Hydrocortisone Tablet 5 mg – As Licensed
📄 Description:
Hydrocortisone is a synthetic form of cortisol, a natural glucocorticoid hormone produced by the adrenal glands. It has both glucocorticoid and mild mineralocorticoid activity and is used for hormone replacement therapy in adrenal insufficiency and for its anti-inflammatory effects in various conditions.
💊 Prescription/Use:
- Indications:
- Primary or secondary adrenal insufficiency (e.g., Addison’s disease)
- Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH)
- Acute adrenal crisis (part of oral follow-up treatment)
- Inflammatory or autoimmune conditions (less common for tablets)
- Hypopituitarism (as part of hormone replacement)
- Dosage:
- Typical dose: 15–30 mg/day in divided doses (e.g., 10 mg morning, 5 mg afternoon)
- Adjusted based on clinical response, stress, and lab values
- Given orally; best taken with food
- Prescription status: Rx Only
🔬 Nature:
- Class: Glucocorticoid (with some mineralocorticoid activity)
- Form: Oral tablet
- Strength: 5 mg per tablet
- Mechanism: Replaces or supplements natural cortisol; reduces inflammation and helps maintain metabolic and cardiovascular function
🌟 Advantages:
- Mimics natural cortisol in the body
- Essential for life-saving hormone replacement in adrenal insufficiency
- Allows for adjusted dosing based on stress or illness
- Oral form is convenient for long-term therapy
📦 Common Packaging:
- Typically supplied in strips of 10 or 15 tablets
- Also available in bottles (100 tablets) depending on manufacturer
- Clearly marked with dosage, batch number, and expiry date
🧊 Storage:
- Store at 15°C to 25°C (room temperature)
- Protect from light and moisture
- Keep out of reach of children
- Store in original packaging
⚠️ Precautions:
- Do not stop suddenly after long-term use — taper gradually
- Monitor for signs of Cushing’s syndrome (weight gain, moon face, skin thinning) in long-term use
- May cause hyperglycemia, osteoporosis, or hypertension
- Use cautiously in:
- Diabetes
- Infections (can mask symptoms)
- Peptic ulcer
- Osteoporosis
👩⚕️ Patient Advice:
- Take exactly as directed, usually in the morning and/or early afternoon
- Carry a medical alert card or tag indicating steroid use
- During illness, stress, or surgery, your dose may need to be increased — consult your doctor
- Never stop taking it suddenly without medical advice
- Regular check-ups are needed to monitor blood pressure, blood sugar, and electrolyte levels
- Inform your healthcare provider of all medications you are taking