Add Drug To My List Compare to related Drugs View/edit/Compare drugs in my list
Select the drug indication to add to your list
CORTEF
Corticosteroid-responsive disorders  Only 4 drugs may be compared at once
Remove Selected
Compare Selected
Generic Name and Formulations:
Hydrocortisone 5mg, 10mg, 20mg; tabs.
Company:
Pfizer Inc.

Select therapeutic use: Corticosteroid-responsive disorders
Indications for CORTEF:
Steroid-responsive disorders.

Adult:
See full labeling. Oral: initially 20–240mg daily. Parenteral: initially 100–500mg.

Children:
See full labeling. Oral: in single or divided doses. Replacement: 0.56mg/kg/day. Other indications: 2–8mg/kg/day. Parenteral: initially 0.56–8mg/kg/day in 3 or 4 divided doses.

Contraindications:
Systemic mycoses. Live vaccination. Solu-Cortef: also premature infants (benzyl alcohol content), intrathecal administration, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (IM preparations).

Warnings/Precautions:
Not for epidural use; serious neurologic events may occur. Concomitant systemic fungal infections, active ocular herpes simplex, cerebral malaria: not recommended. Latent or active amebiasis. Strongyloides infection. Tuberculosis. If exposed to chickenpox or measles, consider prophylactic passive immune therapy. Renal insufficiency. Recent MI. CHF. Hypertension. Thyroid disorder. Peptic ulcers. Diverticulitis. Intestinal anastomoses. Ulcerative colitis. Cirrhosis. Postmenopausal women (osteoporosis risk). Diabetes. Supplement with additional steroids in physiologic stress. Emotional instability. Psychotic tendencies. Myasthenia gravis. Avoid abrupt cessation. Alternate, intermittent or single-daily doses at 8AM minimize adrenal suppression. Monitor thyroid, weight, growth, fluid, electrolyte balance and intraocular pressure (w. therapy >6weeks). Pregnancy (Cat.C). Nursing mothers.

Interactions:
Potentiated by ketoconazole, macrolides, cyclosporine, estrogens. Antagonized by CYP3A4 inducers (eg, barbiturates, phenytoin, carbamazepine, rifampin), cholestyramine. May potentiate cyclosporine (seizure risk). May antagonize anticoagulants (monitor), isoniazid. Increased risk of arrhythmias with digitalis. May need to adjust dose of antidiabetic agents. Increased GI effects with aspirin, other NSAIDs. Caution with aspirin in hypoprothrombinemia. Monitor for hypokalemia with potassium-depleting drugs (eg, amphotericin B, diuretics). Concomitant neuromuscular blocking agents; increased risk of myopathy. Withdraw anticholinesterase agents at least 24hrs before initiating corticosteroid therapy. Aminoglutethimide may lead to loss of corticosteroid-induced adrenal suppression. May suppress reactions to skin tests.

See Also:
SOLU-CORTEF INJECTION

Pharmacological Class:
Gluco/mineralocorticoid.

Adverse Reactions:
HPA axis suppression, masks infection, increased susceptibility to infection, glaucoma, cataracts, secondary infections, hypokalemia, hypocalcemia, hypernatremia, hypertension, psychic disorders, myopathy, osteoporosis, peptic ulcer, dermal atrophy, increased intracranial pressure, carbohydrate intolerance, Kaposi's sarcoma.

How Supplied:
Tabs 5mg—50; 10mg, 20mg—100; Solu-Cortef 100mg (2mL)—1, 25; 250mg (2mL)—1, 25; 500mg (4mL), 1g (8mL)—1