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| Pronunciation |
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 (hye
droe KOR ti
sone) |
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| Brand Names |
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| A-hydroCort®; Ala-Cort®;
Ala-Scalp®; Anucort-HC® Suppository; Anusol® HC 1
[OTC]; Anusol® HC 2.5% [OTC]; Anusol-HC® Suppository;
Cetacort®; Clocort® Maximum Strength; Cortaid®
Maximum Strength [OTC]; Cortaid® With Aloe [OTC]; Cort-Dome®;
Cortef®; Cortef® Feminine Itch; Cortenema®;
Corticaine®; Cortifoam®; Cortizone®-5 [OTC];
Cortizone®-10 [OTC]; Delcort®; Dermacort®;
DermiCort®; Dermolate®[OTC]; Dermtex® HC With Aloe;
Eldecort®; Gynecort®[OTC]; Hemril-HC®
Uniserts®; Hi-Cor® 1.0; Hi-Cor® 2.5;
Hycort®; Hydrocort®; Hydrocortone® Acetate;
Hydrocortone® Phosphate; HydroTex®[OTC]; Hytone®;
LactiCare-HC®; Lanacort®[OTC]; Locoid®;
Nutracort®; Orabase® HCA; Pandel®;
Penecort®; Procort®[OTC]; Proctocort™;
Scalpicin®; Solu-Cortef®; S-T Cort®;
Synacort®; Tegrin®-HC [OTC]; Texacort®;
Westcort® |
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| Foreign Brand
Names |
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| Flebocortid [Sodium Succinate] (Mexico); Nositrol
[Sodium Succinate]
(Mexico) |
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| Therapeutic
Categories |
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Corticosteroid, Oral; Corticosteroid, Parenteral; Corticosteroid, Rectal;
Corticosteroid, Topical |
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| Reasons not to take this
medicine |
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- If you have an allergy to hydrocortisone or any other part of the
medicine.
- If you have any of the following conditions: Serious infection; viral,
fungal, or tubercular skin
infection.
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| What is this medicine used
for? |
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- This medicine is used for the treatment of inflamed areas of the body,
severe allergies, skin problems, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,
organ transplantation, leukemias/lymphomas, brain swelling, ulcerative colitis,
sarcoidosis, spinal cord injuries, Addison's disease, and arthritis.
- This medicine is used in other diseases where the anti-inflammatory or
immunosuppressant properties are needed. Talk with healthcare provider.
- The rectal forms are used to treat symptoms from hemorrhoids or rectal
itching or irritation.
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| How does it work? |
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- Hydrocortisone is a man-made form of an important chemical produced in
the body.
- Hydrocortisone puts down the body's response to the allergen (the
cause of the allergy) and reduces swelling, redness, itching, and other symptoms
of allergy.
- It also reduces the body's ability to fight
infection.
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| How is it best taken? |
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- Oral:
- Take tablet with food. Take in the morning if you are taking this
medicine once a day.
- A liquid (suspension) is available if you cannot swallow pills. Those
who have feeding tubes can also use the liquid. Flush the feeding tube before
and after medicine is given. Shake well first.
- Do not suddenly stop using this medicine if you have been taking it
for a long time. Medicine should be slowly decreased.
- Rectal:
- Use the suppository, rectal cream, or foam rectally only.
- Skin:
- Do not take by mouth. For skin only. Keep out of mouth, nose, and eyes
(may burn).
- Wash your hands before and after use.
- Clean affected area before use.
- Use a small amount over the affected area as a light film. Rub in
gently.
- Do not put coverings (bandages, dressings, make-up) over the area
unless told to do so by healthcare provider.
- If you are using this medicine in the groin area, use for 2 weeks
only. Use a small amount. Do not wear tight
clothing.
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| What do I do if I miss a
dose? |
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- Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
- If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Return to
your regular schedule.
- Do not take a double dose or extra doses.
- Do not change dose or stop taking medicine without talking with
healthcare provider.
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| What are the precautions when
taking this
medicine? |
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- Oral:
- Wear disease medical alert identification if you have asthma, lung
disease, or are an allergy sufferer or if you are going to be on this medicine
longer than 3-4 weeks.
- Unless healthcare provider told you to stop, it is dangerous to run
out of this medication. Get it refilled today!
- Avoid alcohol (includes wine, beer, and liquor). Alcohol increases
risk of stomach irritation/ulcers.
- If you have had a stomach ulcer or bleeding, tell healthcare provider.
Can cause ulcers.
- You can get sunburned more easily. Avoid lots of sun. Use sunscreen;
wear protective clothing and eyewear.
- Use caution if you have a weakened heart. Salt and water can
accumulate. Talk with healthcare provider.
- Use caution if you are diabetic. Diabetic medicine may need
increasing. Talk with healthcare provider.
- Use caution if you have high blood pressure. Your blood pressure may
increase. Talk with healthcare provider.
- Tell dentists, surgeons, and other healthcare providers about this
medicine.
- Tell healthcare provider if currently being treated for any
infections.
- All forms:
- Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make
sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling
about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of
face, lips, tongue, throat; or any other symptoms involved.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting
pregnant.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are
breast-feeding.
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| What are the common side effects
of this
medicine? |
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- Oral:
- Risk of infection. Avoid crowds and people with infections, colds, or
flu.
- High blood sugar. Medicine can cause diabetes mellitus, usually
reverses when stopped.
- For women, menstrual changes (premenopausal: may not have period,
postmenopausal: bleeding/spotting).
- Weakened bones. Take calcium and vitamin D as recommended by
healthcare provider.
- Weight gain (because of salt and water gain or because of hunger and
eating more).
- Muscle weakness, especially in the thighs and upper arms.
- Skin changes (pimples, stretch marks, slow healing if cut, hair
growth).
- Cataracts, glaucoma with long-term use.
- Changes in fat distribution. Fat stores can move to your face and
back.
- Belly pain and cramps.
- Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking
hard candy, or chewing gum may help.
- Rectal and skin:
- Burning, itching, and
irritation.
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| What should I monitor? |
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- If a child is using this medicine, monitor growth carefully.
- Watch for swelling of legs or belly, shortness of breath, weight gain,
exercise tolerance. If any of these worsen, talk with healthcare provider.
- Report a 3-5 pound weight gain.
- Check blood sugar as ordered by healthcare provider.
- Watch for high blood sugar. Causes many trips to the bathroom, thirst,
and weight loss.
- Signs of infection.
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| Reasons to call healthcare
provider
immediately |
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- Oral:
- Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing;
tightness in the chest; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits;
swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
- Any signs or symptoms of infection. This may include a fever greater
than 99 degrees, chills, sore throat, cough, increased sputum or change in
color, painful urination, mouth sores, wound that will not heal, anal itching or
pain.
- For females, vaginal discharge and/or itching.
- Chest pains, fast heartbeats, shortness of breath, or decreased
ability to walk.
- Severe nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea.
- Menstrual changes. This includes lots of bleeding, spotting, or
bleeding between cycles.
- Feeling weak, tired, irritable, trembling, having rapid heartbeats,
confusion, sweating, dizzy, especially if you missed a dose or recently stopped
this medicine.
- Any rash.
- No improvement in condition or feeling worse.
- Rectal:
- No improvement in 1 week.
- Bleeding from rectum or pain.
- Skin:
- Any signs of infection.
- Severe redness, itching, or pain.
- No improvement in condition or feeling
worse.
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| How should I store this
medicine? |
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- Store in a tight container at room
temperature.
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| General statements |
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- Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's
medicine.
- Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
- Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, herbal/supplements,
vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider
(doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physician assistant).
- Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine,
including over-the-counter or natural products (herbs,
vitamins).
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Copyright © 1978-2001 Lexi-Comp Inc. All Rights Reserved
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