Hydrocortisone (Systemic

This information from Lexicomp® explains what you need to know about this medication, including what it’s used for, how to take it, its side effects, and when to call your healthcare provider.

Brand Names: US

Alkindi Sprinkle; Cortef; Solu-CORTEF

Brand Names: Canada

AURO-Hydrocortisone; Cortef; Solu-CORTEF

What is this drug used for?

  • It is used for many health problems like allergy signs, asthma, adrenal gland problems, blood problems, skin rashes, or swelling problems. This is not a list of all health problems that this drug may be used for. Talk with the doctor.

What do I need to tell the doctor BEFORE my child takes this drug?

All products:

  • If your child is allergic to this drug; any part of this drug; or any other drugs, foods, or substances. Tell the doctor about the allergy and what signs your child had.
  • If your child has any of these health problems: A herpes infection of the eye or a fungal infection.
  • If your child has a malaria infection in the brain.
  • If your child has nerve problems in the eye.

Injection (if given in the muscle):

  • If your child has low platelet levels.

This is not a list of all drugs or health problems that interact with this drug.

Tell the doctor and pharmacist about all of your child’s drugs (prescription or OTC, natural products, vitamins) and health problems. You must check to make sure that it is safe to give this drug with all of your child’s other drugs and health problems. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any drug your child takes without checking with the doctor.

What are some things I need to know or do while my child takes this drug?

All products:

  • Tell all of your child’s health care providers that your child is taking this drug. This includes your child’s doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists.
  • Have your child’s blood work checked as you have been told by the doctor. Your child may also need to have eye pressure and bone density checked if this drug is used for a long time.
  • This drug may affect allergy skin tests. Be sure the doctor and lab workers know your child takes this drug.
  • If your child has been taking this drug for many weeks, talk with your child’s doctor before stopping. You may want to slowly stop this drug.
  • Tell the doctor if your child has missed a dose or recently stopped this drug and feels very tired, weak, or shaky, or has a fast heartbeat, confusion, sweating, or dizziness.
  • This drug may lower how much natural steroid is in your child’s body. If your child has a fever, an infection, surgery, or is hurt, talk with the doctor. Your child may need extra doses of oral steroids. These extra steroids will help your child’s body deal with these stresses. Carry a warning card saying that there may be times when your child needs extra steroids.
  • You may need to lower how much salt is in your child’s diet and give your child extra potassium. Talk with your child’s doctor.
  • Your child may have more chance of getting an infection. Some infections have been deadly. Have your child wash hands often. Have your child stay away from people with infections, colds, or flu.
  • Chickenpox and measles can be very bad or even deadly in some people taking steroid drugs like this drug. Avoid having your child near anyone with chickenpox or measles if your child has not had these health problems before. If your child has been exposed to chickenpox or measles, talk with the doctor.
  • Long-term use may raise the chance of cataracts, glaucoma, or weak bones (osteoporosis). Talk with your child’s doctor.
  • Talk with the doctor before your child gets any vaccines. Use of some vaccines with this drug may either raise the chance of very bad infection or make the vaccine not work as well.
  • If your child has high blood sugar (diabetes), you will need to watch your child’s blood sugar closely.
  • Alcohol may interact with this drug. Be sure your child does not drink alcohol.
  • If your child drinks grapefruit juice or eats grapefruit often, talk with your child’s doctor.
  • If your child has or may have a condition called pheochromocytoma, talk with the doctor. Very bad and sometimes deadly effects have been seen in patients with this condition who use this type of drug.
  • Patients with cancer may be at greater risk of getting a bad and sometimes deadly health problem called tumor lysis syndrome (TLS). Talk with the doctor.
  • This drug may affect growth in children and teens in some cases. They may need regular growth checks. Talk with the doctor.
  • If the patient is a baby who was born premature, talk with the doctor. A certain heart problem has happened in these children after getting this drug.

If your child is pregnant or breast-feeding a baby:

  • Talk with the doctor if your child is pregnant, becomes pregnant, or is breast-feeding a baby. You will need to talk about the benefits and risks to your child and the baby.
  • If your child used this drug while pregnant, tell the baby’s doctor.

Injection:

  • Very bad health problems have happened when drugs like this one have been given into the spine (epidural). These include paralysis, loss of eyesight, stroke, and sometimes death. It is not known if drugs like this one are safe and effective when given into the spine. These drugs are not approved for this use. Talk with the doctor.

What are some side effects that I need to call my child’s doctor about right away?

WARNING/CAUTION: Even though it may be rare, some people may have very bad and sometimes deadly side effects when taking a drug. Tell your child’s doctor or get medical help right away if your child has any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect:

For all uses of this drug:

  • Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.
  • Signs of infection like fever, chills, very bad sore throat, ear or sinus pain, cough, more sputum or change in color of sputum, pain with passing urine, mouth sores, or wound that will not heal.
  • Signs of high blood sugar like confusion, feeling sleepy, unusual thirst or hunger, passing urine more often, flushing, fast breathing, or breath that smells like fruit.
  • Signs of low potassium levels like muscle pain or weakness, muscle cramps, or a heartbeat that does not feel normal.
  • Signs of a pancreas problem (pancreatitis) like very bad stomach pain, very bad back pain, or very bad upset stomach or throwing up.
  • Signs of high blood pressure like very bad headache or dizziness, passing out, or change in eyesight.
  • Signs of Cushing’s disease like weight gain in the upper back or belly, moon face, very bad headache, or slow healing.
  • Signs of a weak adrenal gland like a severe upset stomach or throwing up, severe dizziness or passing out, muscle weakness, feeling very tired, mood changes, decreased appetite, or weight loss.
  • Shortness of breath, a big weight gain, or swelling in the arms or legs.
  • Skin changes (pimples, stretch marks, slow healing, hair growth).
  • Period (menstrual) changes.
  • Bone or joint pain.
  • Chest pain or pressure.
  • Change in eyesight, eye pain, or severe eye irritation.
  • Change in the way your child acts.
  • Depression or other mood changes.
  • Hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not there).
  • Seizures.
  • Any unexplained bruising or bleeding.
  • Severe stomach pain.
  • Black, tarry, or bloody stools.
  • Throwing up blood or throw up that looks like coffee grounds.

For poor adrenal function:

  • Stopping this drug, taking too low of a dose, or switching between dose forms of this drug can lead to severe and life-threatening adrenal gland problems or death. Call the doctor right away if your child has a decreased appetite, upset stomach, throwing up, or joint pain. Call the doctor right away if your child has signs of low blood sugar or dehydration like dizziness; headache; feeling sleepy or weak; shaking; fast heartbeat; confusion; increased thirst or hunger; sweating; dry skin, mouth, or eyes; or fast breathing.

What are some other side effects of this drug?

All drugs may cause side effects. However, many people have no side effects or only have minor side effects. Call your child’s doctor or get medical help if any of these side effects or any other side effects bother your child or do not go away:

  • Upset stomach or throwing up.
  • Trouble sleeping.
  • Restlessness.
  • Sweating a lot.
  • Increased appetite.
  • Weight gain.

These are not all of the side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, call your child’s doctor. Call your child’s doctor for medical advice about side effects.

You may report side effects to your national health agency.

How is this drug best given?

Give this drug as ordered by your child’s doctor. Read all information given to you. Follow all instructions closely.

Tablets:

  • Give this drug with food.
  • Keep giving this drug to your child as you have been told by your child’s doctor or other health care provider, even if your child feels well.

Granules:

  • Do not let your child swallow the capsule whole. Hold the capsule with the printing at the top and tap to make sure the granules go to the bottom of the capsule. Open the capsule. After opening, you may empty the contents right into your child’s mouth or pour the granules onto a spoon then place into your child’s mouth. Do not let your child chew or crush the granules. You may also pour the granules onto a spoonful of cold or room temperature soft food like yogurt or fruit puree. If mixing with food, give within 5 minutes of mixing.
  • After giving this drug, have your child drink fluids like water, milk, breast milk, or formula.
  • Do not let the capsules get wet or mix the granules with any liquid.
  • If your child throws up or spits up after taking this drug, contact the doctor to see if you need to give another dose.
  • Keep giving this drug to your child as you have been told by your child’s doctor or other health care provider, even if your child feels well.
  • You may see granules in your child’s stool. This does not mean the drug is not working. Do not give you child another dose of this drug.
  • If your child is switching to this product from other forms of hydrocortisone, watch your child closely. Tell the doctor right away if your child has signs of adrenal problems like feeling very tired or weak, stomach pain, headache, feeling very warm or cold, or throwing up.

Injection:

  • It is given as a shot into a muscle or vein.

What do I do if my child misses a dose?

Tablets and granules:

  • Give a missed dose as soon as you think about it.
  • If it is close to the time for your child’s next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your child’s normal time.
  • Do not give 2 doses at the same time or extra doses.

Injection:

  • Call your child’s doctor to find out what to do.

How do I store and/or throw out this drug?

Tablets and granules:

  • Store at room temperature in a dry place. Do not store in a bathroom.

Granules:

  • Store in the original container to protect from light.
  • After opening, throw away any part not used after 60 days.

Injection:

  • If you need to store this drug at home, talk with your child’s doctor, nurse, or pharmacist about how to store it.

All products:

  • Keep all drugs in a safe place. Keep all drugs out of the reach of children and pets.
  • Throw away unused or expired drugs. Do not flush down a toilet or pour down a drain unless you are told to do so. Check with your pharmacist if you have questions about the best way to throw out drugs. There may be drug take-back programs in your area.

General drug facts

  • If your child’s symptoms or health problems do not get better or if they become worse, call your child’s doctor.
  • Do not share your child’s drug with others and do not give anyone else’s drug to your child.
  • Some drugs may have another patient information leaflet. If you have any questions about this drug, please talk with your child’s doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
  • This drug comes with an extra patient fact sheet called a Medication Guide. Read it with care. Read it again each time this drug is refilled. If you have any questions about this drug, please talk with the doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
  • If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.

Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer

This generalized information is a limited summary of diagnosis, treatment, and/or medication information. It is not meant to be comprehensive and should be used as a tool to help the user understand and/or assess potential diagnostic and treatment options. It does NOT include all information about conditions, treatments, medications, side effects, or risks that may apply to a specific patient. It is not intended to be medical advice or a substitute for the medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment of a health care provider based on the health care provider’s examination and assessment of a patient’s specific and unique circumstances. Patients must speak with a health care provider for complete information about their health, medical questions, and treatment options, including any risks or benefits regarding use of medications. This information does not endorse any treatments or medications as safe, effective, or approved for treating a specific patient. UpToDate, Inc. and its affiliates disclaim any warranty or liability relating to this information or the use thereof. The use of this information is governed by the Terms of Use, available at https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/know/clinical-effectiveness-terms.

Last Reviewed Date

2024-01-22

Copyright

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Last Updated

Monday, December 12, 2022