How does it work?

Hydrocortisone is a type of medicine known as a corticosteroid. Corticosteroids are hormones produced naturally by the adrenal glands which have many important functions on every organ system. Corticosteroids affect the strength of heart muscle and its response to natural chemicals affecting heart rate. They affect the water and salt balance in the body and also enable the body to cope with stress. Stress includes changes in temperature, pain, fear, anxiety and illness and can be hazardous if the body is not equiped to cope, due to low levels of corticosteroids. Corticosteroids allow us to respond to stress by increasing the rate and force of the heartbeat, increasing blood supply to essential tissues (muscle, heart, brain), increasing the body's supply of energy by raising blood sugar and by several other effects on body systems. Hydrocortisone is used as replacement therapy in people whose adrenal glands are not producing enough natural corticosteroids (adrenal insufficiency). This can be due to disease (Addison's disease), surgical removal of the adrenal gland(s) or damage to the adrenal glands. Low blood levels of corticosteroids must be treated with replacement therapy to allow the body to function normally.

What is it used for?

Insufficient production of natural steroid hormones by the adrenal glands (adrenal insufficiency)

Warning!

This medicine should be taken in the morning to mimic the natural production of corticosteroids by the body. It should be taken after food.

A steroid card will be supplied with this medicine. This contains details of the prescriber, type of steroid and dose taken and the duration of treatment. It should be carried at all times.

If this medicine is taken long term, any additional illness, trauma or surgery may require a temporary increase in the dose.

This medicine should not be stopped abruptly but tapered down, especially when taken for longer than 3 weeks. The natural production of corticosteroids by the adrenal glands is suppressed by this medicine and the body therefore becomes reliant on it.

This medicine may increase susceptibility to infections and also mask the symptoms of these infections.

This medicine may reduce the secretion of steroid hormones in the body normally responsible for fluid and salt balance. A replacement steroid (mineralocorticoid) and/or salt should be taken with this medicine.

This medicine may interfere with the results of laboratory tests for certain bacterial infections.

Use with caution in

Abnormal muscle weakness

Adolescents

Children

Decreased kidney function

Diabetes

Elderly people

Family history of diabetes

Family history of glaucoma

Glaucoma

Heart failure

Herpes simplex virus infection of the eye

High blood pressure

Hypothyroidism

Inflammation of small sac-like structures which sometimes form in the walls of the intestine (diverticulitis)

Inflammation of the bowel and back passage

Inflammatory bowel disease such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease

Liver cirrhosis

Osteoporosis

People who have recently had a heart attack

Peptic ulcer

Post-menopausal women

Previous muscle disease (myopathy) caused by steroids

Recent surgical procedure involving the joining together of ends of the intestine after a section has been removed (intestinal anastomosis)

Tuberculosis

Not to be used in

Fungal infection throughout the body (systemic fungal infection)

Protozoal infection of the intestine (amoebiasis)

This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy. If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.

This medicine is not recommended for use in pregnancy unless considered essential by your doctor. Seek medical advice from your doctor.

The safety of this medicine during breastfeeding has not been established. Seek medical advice from your doctor.

Label warnings

Follow the printed instructions you have been given with this medication.

Take this medication with or after food.

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