Hydrocortisone: functions, dosage, side effects, how to use it

What Drug Hydrocortisone?

What is Hydrocortisone for?

Hydrocortisone is a corticosteroid drug class of drugs. This drug is made in the laboratory by mimicking natural hormones in the body produced by the adrenal glands.

This medication is commonly used to treat conditions such as arthritis, immune system disorders, hormones or blood, skin and eye conditions, respiratory problems, cancer and severe allergies.

This type of drug is one class of drugs that is very often used as an anti-inflammatory and is often referred to as "divine medicine" because of its ability to treat various symptoms of ailments.

Some names of corticosteroid drugs other than hydrocortisone that are often found are prednisone, methylprednisolone, dexamethasone, betamethasone and triamcinolone.

These drugs decrease the immune system's response to various diseases by relieving symptoms such as pain, swelling, and allergic-type reactions. Hydrocortisone is also used to treat low hydrocortisone levels caused by adrenal gland diseases (eg Addison's disease, adrenocortical insufficiency).

This type of drug is needed in a variety of ways for the body to function properly. Corticosteroid drugs are important for salt and water balance and maintaining normal blood pressure.

Discard this product when it has expired or when it is no longer needed.

Hydrocortisone dosage

How do I use Hydrocortisone?

Hydrocortisone is a drug that can be taken with food or milk to prevent stomach upset, according to doctor's instructions. The use of corticosteroids must be in accordance with the doctor's instructions, both how many doses, how many times to drink in a day, and how many days to drink.

People are not advised to consume or increase the dose of this drug without a doctor's instructions. To reduce the side effects of corticosteroids, patients can follow these tips:

• Do not take corticosteroid drugs when the stomach is empty, to reduce side effects on the digestive system
• Use spacer on inhaled corticosteroid drugs, to reduce the risk of fungal infections in the oral cavity
• Do the injection in a different place, the maximum of injecting a corticosteroid class of drugs in the same place is three times
• In areas of thin skin or folds, use steroids with weak potency
• Be careful with use around the eyes, because it can cause glaucoma or cataracts

Do not stop medication suddenly. On long-term use, doctors usually do "tappering off"When going to stop treatment, that is by reducing the dose of the drug slowly and then stopped.

Suddenly stopping taking corticosteroid medications can cause Addison's syndrome.

Tell your doctor if your condition does not improve or if it gets worse. Follow the rules given by your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment. If you have any questions, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

How do I store Hydrocortisone?

Hydrocortisone is a drug that is best stored at room temperature, away from direct light and damp places. Don't keep it in the bathroom. Don't freeze it.

Other brands of this drug may have different storage rules. Observe the storage instructions on the product package or ask your pharmacist. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.

Do not flush medicines down the toilet or down the drain unless instructed to do so. Discard this product when it has expired or when it is no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company about how to safely dispose of your product.

Hydrocortisone side effects

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment.

What is the dosage of Hydrocortisone for adults?

The initial dose of hydrocortisone can vary from 20-240 mg per day, depending on the disease being treated. In acute multiple sclerosis exacerbation therapy, a daily dose of 200 mg prednisolone for a week followed by 80 mg every few days for 1 month has been shown to be effective (20 mg hydrocortisone is equivalent to 5 mg prednisolone).

For topical cream use, apply 0.1-2.5% cream to the affected area.

What is the dosage of Hydrocortisone for children?

Severe inflammation, adrenal insufficiency
For children, hydrocortisone doses of 2-8 mg / kg or 16-240 mg / m2 P.O. a day in 3 or 4 divided doses.

In what dosage is Hydrocortisone available?

Hydrocortisone is a drug that is available in the following dosages.

Solution, Reconstituted, Injection, as sodium succinate: 100 mg
Tablet, Oral: 5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg

Cream: 0.1% -2.5%

Take the medicine with a glass of water (240 mL) unless your doctor recommends something else. Follow the schedule carefully. Dosage and duration of therapy are based on your health condition and response to therapy.

Your doctor may recommend using hydrocortisone 1 to 4 times a day or a single dose every few days. As a reminder, it can be helped with a marker on the calendar or using a pill box.

Do not stop taking your medication suddenly without your doctor knowing. Some conditions can worsen when the medicine is stopped suddenly. Your dose may need to be decreased gradually.

If you have been using hydrocortisone regularly over a long period of time or at high doses, you may experience withdrawal symptoms if the drug is stopped suddenly.

To prevent withdrawal symptoms (such as weakness, weight loss, nausea, muscle aches, headache, tiredness, dizziness), your doctor may reduce your dose gradually.

Consult a doctor or pharmacist for more detailed information, and tell immediately if you have a withdrawal reaction.

Hydrocortisone Drug Warnings and Cautions

What side effects can be experienced due to Hydrocortisone?

Seek emergency medical help right away if you experience signs of an allergic reaction such as hives, difficulty breathing; swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat. You can also contact your doctor immediately if you experience serious side effects such as:

• Breath becomes rapid, even if only light activity
• Swelling of the ankle or leg
• Muscle weakness
• Weight gain rapidly, especially can be seen on the face and the abdomen and waist
• Pain or burning in the rectum
• Bleeding from the rectum
• Experiencing severe abdominal pain
• Experiencing sudden and severe headaches or pain behind the eyes
• Have convulsions (convulsions)

The less severe side effects include:

• Experiencing pain or mild burning in the rectal
• Experiencing acne
• Change in menstrual schedule
• So sweating or more
• Increased facial or body hair growth.

Not everyone experiences these side effects. There may be some side effects not listed above. If you have concerns about certain side effects, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Hydrocortisone Drug Interactions

What should be known before using Hydrocortisone?

Before using hydrocortisone, make sure of the following:

• tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to hydrocortisone, aspirin, tartrazine (yellow food coloring and medicine), or any other medication.
• tell your doctor and pharmacist the prescription and nonprescription drugs you are taking, especially anticoagulants ('blood thinners') such as warfarin (Coumadin), arthritis drugs, aspirin, cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), digoxin (Lanoxin), diuretics (' pills water '), estrogen (Premarin), ketoconazole (Nizoral), oral contraceptives, phenobarbital, phenytoin (Dilantin), rifampin (Rifadin), theophylline (Theo-Dur), and vitamins.
• if you have a yeast infection (other than your skin), do not use hydrocortisone without talking to your doctor.
• tell your doctor if you have or have ever had liver, kidney, intestinal or heart disease; diabetes; underactive thyroid gland; high blood pressure; mental disorders; myasthenia gravis; osteoporosis; herpes infection in the eye; seizures; tuberculosis (TB); or ulcers.
• tell your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. If you are pregnant and are taking hydrocortisone, contact your doctor.
• if you have a history of ulcers or are taking high-dose aspirin or other arthritis medications, limit alcohol consumption while using this medication. Hydrocortisone makes your stomach and intestines more susceptible to irritation by alcohol, aspirin, and certain arthritis medications. This effect increases the risk of ulcers.

Is Hydrocortisone safe for pregnant and lactating women?

There is no adequate research on the risks of using this drug in pregnant or breastfeeding women. Always consult your doctor to weigh the potential benefits and risks before using this medication. This drug is included in the risk category C pregnancy according to the Food and Drug Administration of the United States.

The following references to pregnancy risk categories according to the Food and Drug Administration of the United States:

• A = No risk,
• B = not at risk in several studies,
• C = May be risky,
• D = There is positive evidence of risk,
• X = Contraindicated,
• N = Unknown

Hydrocortisone overdose

What medicines may interact with Hydrocortisone?

What medicines may interact with Hydrocortisone?

Drug interactions can change the performance of your medications or increase the risk of serious side effects. Not all possible drug interactions are listed in this document. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription or non-prescription drugs and herbal products) and consult your doctor or pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any medication without your doctor's approval.

There are many other drugs that can interact with steroids. The following list is only a part of these drugs:

• Aspirin (used at daily or high doses)
• Diuretic drugs (water pills)
• Blood thinners such as warfarin (Coumadin)
• Cyclosporine drugs (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune)
• Insulin medication or oral diabetes medication
• Ketoconazole drug (Nizoral)
• Rifampin drugs (Rifadin, Rifater, Rifamate, Rimactane) or
• Seizure medications such as phenytoin (Dilantin) or phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton).

Can food or alcohol interact with Hydrocortisone?

Certain drugs should not be used with meals or when eating certain foods because drug interactions can occur. Consuming alcohol or tobacco with certain drugs can also cause interactions to occur. Discuss your use of drugs with food, alcohol, or tobacco with your health care provider.

What health conditions may interact with Hydrocortisone?

The presence of other health problems in your body may affect the use of this medicine. Tell your doctor if you have other health problems, in particular:

• cataract
• congestive heart failure
• Cushing's syndrome (adrenal gland problem)
• diabetes
• eye infection
• glaucoma
• hyperglycemia (high blood sugar)
• hypertension (high blood pressure)
• infection (for example, bacterial, viral, or fungal)
• mood changes, including depression
• myasthenia gravis (severe muscle weakness)
• osteoporosis (bone weakness)
• peptic ulcer, active or history
• personality changes
• stomach or intestinal problems (for example, diverticulitis, ulcerative colitis)
• inactive tuberculosis — use with caution. May worsen the condition
• yeast infection — should not be used in patients with these conditions.

Also note the following:

If you are asked by your doctor to use corticosteroid drugs in the long term, you will be asked to adjust your diet as follows:

• Reducing the amount of salt and sodium
• Count the number of calories so as not to gain weight
• Increase protein intake

This is done as a preventive measure from the possibility of dangerous side effects. Side effects that may arise from corticosteroid drugs if used excessively
The use of corticosteroids in patients must be considered and well dosed. The reason is, this drug has a fairly long list of side effects if used carelessly. Regular use of the drug for more than 2 weeks can cause serious side effects. Therefore, most of these types of drugs must be redeemed through a doctor's prescription and rarely are they sold freely.

According to the NHS (National Health Service), common side effects after using corticosteroid drugs are increased appetite, mood changes, and difficulty sleeping. If the use of the drug is continued with increasing doses, the effects range from feeling weak, low blood pressure (hypotension), to low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia). If left untreated, this group of symptoms can lead to death.

The side effects that arise will depend on what type of drug you are using. Usually, systemic use (in the form of tablets or injections) causes bigger side effects. The side effects of systemic corticosteroids include hypertension, increased blood sugar, diabetes, gastric ulcers, gastrointestinal bleeding, long healing wounds, potassium deficiency, osteoporosis, glaucoma, muscle weakness, and skin thinning.

Meanwhile, the side effects of local corticosteroids also vary depending on the method of use (inhalation or ointment). The side effects of local corticosteroids include a variety of the above symptoms, including mouth sores, nosebleeds, coughing, yeast infection in the mouth, pale skin color, hoarseness, and increased risk of skin infections. In more severe cases, the use of high doses of corticosteroids can cause Cushing's syndrome and an increased risk of pneumonia infection in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Overdose

What should I do in an emergency or overdose?

In case of an emergency or overdose, contact the local emergency services provider (112) or immediately to the nearest hospital emergency department.

What should I do if I miss a dose?

If you forget a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, when it is nearing the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to the usual dosing schedule. Don't double the dose.