Pronunciation: HYE droe KOR ti sone
5 mg, round, white, imprinted with CORTEF 5
10 mg, round, white, imprinted with CORTEF 10
20 mg, round, white, imprinted with CORTEF 20
20 mg, round, white, imprinted with West-Ward 254
5 mg, round, white, imprinted with 35 78, V
10 mg, round, white, imprinted with V, 35 79
20 mg, round, white, imprinted with V, 35 80
5 mg, round, white, imprinted with CORTEF 5
10 mg, round, white, imprinted with CORTEF 10
20 mg, round, white, imprinted with CORTEF 20
10 mg, round, white, imprinted with CORTEF 10
5 mg, round, white, imprinted with CORTEF 5
20 mg, round, white, imprinted with West-Ward 254
Hydrocortisone is a steroid medicine that is used to treat many different conditions, including allergic disorders, skin conditions, ulcerative colitis, arthritis, lupus, lung disorders, and certain blood cell disorders such as anemia (low red blood cells) or thrombocytopenia (low platelets).
Hydrocortisone is also used to replace steroids in people with adrenal insufficiency (decreased production of natural steroids by the adrenal glands).
Hydrocortisone is also used in the treatment of certain cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma.
Alkindi Sprinkle is approved for use in people from birth to 17 years of age.
Hydrocortisone may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to hydrocortisone, corticosteroids, or if you have a systemic fungal infection.
Steroids can weaken your immune system, making it easier for you to get an infection or worsening an infection you already have. Tell your doctor about any illness or infection you had within the past several weeks.
Tell your doctor if you have ever had:
Long-term use of steroids may lead to bone loss (osteoporosis), especially if you smoke, if you do not exercise, if you do not get enough vitamin D or calcium in your diet, or if you have a family history of osteoporosis.
It is not known whether this medicine 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 or plan to become pregnant.
Ask a doctor if it is safe to breastfeed while using this medicine.
Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Use the medicine exactly as directed.
Take with food if hydrocortisone upsets your stomach.
Do not swallow an Alkindi Sprinkle capsule whole. Open the capsule and pour the medicine granules onto the tongue before swallowing. You may also mix the granules with soft food such as yogurt or applesauce (not with liquid). Swallow the mixture right away without chewing.
Drink water right after taking the Alkindi Sprinkle granule mixture. If giving this medicine to a baby, give infant formula or breast milk.
If you have trouble sleeping, you may need to take this medicine early in the day. Follow your doctor's dosing instructions very carefully.
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.
Your doctor will need to check your progress on a regular basis.
You should not stop taking hydrocortisone suddenly. Follow your doctor's instructions about tapering your dose.
Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.
Wear a medical alert tag or carry an ID card to let others know you use steroid medication.
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
High doses or long-term use of steroid medicine 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.
Avoid receiving a "live" vaccine. The vaccine may not work as well while you are using hydrocortisone. Live vaccines include measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), rotavirus, typhoid, yellow fever, varicella (chickenpox), and zoster (shingles).
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 hydrocortisone.
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have:
Hydrocortisone can affect growth in children. Tell your doctor if your child is not growing at a normal rate while using this medicine.
Common side effects may include:
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medications at the same time. Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you take, which may increase side effects or make the medications less effective.
Tell your doctor about all your current medicines. Many drugs can affect hydrocortisone, especially:
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.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Copyright 1996-2022 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 8.01. Revision date: 3/24/2022.
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