; Phenylephrine
• Acetaminophen; Dextromethorphan; Phenylephrine
• Acetaminophen; Guaifenesin; Phenylephrine
• Acetazolamide
• Acetohexamide
• Adalimumab
• Albiglutide
• Aldesleukin, IL-2
• Alemtuzumab
• Aliskiren; Amlodipine; Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ
• Aliskiren; Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ
• Alogliptin; Metformin
• Alpha-glucosidase Inhibitors
• Altretamine
• Ambenonium Chloride
• Amifampridine
• Amiloride; Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ
• Aminolevulinic Acid
• Aminosalicylate sodium, Aminosalicylic acid
• Amlodipine; Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ; Olmesartan
• Amlodipine; Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ; Valsartan
• Amoxicillin; Clarithromycin; Lansoprazole
• Amoxicillin; Clarithromycin; Omeprazole
• Amphotericin B
• Amphotericin B cholesteryl sulfate complex (ABCD)
• Amphotericin B lipid complex (ABLC)
• Amphotericin B liposomal (LAmB)
• Antithymocyte Globulin
• Antitumor antibiotics
• Argatroban
• Arsenic Trioxide
• Asparaginase Erwinia chrysanthemi
• Aspirin, ASA
• Aspirin, ASA; Butalbital; Caffeine
• Aspirin, ASA; Butalbital; Caffeine; Codeine
• Aspirin, ASA; Caffeine; Dihydrocodeine
• Aspirin, ASA; Caffeine; Orphenadrine
• Aspirin, ASA; Carisoprodol
• Aspirin, ASA; Carisoprodol; Codeine
• Aspirin, ASA; Citric Acid; Sodium Bicarbonate
• Aspirin, ASA; Dipyridamole
• Aspirin, ASA; Omeprazole
• Aspirin, ASA; Oxycodone
• Aspirin, ASA; Pravastatin
• Atenolol; Chlorthalidone
• Atracurium
• Atropine; Benzoic Acid; Hyoscyamine; Methenamine; Methylene Blue; Phenyl Salicylate
• Azathioprine
• Azilsartan; Chlorthalidone
• Basiliximab
• Benazepril; Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ
• Bendroflumethiazide; Nadolol
• Benzoic Acid; Hyoscyamine; Methenamine; Methylene Blue; Phenyl Salicylate
• Bepridil
• Bismuth Subsalicylate
• Bismuth Subsalicylate; Metronidazole; Tetracycline
• Bisoprolol; Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ
• Bivalirudin
• Bortezomib
• Brompheniramine; Carbetapentane; Phenylephrine
• Brompheniramine; Dextromethorphan; Phenylephrine
• Bupropion
• Bupropion; Naltrexone
• Calcium Carbonate
• Calcium Carbonate; Magnesium Hydroxide
• Calcium Carbonate; Risedronate
• Calcium Carbonate; Simethicone
• Canagliflozin
• Canagliflozin; Metformin
• Candesartan; Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ
• Captopril; Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ
• Carbetapentane; Chlorpheniramine; Phenylephrine
• Carbetapentane; Diphenhydramine; Phenylephrine
• Carbetapentane; Guaifenesin; Phenylephrine
• Carbetapentane; Phenylephrine
• Carbetapentane; Phenylephrine; Pyrilamine
• Carbinoxamine; Hydrocodone; Phenylephrine
• Carbinoxamine; Phenylephrine
• Carmustine, BCNU
• Chlophedianol; Guaifenesin; Phenylephrine
• Chlorambucil
• Chlorothiazide
• Chlorpheniramine; Dextromethorphan; Phenylephrine
• Chlorpheniramine; Dihydrocodeine; Phenylephrine
• Chlorpheniramine; Hydrocodone; Phenylephrine
• Chlorpheniramine; Phenylephrine
• Chlorpropamide
• Chlorthalidone
• Chlorthalidone; Clonidine
• Cholestyramine
• Choline Salicylate; Magnesium Salicylate
• Cimetidine
• Cisatracurium
• Citalopram
• Clarithromycin
• Clindamycin
• Clofarabine
• Codeine; Phenylephrine; Promethazine
• Colestipol
• Conivaptan
• Cosyntropin
• Dapagliflozin
• Dapagliflozin; Metformin
• Dapagliflozin; Saxagliptin
• Denileukin Diftitox
• Denosumab
• Desmopressin
• Dextran
• Dextromethorphan; Diphenhydramine; Phenylephrine
• Dextromethorphan; Guaifenesin; Phenylephrine
• Digoxin
• Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 Inhibitors
• Diphenhydramine; Hydrocodone; Phenylephrine
• Diphenhydramine; Phenylephrine
• Dofetilide
• Doxacurium
• Droperidol
• Dulaglutide
• Echinacea
• Econazole
• Efalizumab
• Empagliflozin
• Empagliflozin; Linagliptin
• Empagliflozin; Linagliptin; Metformin
• Empagliflozin; Metformin
• Enalapril; Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ
• Ephedrine
• Eprosartan; Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ
• Erlotinib
• Ertugliflozin
• Ertugliflozin; Metformin
• Ertugliflozin; Sitagliptin
• Erythromycin
• Erythromycin; Sulfisoxazole
• Eslicarbazepine
• Estramustine
• Estrogens
• Exenatide
• Fluconazole
• Fluoxymesterone
• Fosinopril; Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ
• Gallium Ga 68 Dotatate
• Gemcitabine
• Gentamicin
• Glimepiride
• Glimepiride; Pioglitazone
• Glimepiride; Rosiglitazone
• Glipizide
• Glipizide; Metformin
• Glyburide
• Glyburide; Metformin
• Glycerol Phenylbutyrate
• Guaifenesin; Phenylephrine
• Halofantrine
• Haloperidol
• Hemin
• Heparin
• Hetastarch
• Hydralazine; Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ
• Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ
• Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ; Irbesartan
• Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ; Lisinopril
• Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ; Losartan
• Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ; Methyldopa
• Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ; Metoprolol
• Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ; Moexipril
• Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ; Olmesartan
• Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ; Propranolol
• Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ; Quinapril
• Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ; Spironolactone
• Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ; Telmisartan
• Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ; Triamterene
• Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ; Valsartan
• Hydrocodone; Phenylephrine
• Hydroxyurea
• Hylan G-F 20
• Hyoscyamine; Methenamine; Methylene Blue; Phenyl Salicylate; Sodium Biphosphate
• Ibritumomab Tiuxetan
• Incretin Mimetics
• Indapamide
• Inebilizumab
• Insulin Degludec; Liraglutide
• Insulin Glargine; Lixisenatide
• Insulins
• Interferon Alfa-2a
• Interferon Alfa-2b
• Interferon Alfa-2b; Ribavirin
• Iohexol
• Iopamidol
• Isoproterenol
• Isotretinoin
• L-Asparaginase Escherichia coli
• Levetiracetam
• Levomethadyl
• Linagliptin; Metformin
• Liraglutide
• Live Vaccines
• Lixisenatide
• Lomustine, CCNU
• Loop diuretics
• Macimorelin
• Magnesium Salicylate
• Mannitol
• Mecasermin rinfabate
• Mecasermin, Recombinant, rh-IGF-1
• Meglitinides
• Melphalan
• Mepenzolate
• Metformin
• Metformin; Pioglitazone
• Metformin; Repaglinide
• Metformin; Rosiglitazone
• Metformin; Saxagliptin
• Metformin; Sitagliptin
• Methacholine
• Methazolamide
• Methenamine; Sodium Acid Phosphate
• Methenamine; Sodium Acid Phosphate; Methylene Blue; Hyoscyamine
• Methoxsalen
• Methyclothiazide
• Metolazone
• Metyrapone
• Micafungin
• Mifepristone
• Mitotane
• Mitoxantrone
• Mivacurium
• Moxifloxacin
• Muromonab-CD3
• Natalizumab
• Nateglinide
• Nelarabine
• Neostigmine
• Neuromuscular blockers
• Nicardipine
• Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs
• Ocrelizumab
• Ondansetron
• Oxymetholone
• Ozanimod
• Pancuronium
• Pegaspargase
• Penicillamine
• Phenylephrine
• Phenylephrine; Promethazine
• Photosensitizing agents (topical)
• Physostigmine
• Pimozide
• Potassium
• Potassium Chloride
• Potassium Phosphate; Sodium Phosphate
• Potassium-sparing diuretics
• Pramlintide
• Prasterone, Dehydroepiandrosterone, DHEA (Dietary Supplements)
• Prasterone, Dehydroepiandrosterone, DHEA (FDA-approved)
• Propranolol
• Purine analogs
• Pyridostigmine
• Quetiapine
• Quinolones
• Rapacuronium
• Regular Insulin
• Repaglinide
• Ritodrine
• Rituximab
• Rituximab; Hyaluronidase
• Rocuronium
• Salicylates
• Salsalate
• Sargramostim, GM-CSF
• Semaglutide
• SGLT2 Inhibitors
• Siponimod
• Sodium Benzoate; Sodium Phenylacetate
• Sodium Chloride
• Sodium Phenylbutyrate
• Sodium Phosphate Monobasic Monohydrate; Sodium Phosphate Dibasic Anhydrous
• Somatropin, rh-GH
• Succinylcholine
• Sulfonylureas
• Telbivudine
• Testosterone
• Thiazide diuretics
• Thiazolidinediones
• Thyroid hormones
• Tobramycin
• Tocilizumab
• Tolazamide
• Tolbutamide
• Tositumomab
• Tranexamic Acid
• Tretinoin, ATRA
• Tuberculin Purified Protein Derivative, PPD
• Tubocurarine
• Vancomycin
• Vecuronium
• Vigabatrin
• Vinblastine
• Vincristine Liposomal
• Voriconazole
• Vorinostat
• Warfarin
• Zafirlukast
• Zileuton