Hydrocortisone

Hydrocortisone is used to replace cortisol (a steroid normally produced by the body) when your body doesn't make enough of it. Hydrocortisone is also used to treat lupus (a disease in which immune system attacks body attacks many of its own organs); certain types of arthritis; certain lung, skin, eye, kidney, blood, thyroid, stomach, and intestinal disorders; severe allergies; and certain types of cancer.I Hydrocortisone is in a class of medications called corticosteroids. It works by replacing steroids that are normally produced naturally by the body. It also works to reduce swelling and redness and by changing the way the immune system works.

Hydrocortisone comes as a tablet and an oral solution to take by mouth with or without food. Hydrocortisone also comes as a sprinkle capsule (capsule that contains small granules of medicine to sprinkle into the mouth or on food) to take by mouth. If you are taking the tablets, your doctor will prescribe a dosing schedule that is best for you. Take the oral solution and granules 2 or 3 times a day.

Take hydrocortisone exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

To take the sprinkle capsules, open the capsule(s) and either pour the contents directly on your child's tongue or pour the granules onto a clean spoon and place the spoonful of medication in your child's mouth. To take the sprinkle capsules mixed with food, open the capsules and pour onto a spoonful of cold or room temperature soft food such as yogurt or applesauce. Swallow the granules or the mixture of soft food and granules right away (within 5 minutes). After swallowing, take several sips of water, formula, or breast milk right away. Do not swallow the sprinkle capsules whole; do not chew or crush the granules.

If your child vomits or spits up after taking a dose of hydrocortisone granules, call your doctor right away. Your doctor will tell you if you need to give your child another dose. Do not give another dose unless your doctor tells you to do so.

If you are taking the oral solutions, use an oral syringe or dosing cup (measuring device) to accurately measure and take your dose of hydrocortisone solution. Do not use a household spoon or cup. Ask your pharmacist for a measuring device if one is not included with your medication.

Your doctor may change your dose of hydrocortisone often during your treatment to be sure that you are always taking the lowest dose that works for you. Your doctor may also need to change your dose if you experience unusual stress on your body such as surgery, illness, or infection. Tell your doctor if your symptoms improve or get worse or if you get sick or have any changes in your health during your treatment.

Hydrocortisone may help control your condition but may not cure it. Continue to take hydrocortisone even if you feel well. Do not stop taking hydrocortisone without talking to your doctor. If you suddenly stop taking hydrocortisone, your body may not have enough natural steroids to function normally. This may cause extreme tiredness, weakness, dizziness or lightheadness, loss of appetite, weight loss, an upset stomach, vomiting, drowsiness, joint and muscle pain, changes in skin color, and craving for salt. If you take large doses for a long time, your doctor probably will decrease your dose gradually to allow your body to adjust before stopping the drug completely. If these problems occur, call your doctor immediately. You may need to increase your dose of hydrocortisone temporarily or start taking it again.

You will be given the Medication Guide. Read the information carefully and ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions. You can also visit https://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm085729.htm to obtain the Medication Guide.

Hydrocortisone is also sometimes used with other medications for the treatment of serious complications from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Talk to your doctor about the risks of using this drug for your condition.

This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Before taking hydrocortisone,

• tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to this drug, any part of this drug, or any other drugs, foods or substances. Tell your doctor or pharmacist about the allergy and what symptoms you had.
• tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
• the following nonprescription or herbal products may interact with hydrocortisone: aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen. Be sure to let your doctor and pharmacist know that you are taking these medications before you start taking hydrocortisone. Do not start these medications while taking hydrocortisone without discussing it with your healthcare provider.
• tell your doctor if you have a fungal infection (other than on your skin or nails). Your doctor may tell you not to take hydrocortisone.
• tell your doctor if you have nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea; or if you have or have ever had high blood pressure; diabetes; hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid gland); depression or other mental illness; myasthenia gravis (a condition in which the muscles become weak); osteoporosis (a condition in which the bones become thin and weak and break easily); threadworms (a type of worm that can live inside the body); seizures; tuberculosis (TB; a serious lung infection); stomach ulcers; cataracts (clouding of the lens of the eye), glaucoma (an eye disease), or other eye problems; or liver, kidney, intestinal, or heartdisease. Also tell your doctor if you have any type of infection, fever, or or an infection that keeps coming back.
• tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking hydrocortisone, call your doctor.
• if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking hydrocortisone.do not have any vaccinations without talking to your doctor.
• you should know that hydrocortisone may decrease your ability to fight infection and may prevent you from developing symptoms if you get an infection. Tell your doctor if you have never had chicken pox or measles and you have not been vaccinated against these infections. Stay away from people who are sick, especially people who have chicken pox or measles. Call your doctor immediately if you think you may have been around someone who had chicken pox or measles. You may need treatment to protect you from these infections.

Your doctor may instruct you to follow a low-salt, high-potassium, or high-calcium diet. Follow these directions.

Talk to your doctor about eating grapefruit and drinking grapefruit juice while you are taking this medication.

When you start to take hydrocortisone, ask your doctor what to do if you forget a dose. Write down these instructions so that you can refer to them later. Call your doctor or pharmacist if you miss a dose and do not know what to do. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed dose.

Hydrocortisone may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• nausea
• headache
• insomnia
• acne
• irregular or absent menstrual periods

If you experience any of the following symptoms or those in the HOW section, call your doctor immediately or get emergency medical treatment:

• rash; hives; itching; swelling of the eyes, face, lips, mouth, throat, or tongue; or difficulty breathing or swallowing
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• sudden weight gain; muscle weakness; unusual bruising; swollen face, lower legs, or ankles; depression; or sudden, unusual mood changes
• hallucinations (seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist), confusion, mania (frenzied or abnormally excited mood), or depression
• eye pain, redness, or tearing; blurred vision; or other vision problems
• sore throat, fever, chills, cough, stomach pain, difficult or painful urination, or other signs of infection
• seizures

Hydrocortisone may slow growth and development in children. Your child's doctor will watch his or her growth carefully. Talk to your child's doctor about the risks of giving hydrocortisone to your child.

Hydrocortisone may increase the risk that you will develop osteoporosis. Talk to your doctor about the risks of taking hydrocortisone and about things that you can do to decrease the chance that you will develop osteoporosis.

Some patients who took hydrocortisone or similar medications developed a type of cancer called Kaposi's sarcoma. Talk to your doctor about the risks of taking hydrocortisone.

Hydrocortisone may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while you are taking this medication.

If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online (https://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch) or by phone (1-800-332-1088).

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store tablets and sprinkle capsules at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Store oral solution in the refrigerator or at room temperature; protect from light and excess heat and dispose of unused medication after 120 days.

Dispose of unneeded medications in a way so that pets, children, and other people cannot take them. Do not flush this medication down the toilet. Use a medicine take-back program. Talk to your pharmacist about take-back programs in your community. Visit the FDA's Safe Disposal of Medicines website https://goo.gl/c4Rm4p for more information.

Keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers are not child-resistant. Always lock safety caps. Place the medication in a safe location – one that is up and away and out of their sight and reach. https://www.upandaway.org

In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline at 1-800-222-1222. Information is also available online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. If the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can't be awakened, immediately call emergency services at 911.

Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor may order certain lab tests to check your response to hydrocortisone.

Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.

Keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines, vitamins, minerals, and dietary supplements you are taking. Bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to the hospital. You should carry the list with you in case of emergencies.

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