Hydrocortisone (injection)

Hydrocortisone is a steroid medicine used to treat various conditions, including allergic disorders, skin conditions, ulcerative colitis, arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, and lung disorders.

Hydrocortisone is also used to replace steroids in people with adrenal insufficiency (when the adrenal glands do not produce enough natural steroids).

Hydrocortisone impacts your immune system and is often used to treat certain blood cell disorders, such as anemia (low red blood cells) or thrombocytopenia (low platelets).

Hydrocortisone is also used to treat certain cancers, including leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma.

Hydrocortisone may also be used for purposes not mentioned in this medication guide.

You do not use hydrocortisone if you have a fungal infection anywhere in your body.

Inform your doctor about any illness or infection you have had in the past several weeks.

You should not use hydrocortisone if you are allergic to it or if you have a fungal infection anywhere in your body.

Steroids can weaken your immune system, making it easier for you to get an infection or making an existing infection worse. Tell your doctor about any illness or infection you have had in the past several weeks.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• heart disease, high blood pressure;
• tuberculosis;
• kidney disease;
• cirrhosis or other liver disease;
• a thyroid disorder;
• low bone mineral density (osteoporosis);
• stomach ulcers, ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis;
• diabetes;
• a colostomy or ileostomy;
• depression or mental illness;
• glaucoma or cataracts;
• herpes infection of the eyes; or
• a muscle disorder such as myasthenia gravis.

Long-term use of steroids may lead to bone loss (osteoporosis), especially if you smoke, do not exercise, do not get enough vitamin D or calcium in your diet, or have a family history of osteoporosis.

It is not known whether hydrocortisone will harm an unborn baby. However, using this medicine during pregnancy may cause a hormone deficiency in the newborn. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant.

You should not breast-feed while using hydrocortisone.

Get emergency medical help if you notice any signs of an allergic reaction: hives; trouble breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Hydrocortisone may lead to serious side effects. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience:

• blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain, or seeing halos around lights;
• muscle weakness, loss of muscle mass;
• new or unusual pain in your joints, bones, or muscles;
• severe headaches, ringing in your ears, pain behind your eyes;
• unusual changes in mood or behavior;
• a seizure;
• hollowness or other skin changes at the injection site;
• numbness or tingling;
• fluid retention--shortness of breath (even while lying down), swelling, rapid weight gain (especially in your face and midsection);
• new signs of infection--like fever, chills, cough, trouble breathing, sores in your mouth or on your skin, diarrhea, or burning sensation when you urinate;
• increased adrenal gland hormones--slow wound healing, skin discoloration, thinning skin, increased body hair, tiredness, menstrual changes, sexual changes; or
• decreased adrenal gland hormones--weakness, tiredness, diarrhea, nausea, menstrual changes, skin discoloration, craving salty foods, and feeling light-headed.

Hydrocortisone can impact growth in children. Inform your doctor if your child is not growing at a normal rate while taking hydrocortisone.

Common side effects of hydrocortisone may involve:

• acne, dry skin;
• increased sweating;
• nausea, bloating;
• increased appetite, weight gain; or
• sleep problems (insomnia).

This is not a complete list of side effects, and others may happen. Contact your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You can report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Hydrocortisone is injected into a muscle, or given as an infusion into a vein. A healthcare provider will give you this injection.

Hydrocortisone is usually given by injection if you are unable to take the medicine by mouth.

Your doctor will need to check your progress on a regular basis.

Your dose needs may change if you have a serious illness, fever or infection, surgery or a medical emergency. Tell your doctor about any such situation that affects you.

You should not stop using hydrocortisone suddenly. Follow your doctor's instructions about tapering your dose.

Call your doctor for instructions if you miss an appointment for your hydrocortisone (injection).

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

An overdose of hydrocortisone is not expected to cause life-threatening symptoms. Long-term use of high doses can lead to thinning skin, easy bruising, changes in body fat (especially in your face, neck, back, and waist), increased acne or facial hair, menstrual problems, impotence, or loss of interest in sex.

Do not receive a "live" vaccine while using hydrocortisone. The vaccine may not work as well and may not fully protect you from disease. Live vaccines include measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), polio, rotavirus, typhoid, yellow fever, and varicella (chickenpox).

Avoid being near people who are sick or have infections. Call your doctor for preventive treatment if you are exposed to chickenpox or measles. These conditions can be serious or even fatal in people who are using steroid medication.

Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medications together. Some drugs can change the levels of other drugs in your blood, which may increase side effects or make the medications less effective.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you are currently taking. Many drugs can affect hydrocortisone, especially:

• birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy;
• heart medication;
• insulin or oral diabetes medicine;
• medicine to prevent organ transplant rejection;
• medicine to treat an infection;
• seizure medication;
• a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven); or
• aspirin or an NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug) such as ibuprofen, naproxen, celecoxib, indomethacin, Advil, Aleve, Motrin, and others.

This list is not complete, and many other drugs may affect hydrocortisone. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.