📌 Hydrocortisone Tablet 20 mg – As Licensed
📄 Description:
Hydrocortisone is a synthetic form of cortisol, the primary glucocorticoid hormone produced by the adrenal cortex. It has both glucocorticoid and mild mineralocorticoid activity, essential in managing adrenal insufficiency, and useful in anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive treatments.
💊 Prescription / Use:
- Indications:
- Adrenal insufficiency (e.g., Addison’s disease, congenital adrenal hyperplasia)
- Secondary adrenal insufficiency (e.g., pituitary/hypothalamic disorders)
- Acute adrenal crisis (oral continuation after injectable treatment)
- Post-adrenalectomy steroid replacement
- Occasionally used in inflammatory or allergic conditions
- Dosage (General Guide):
- Common replacement dose: 15–30 mg/day in divided doses
- Example: 20 mg in the morning, 10 mg in the afternoon
- Dose varies with stress, illness, or surgery
- Always individualized and prescribed by a physician
- Common replacement dose: 15–30 mg/day in divided doses
- Route: Oral
- Prescription Status: Rx Only (Prescription drug)
🔬 Nature:
- Category: Glucocorticoid (corticosteroid hormone)
- Form: Tablet
- Strength: 20 mg
- Mechanism of Action:
- Replaces natural cortisol in deficiency
- Suppresses inflammation and immune responses
- Regulates carbohydrate, fat, and protein metabolism
🌟 Advantages:
- Essential for life in patients with adrenal insufficiency
- Well-absorbed oral form allows outpatient management
- Allows flexible dose titration
- Long history of safe use in replacement therapy
- Standardized strength simplifies dosing in higher requirements
📦 Common Packaging:
- Usually packed in blister strips of 10 or 15 tablets
- Some brands also available in bottles (bulk packs)
- Clear labeling with dosage, batch number, and expiry
🧊 Storage:
- Store at 15°C to 25°C (room temperature)
- Keep in a cool, dry place, away from light
- Keep out of reach of children
- Do not use beyond the expiry date
⚠️ Precautions:
- Do not stop abruptly after long-term use — taper under medical supervision
- Use cautiously in:
- Diabetes mellitus (can raise blood sugar)
- Hypertension
- Peptic ulcer disease
- Osteoporosis
- Infections (may suppress symptoms)
- Adverse effects (especially long-term use):
- Weight gain, facial puffiness (moon face)
- Mood changes or insomnia
- Muscle weakness
- Increased risk of infections
- Adrenal suppression
👩⚕️ Patient Advice:
- Take the tablet preferably in the morning with food
- Always follow prescribed dose and timing
- Do not skip or double dose if missed — consult doctor
- Carry a Steroid Alert Card or medical ID
- Inform healthcare providers (especially before surgery) that you are on steroids
- Attend regular check-ups to monitor BP, blood sugar, electrolytes, and bone health
- During illness, stress, or surgery, dose may need temporary increase — consult doctor
- Do not self-adjust the dose without medical advice