Hydrocortisone

Common Brand Names

Hisone

Overview

Hydrocortisone is a steroid (corticosteroid) medicine.

It works by calming down your body's immune response to reduce pain, itching and swelling (inflammation).

It can also be used as hormone replacement for people who do not have enough of the natural stress hormone, cortisol.

Hydrocortisone is used to treat many health problems. The medicine comes in different forms, including skin creams for the body and scalp, injections and tablets. The type of hydrocortisone you use will depend on your health problem. 

Additional Information

Skin problems: hydrocortisone cream, ointment or lotion

If you're treating a skin problem with hydrocortisone, it will usually be with a cream, ointment or lotion. These can be used for skin problems like:

• eczema and contact dermatitis (when the skin reacts to something it touches)
• heat rash (prickly heat)
• reactions to insect bites and stings
• psoriasis
• nappy rash

Hydrocortisone comes as creams, ointment, spray or suppositories, for use inside and around the anus (bottom) to treat:

• piles (haemorrhoids)
• an itchy bottom

Mouth ulcers: hydrocortisone tablets that melt on the inside of your mouth

Adrenal gland conditions: hydrocortisone tablets

You may take hydrocortisone tablets if your body does not make enough cortisol, for example if you have Addison's disease, or if you've had your adrenal glands taken out.

The tablets can also be prescribed for hypopituitarism, a rare condition affecting the pituitary gland.

Painful joints: hydrocortisone injections

Hydrocortisone injections are used to treat tennis elbow, painful tendons and bursitis. They help to reduce pain and swelling (inflammation).

Side Effects of Steroids

Steroids do not tend to cause significant side effects if they're taken for a short time or at a low dose.

But sometimes they can cause unpleasant side effects, such as an increased appetite, mood changes and difficulty sleeping (insomnia). This is most common with steroid tablets.

The side effects will usually pass once you finish the treatment, but do not stop taking your medicine without speaking to your doctor. Your doctor will advise you on how to gradually reduce your dose if necessary. Stopping a prescribed course of medicine suddenly can cause further unpleasant side effects (withdrawal symptoms).