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- $Unique_ID{BRK03181}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{hydrocortisone (topical)}
- $Subject{topical Acticort 100 Baker/Cummins Aeroseb-HC Herbert Ala-Cort
- Del-Ray Ala-Scalp Del-Ray Bactine Hydrocortisone Miles CaldeCort Anti-Itch
- Fisons Light Aloe Cetacort Owen/Galderma Cortaid Upjohn Cort-Dome Miles Cortef
- Feminine Itch Cortizone-5 Thompson Cortril Pfizer Delacort Mericon Dermacort
- Solvay DermiCort Republic Drug Dermolate Anti-Itch Schering Scalp-Itch Dermtex
- HC Pfeiffer FoilleCort Blistex Gynecort Combe Hi-Cor C & M Pharmaceuticals
- Hydro-Tex Syosset Hytone Dermik LactiCare-HC Stiefel Lanacort Combe Locoid
- Owen Nutracort Penecort Herbert Labs Synacort Syntex Texacort GenDerm Westcort
- Westwood Adrenocorticosteroid hormone hydrocortisone fluid balance temperature
- reaction inflammation cortisone-like skin inflammation redness swelling
- itching discomfort dermatitis eczema poison ivy}
- $Volume{}
- $Log{}
-
- Copyright (C) 1993 Publications International, Ltd.
-
-
- hydrocortisone (topical)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- BRAND NAMES (Manufacturers)
-
- Acticort 100 (Baker/Cummins)
- Aeroseb-HC (Herbert)
- Ala-Cort (Del-Ray)
- Ala-Scalp (Del-Ray)
- Bactine Hydrocortisone [*] (Miles)
- CaldeCort Anti-Itch [*] (Fisons)
- CaldeCort Light with Aloe [*] (Fisons)
- Cetacort (Owen/Galderma)
- Cortaid [*] (Upjohn)
- Cort-Dome (Miles)
- Cortef Feminine Itch [*] (Upjohn)
- Cortizone-5 [*] (Thompson)
- Cortril (Pfizer)
- Delacort [*] (Mericon)
- Dermacort (Solvay)
- DermiCort [*] (Republic Drug)
- Dermolate Anti-Itch [*] (Schering)
- Dermolate Scalp-Itch [*] (Schering)
- Dermtex HC with aloe [*] (Pfeiffer)
- FoilleCort [*] (Blistex)
- Gynecort [*] (Combe)
- Hi-Cor (C & M Pharmaceuticals)
- hydrocortisone acetate (various manufacturers)
- Hydro-Tex (Syosset)
- Hydro-Tex [*] (Syosset)
- Hytone (Dermik)
- LactiCare-HC (Stiefel)
- Lanacort [*] (Combe)
- Locoid (Owen)
- Nutracort (Owen)
- Penecort (Herbert Labs)
- Synacort (Syntex)
- Texacort (GenDerm)
- Westcort (Westwood)
- * Available over-the-counter (without a prescription) in concentrations
- of 0.5% or less.
-
- TYPE OF DRUG
-
- Adrenocorticosteroid hormone
-
- INGREDIENT
-
- hydrocortisone
-
- DOSAGE FORMS
-
- Cream (0.1%, 0.2%, 0.25%, 0.5%, 1%, and 2.5%)
- Ointment (0.1%, 0.2%, 0.5%, 1%, and 2.5%)
- Lotion (0.25%, 0.5%, 1%, 2%, and 2.5%)
- Gel (0.5%)
- Pump spray (0.5%)
- Aerosol (0.5%)
-
- STORAGE
-
- Hydrocortisone cream, ointment, lotion, gel, pump spray, and aerosol
- should be stored at room temperature in tightly closed containers. This
- medication should never be frozen.
- The aerosol form of this medication is packaged under pressure. It
- should not be stored near heat or an open flame or in direct sunlight, and the
- container should never be punctured.
-
- USES
-
- Your adrenal glands naturally produce certain cortisone-like chemicals.
- These chemicals are involved in various regulatory processes in the body (such
- as those involving fluid balance, temperature, and reaction to inflammation).
- Hydrocortisone belongs to a group of drugs known as adrenocorticosteroids (or
- cortisone-like medications). It is used to relieve the skin inflammation
- (redness, swelling, itching, and discomfort) associated with conditions such
- as dermatitis, eczema, and poison ivy.
-
- TREATMENT
-
- Before applying this medication, wash your hands. Then, unless your
- doctor gives you different instructions, gently wash the area of the skin
- where the medication is to be applied. With a clean towel, pat the area
- almost dry; it should be slightly damp when you put the medicine on.
- Apply a small amount of the medication to the affected area in a thin
- layer. Do not bandage the area unless your doctor tells you to do so. If you
- are to apply an occlusive dressing (like kitchen plastic wrap), be sure you
- understand the instructions. Wash your hands again after application.
- If you are using the aerosol form, shake the can in order to disperse the
- medication evenly. Hold the can upright six to eight inches from the area to
- be sprayed, and spray the area for one to three seconds. DO NOT SMOKE while
- you are using the aerosol; the contents are under pressure and may explode
- when exposed to heat or flames.
- If you miss a dose of this medication, apply the dose as soon as
- possible, unless it is almost time for the next application. In that case, do
- not apply the missed dose at all; just return to your regular dosing schedule.
- Do not double the next dose.
-
- SIDE EFFECTS
-
- Minor.
-
- Acne, burning sensation, itching, skin dryness, or rash.
- If the affected area is extremely dry or scaling, the skin may be
- moistened before applying the medication by soaking in water or by applying
- water with a clean cloth. The ointment form is probably better for dry skin.
- A mild stinging sensation may occur after this medication is applied. If
- this persists, contact your doctor.
-
- Major.
-
- Tell your doctor about any side effects that are persistent or
- particularly bothersome. IT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO TELL YOUR DOCTOR about
- blistering, increased hair growth, irritation of the affected area, loss of
- skin color, secondary infection in the area being treated, or thinning of the
- skin with easy bruising.
-
- INTERACTIONS
-
- This medication should not interact with other medications as long as it
- is used according to the directions given to you by your doctor or pharmacist.
-
- WARNINGS
-
- * Tell your doctor about unusual or allergic reactions you have had to
- any medications, especially to hydrocortisone or other adrenocorticosteroids
- (such as amcinonide, betamethasone, clocortolone, cortisone, desonide,
- desoximetasone, dexamethasone, diflorasone, flumethasone, fluocinolone,
- fluocinonide, flurandrenolide, halcinonide, methylprednisolone, paramethasone,
- prednisolone, prednisone, and triamcinolone).
- * Tell your doctor if you now have or if you have ever had blood vessel
- disease, chicken pox, diabetes mellitus, fungal infections, peptic ulcers,
- shingles, tuberculosis, tuberculosis of the skin, vaccinia, or any other type
- of infection, especially at the site currently being treated.
- * If any irritation develops while using hydrocortisone, immediately
- discontinue its use and notify your doctor.
- * This product is not for use in the eyes, nose, or mouth; contact may
- result in side effects.
- * Do not use this product with an occlusive wrap unless your doctor
- directs you to do so. Systemic absorption of hydrocortisone is increased if
- large areas of the body are treated, particularly if occlusive bandages are
- used. If it is necessary for you to use this drug under a wrap, follow your
- doctor's instructions exactly; do not leave the wrap in place longer than
- specified.
- * If you are using this medication on a child's diaper area, do not put
- tight-fitting diapers or plastic pants on the child. This may lead to
- increased systemic absorption of the drug and a possible increase in side
- effects.
- * In order to avoid freezing skin tissue when using the aerosol or pump
- spray form of hydrocortisone, make sure that you do not spray for more than
- three seconds; and hold the container at least six inches away from the skin.
- * When using the aerosol or pump spray form of this medication on the
- face, cover your eyes, and do not inhale the spray (in order to avoid side
- effects).
- * Be sure to tell your doctor if you are pregnant. If large amounts of
- this drug are applied for prolonged periods, some of it will be absorbed and
- may cross the placenta. Although studies in humans have not been conducted,
- birth defects have been observed in the offspring of animals that were given
- large oral doses of this drug during pregnancy. Also, tell your doctor if you
- are breast-feeding an infant. If absorbed through the skin, small amounts of
- hydrocortisone pass into breast milk and may cause growth suppression or a
- decrease in natural adrenocorticosteroid hormone production in the nursing
- infant.
-
- ----------------
-
- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
- the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your
- doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
- problem.
-