HYDROCORTISONE (ORAL)

(hye droe KOR ti sone) Brand: Cortef, Hydrocortone

What is the most significant information I must know about hydrocortisone?

• You must not use this medicine if you are allergic to hydrocortisone, or if you have a fungal infection anywhere in your body.

• Till taking hydrocortisone, speak your doctor about all of your medical conditions, and about all another medicines you are using. There are much another illness that can be affected by steroid use, and much another medicines that can interact with steroids.

• Your steroid medicine needs may change if you have any unusual stress such as a serious diseases, fever or infection, or if you have surgery or a medical abnormal. Speak your doctor about any such situation that affects you during treatment.

• Steroid medicine 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. Speak your doctor about any diseases or infection you have had within the past different weeks.

• Avoid being around 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. Conversation 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.

What is hydrocortisone?

• Hydrocortisone is in a class of drugs called steroids. Hydrocortisone prevents the release of substances in the body that reason inflammation.

• Hydrocortisone is used to treat much various conditions such as allergic disorders, skin conditions, ulcerative colitis, arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, or breathing disorders.

• Hydrocortisone may also be used for another purposes not listed in this medicine guide.

What must I discuss with my healthcare provider till taking hydrocortisone?

• You must not use this medicine if you are allergic to hydrocortisone, or if you have a fungal infection anywhere in your body.

• Steroid medicine 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. Till taking this medicine, speak your doctor about any diseases or infection you have had within the past different weeks.

• If you have any of these another conditions, you may need a doze adjustment or particular trials to safely take hydrocortisone:

· liver malady (such as cirrhosis);

· kidney disease;

· a thyroid disorder;

· diabetes;

· a history of malaria;

· tuberculosis;

· osteoporosis;

· a muscle mess 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

· tall blood pressure

• FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether hydrocortisone is deleterious to an unborn child. Till taking this medicine, speak your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

• Hydrocortisone can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing child. Do not use this medicine without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

• Steroids can affect growth in children. Conversation with your doctor if you think your baby is not growing at a usual course while using this medication.

How must I take hydrocortisone?

• Take this medicine exactly as it was predesigned for you. Do not take the medicine 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 doze to create certain you get the excellent results from this medication.

• Your steroid medicine needs may change if you have unusual stress such as a serious diseases, fever or infection, or if you have surgery or a medical abnormal. Speak your doctor about any such situation that affects you.

• This medicine can reason you to have unusual results with determined medical trials. Speak any doctor who treats you that you are using hydrocortisone.

• Do not stop using hydrocortisone suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Conversation 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 abnormal. Any doctor, dentist, or abnormal medical care provider who treats you must know that you are taking steroid medication.

• Store hydrocortisone at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

• If you miss a doze or forget to take your medication, contact your doctor or pharmacist for instructions.

What happens if I overdose?

• Search abnormal medical attention if you think you have received too many of this medicine.

• A single big doze of hydrocortisone is not expected to manufacture life-threatening symptoms. However, tall doses taken over a long period of time may reason weight gain, roundness of the person, heighten facial hair growth, bruising, swelling, and muscle pain or weakness.

What must I avoid while taking hydrocortisone?

• Avoid being around 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.

What are the possible side effects of hydrocortisone?

• Get abnormal medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your person, 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, quick heart rate);

· low potassium (confusion, uneven heart course, extreme thirst, heighten urination, leg discomfort, muscle weakness or limp feeling); or

· dangerously tall blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, buzzing in your ears, anxiety, confusion, chest pain, shortness of breath, uneven heartbeats, seizure).

• Smaller serious side effects may include:

· sleep problems (insomnia), mood changes;

· acne, dry skin, thinning skin, bruising or discoloration;

· slow wound healing;

· heighten sweating;

· headache, dizziness, spinning sensation;

· nausea, stomach pain, bloating; or

· changes in the shape or location of body thick (especially in your arms, legs, person, 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 message side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What another drugs will affect hydrocortisone?

• There are much another medicines that can interact with steroids. Below is only a partial list of these medicines:

· aspirin (taken on a daily basis or at tall 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 another drugs that can interact with hydrocortisone. Speak your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal commodity, and drugs predesigned by another doctors. Do not start using a new medicine without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about hydrocortisone.

Remember, hold this and all another medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medicine only for the indication prescribed.

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