📌 Hydrocortisone Tablet 10 mg – As Licensed
📄 Description:
Hydrocortisone is a synthetic corticosteroid that mimics the body’s natural hormone cortisol. It has glucocorticoid and mild mineralocorticoid effects and is used primarily as hormone replacement in adrenal insufficiency or for its anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects in selected conditions.
💊 Prescription / Use:
- Indications:
- Primary adrenal insufficiency (e.g., Addison’s disease)
- Secondary adrenal insufficiency (e.g., pituitary failure)
- Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH)
- Post-adrenalectomy hormone replacement
- Acute adrenal crisis (oral follow-up therapy)
- Occasionally used for short-term anti-inflammatory or allergic conditions
- Dosage:
- Typically 15–30 mg/day, split into two or three doses (e.g., 10 mg in the morning, 5 mg in the afternoon)
- Individualized based on clinical response and cortisol levels
- Taken orally with food to minimize gastric irritation
- Dose may be increased during stress, illness, or surgery
- Route: Oral
- Prescription status: Rx only
🔬 Nature:
- Drug Class: Corticosteroid (Glucocorticoid)
- Form: Tablet
- Strength: 10 mg
- Mechanism of Action: Replaces endogenous cortisol, supports metabolism, stress response, inflammation control, and electrolyte balance
🌟 Advantages:
- Mimics physiological cortisol
- Provides life-sustaining hormone replacement
- Easy to adjust dose based on patient need
- Effective in managing adrenal crises and long-term insufficiency
- Readily available and well studied
📦 Common Packaging:
- Blister strips of 10 or 15 tablets
- Some brands may come in bottles of 100 tablets
- Clearly labeled with dosage, batch number, expiry, and storage instructions
🧊 Storage:
- Store at 15–25°C (room temperature)
- Protect from moisture and light
- Keep out of reach of children
- Do not use beyond expiry date
⚠️ Precautions:
- Do not stop abruptly if used long-term — taper under medical supervision
- Use with caution in:
- Diabetes mellitus
- Hypertension
- Peptic ulcer disease
- Osteoporosis
- Infections (may mask symptoms)
- Long-term use may cause:
- Weight gain, moon face, muscle weakness, delayed wound healing, immunosuppression
- Cushingoid features with overdose
👩⚕️ Patient Advice:
- Take with food to reduce stomach upset
- Follow exact timing — morning doses mimic body rhythm
- Do not skip doses; missed doses can cause fatigue, dizziness, or adrenal crisis
- During illness or surgery, consult your doctor — dose may need to be increased
- Carry a Steroid Alert Card or medical identification
- Regular blood pressure, glucose, and electrolyte checks are important
- Report symptoms like swelling, mood changes, or persistent fatigue