A hydroCort

Who is A hydroCort for ?

Your doctor has ordered hydrocortisone, a corticosteroid, to relieve inflammation (swelling, heat, redness, and pain). The drug will be injected into a large muscle (such as your buttock or hip), into your vein, or added to an intravenous fluid that will drip through a needle or catheter placed in your vein. Hydrocortisone is similar to a natural hormone produced by your adrenal glands. It is used to treat, but not cure, certain forms of arthritis; asthma; and skin, blood, kidney, eye, thyroid, and intestinal disorders. It is sometimes used to reduce side effects from other medications. A hydroCort is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information. Your health care provider (doctor, nurse, or pharmacist) may measure the effectiveness and side effects of your treatment using laboratory tests and physical examinations. It is important to keep all appointments with your doctor. The length of treatment depends on how you respond to the medication.

When should I be careful taking A hydroCort ?

Before administering hydrocortisone,

• tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to hydrocortisone, medications containing sulfites, or any other drugs.
• tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, especially anticoagulants ("blood thinners") such as warfarin (Coumadin), arthritis medications, aspirin, cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), digoxin (Lanoxin), diuretics ("water pills"), estrogens, ketoconazole (Nizoral), oral contraceptives, phenobarbital, phenytoin (Dilantin), rifampin (Rifadin), theophylline (Theo-Dur), and vitamins.
• tell your doctor if you have a fungal infection (other than on your skin); do not take hydrocortisone without talking to your doctor.
• tell your doctor if you have or have ever had liver, kidney, intestinal, or heart disease; diabetes; an underactive thyroid gland; high blood pressure; mental illness; myasthenia gravis; osteoporosis; herpes eye infection; seizures; tuberculosis (TB); AIDS; or ulcers.
• 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.

A hydroCort Side Effects

Although side effects from hydrocortisone are not common, they can occur. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• headache
• upset stomach
• vomiting
• dizziness
• insomnia
• restlessness
• depression
• anxiety
• unusual moods
• increased sweating
• increased hair growth
• reddened face
• acne
• thinned skin
• easy bruising
• tiny purple skin spots
• irregular or absent menstrual periods

• skin rash
• swollen feet, ankles, and lower legs
• vision problems
• eye pain
• muscle pain and weakness
• black, tarry stool
• unusual bleeding