💉 Hydrocortisone Powder for Injection 100 mg – As Licensed
📄 Description:
Hydrocortisone 100 mg powder for injection is a sterile, lyophilized preparation of hydrocortisone sodium succinate. It is a fast-acting corticosteroid used for emergency management of adrenal insufficiency and for systemic anti-inflammatory or immunosuppressive therapy in critical situations.
💊 Prescription / Use:
- Indications:
- Acute adrenal crisis (Addisonian crisis)
- Severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis, angioedema)
- Septic shock
- Severe asthma or COPD exacerbation
- Severe inflammatory conditions (e.g., lupus, rheumatoid arthritis)
- Shock due to adrenal insufficiency
- Preoperative use in steroid-dependent patients
- Dosage (Adult, General):
- Emergency: 100 mg IV bolus, followed by continuous infusion or repeated doses (e.g., every 6–8 hours)
- Dose and frequency depend on condition and response
- Can be given IV (preferred) or IM
- Reconstitution:
- Reconstitute powder with sterile water for injection (usually provided with the vial)
- Shake gently until fully dissolved
- Use immediately after reconstitution or as per manufacturer’s instructions
🔬 Nature:
- Class: Glucocorticoid (systemic corticosteroid)
- Form: Lyophilized powder for reconstitution
- Strength: 100 mg per vial
- Solubility: Fully water-soluble (sodium succinate salt allows rapid onset)
🌟 Advantages:
- Rapid onset of action (within minutes) when given IV
- Suitable for emergency use
- Can be used in patients unable to take oral medication
- Well established in critical care protocols
- Provides both glucocorticoid and some mineralocorticoid effects (essential in adrenal crisis)
📦 Common Packaging:
- Supplied as a single-use vial containing:
- 100 mg of lyophilized hydrocortisone sodium succinate
- A separate ampoule of sterile water for injection (in some brands)
- Clear labeling with batch number, manufacturing date, and expiry
🧊 Storage:
- Store at 15°C to 25°C
- Protect from excessive heat and light
- After reconstitution:
- Use immediately
- If storage is needed, keep in a refrigerator (2°C–8°C) and use within 24 hours (verify with brand label)
- Do not freeze the reconstituted solution
⚠️ Precautions:
- Use with caution in:
- Uncontrolled infections (may suppress immune response)
- Diabetes mellitus
- Hypertension
- Peptic ulcer disease
- Pregnancy and lactation (use if benefits outweigh risks)
- Adverse effects (especially with repeated doses):
- Hyperglycemia
- Fluid retention, hypertension
- Increased infection risk
- Gastrointestinal bleeding
- Electrolyte imbalances (low potassium)
👩⚕️ Patient Advice
- Usually given by a doctor or nurse in hospital or emergency setting
- Inform healthcare providers of allergic conditions or existing diseases
- Notify the medical team if you are on long-term steroids
- If switched to oral steroids later, continue and taper only as advised
- After treatment, monitor for side effects (e.g., fatigue, weakness, swelling)
- Carry a Steroid Medical Alert Card if prescribed for chronic use