Hydrocortisone — $0 on Listed Strengths

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About Hydrocortisone

Hydrocortisone is a versatile medication widely used to calm inflammation, manage allergic reactions, and treat various skin conditions. Whether you're dealing with an annoying rash or a more serious inflammatory issue, understanding this medication is key. ### What Does Hydrocortisone Treat? Hydrocortisone, a type of corticosteroid, is a powerful anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive medication. It's prescribed for a wide array of conditions, ranging from mild skin irritations to more serious systemic issues. Commonly, it's used to treat inflammatory skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, and allergic reactions such as hives or insect bites. Beyond skin, it can manage inflammation in other parts of the body, including asthma, allergies, ulcerative colitis, and certain types of arthritis. For individuals with adrenal insufficiency, where the body doesn't produce enough natural cortisol, hydrocortisone serves as a vital replacement therapy. ### How Does It Work? At its core, hydrocortisone mimics the effects of cortisol, a natural hormone produced by your adrenal glands. When administered, it works by reducing the body's immune response and decreasing inflammation. It does this by preventing the release of substances in the body that cause inflammation. This action helps to alleviate symptoms like redness, swelling, itching, and pain associated with various inflammatory and allergic conditions. Depending on

The information above is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult your healthcare provider before making medication decisions.

What Hydrocortisone is approved for (FDA label)

Hydrocortisone tablets are indicated in the following conditions. 1. Endocrine Disorders Primary or secondary adrenocortical insufficiency (hydrocortisone or cortisone is the first choice; synthetic analogs may be used in conjunction with mineralocorticoids where applicable; in infancy mineralocorticoid supplementation is of particular importance) Congenital adrenal hyperplasia Non suppurative thyroiditis Hypercalcemia associated with cancer 2. Rheumatic Disorders As adjunctive therapy for short-term administration (to tide the patient over an acute episode or exacerbation) in: Psoriatic arthritis Rheumatoid arthritis, including juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (selected cases may require low-dose maintenance therapy) Ankylosing spondylitis Acute and subacute bursitis Acute nonspecific tenosynovitis Acute gouty arthritis Post-traumatic osteoarthritis Synovitis of osteoarthritis Epicondylitis 3. Collagen Diseases During an exacerbation or as maintenance therapy in selected cases of: Systemic lupus erythematosus Systemic dermatomyositis (polymyositis) Acute rheumatic carditis 4. Dermatologic Diseases Pemphigus Bullous dermatitis herpetiformis Severe erythema multiforme (Stevens-Johnson syndrome) Exfoliative dermatitis Mycosis fungoides Severe psoriasis Severe seborrheic dermatitis 5. Allergic States Control of severe or incapacitating allergic conditions intractable to adequate trials of conventional treatment: Seasonal or perennial allergic rhinitis Serum sickness Bronchial asthma Contact dermatitis Atopic dermatitis Drug hypersensitivity reactions 6. Ophthalmic Diseases Severe acute and chronic allergic and inflammatory processes involving the eye and its adnexa such as: Allergic conjunctivitis Keratitis Allergic corneal marginal ulcers Herpes zoster ophthalmicus Iritis and iridocyclitis Chorioretinitis Anterior segment inflammation Diffuse posterior uveitis and choroiditis Optic neuritis Sympathetic ophthalmia 7. Respiratory Diseases Symptomatic sarcoidosis Loeffler's syndrome not manageable by other means Berylliosis Fulminating or disseminated pulmonary tuberculosis when used concurrently with appropriate antituberculous chemotherapy Aspiration pneumonitis 8. Hematologic Disorders Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in adults Secondary thrombocytopenia in adults Acquired (autoimmune) hemolytic anemia Erythroblastopenia (RBC anemia) Congenital (erythroid) hypoplastic anemia 9. Neoplastic Diseases For palliative management of: Leukemias and lymphomas in adults Acute leukemia of childhood 10. Edematous States To induce a diuresis or remission of proteinuria in the nephrotic syndrome, without uremia, of the idiopathic type or that due to lupus erythematosus. 11. Gastrointestinal Diseases To tide the patient over a critical period of the disease in: Ulcerative colitis Regional enteritis 12. Miscellaneous Tuberculous meningitis with subarachnoid block or impending block when used concurrently with appropriate antituberculous chemotherapy Trichinosis with neurologic or myocardial involvement

Source: Read the full FDA label on DailyMed. Label effective date: August 31, 2026.

Excerpt from the FDA-approved prescribing information. This is not medical advice; talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Adverse reactions for Hydrocortisone (FDA label)

Fluid and Electrolyte Disturbances Sodium retention Fluid retention Congestive heart failure in susceptible patients Potassium loss Hypokalemic alkalosis Hypertension Musculoskeletal Muscle weakness Steroid myopathy Loss of muscle mass Osteoporosis Tendon rupture, particularly of the Achilles tendon Vertebral compression fractures Aseptic necrosis of femoral and humeral heads Pathologic fracture of long bones Gastrointestinal Peptic ulcer with possible perforation and hemorrhage Pancreatitis Abdominal distention Ulcerative esophagitis Increases in alanine transaminase (ALT, SGPT), aspartate transaminase (AST, SGOT) and alkaline phosphatase have been observed following corticosteroid treatment. These changes are usually small, not associated with any clinical syndrome and are reversible upon discontinuation.

Source: FDA prescribing information (DailyMed). Set ID: 506aab0d-9308-4d60-90b3-7d64952fff36. SPL document ID: 5a58f14c-b902-efd3-e063-6294a90a2df1. Label effective date: August 31, 2026. Read the full label.

Excerpt from the FDA-approved prescribing information. This is not medical advice; talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Contraindications for Hydrocortisone (FDA label)

Systemic fungal infections and known hypersensitivity to components

Source: FDA prescribing information (DailyMed). Set ID: 506aab0d-9308-4d60-90b3-7d64952fff36. SPL document ID: 5a58f14c-b902-efd3-e063-6294a90a2df1. Label effective date: August 31, 2026. Read the full label.

Excerpt from the FDA-approved prescribing information. This is not medical advice; talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Drug interactions for Hydrocortisone (FDA label)

The pharmacokinetic interactions listed below are potentially clinically important. Drugs that induce hepatic enzymes such as phenobarbital, phenytoin and rifampin may increase the clearance of corticosteroids and may require increases in corticosteroid dose to achieve the desired response. Drugs such as troleandomycin and ketoconazole may inhibit the metabolism of corticosteroids and thus decrease their clearance. Therefore, the dose of corticosteroid should be titrated to avoid steroid toxicity. Corticosteroids may increase the clearance of chronic high dose aspirin. This could lead to decreased salicylate serum levels or increase the risk of salicylate toxicity when corticosteroid is withdrawn. Aspirin should be used cautiously in conjunction with corticosteroids in patients suffering from hypoprothrombinemia. The effect of corticosteroids on oral anticoagulants is variable. There are reports of enhanced as well as diminished effects of anticoagulants when given concurrently with corticosteroids. Therefore, coagulation indices should be monitored to maintain the desired anticoagulant effect.

Source: FDA prescribing information (DailyMed). Set ID: 506aab0d-9308-4d60-90b3-7d64952fff36. SPL document ID: 5a58f14c-b902-efd3-e063-6294a90a2df1. Label effective date: August 31, 2026. Read the full label.

Excerpt from the FDA-approved prescribing information. This is not medical advice; talk to your doctor or pharmacist.