What is the most important information I should know about hydrocortisone topical?
Follow all directions on your medicine label and package. Tell each of your healthcare providers about all your medical conditions, allergies, and all medicines you use.
What is hydrocortisone topical?
Hydrocortisone is a topical steroid that reduces the actions of chemicals in the body that cause inflammation.
Hydrocortisone topical is used to treat inflammation of the skin caused by a number of conditions such as allergic reactions, eczema, or psoriasis.
There are many brands and forms of hydrocortisone topical available and not all brands are listed on this leaflet.
Hydrocortisone topical may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using hydrocortisone topical?
You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to hydrocortisone.
Hydrocortisone topical will not treat a bacterial, fungal, or viral skin infection.
Ask a doctor or pharmacist if it is safe for you to use this medicine if you have other medical conditions, especially:
- diabetes;
- liver disease; or
- problems with your adrenal gland.
It is not known whether hydrocortisone topical will harm an unborn baby. Ask a doctor before using this medicine if you are pregnant.
It is not known whether hydrocortisone topical passes into breast milk or if it could affect a nursing baby. Ask a doctor before using this medicine if you are breast-feeding.
Do not use this medicine on a child without medical advice.
How should I use hydrocortisone topical?
Use exactly as directed on the label, or as prescribed by your doctor. Do not use in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.
Hydrocortisone topical will not treat a bacterial, fungal, or viral skin infection.
Wash your hands before and after each application, unless you are using hydrocortisone topical to treat a hand condition.
Apply a small amount to the affected area and rub it gently into the skin.
Avoid using this medicine on your face, near your eyes or mouth, or on body areas where you have skin folds or thin skin.
Do not cover the treated skin area unless your doctor tells you to.
If you are treating the diaper area of a baby, do not use plastic pants or tight-fitting diapers. Covering the skin that is treated with hydrocortisone topical can increase the amount of the drug your skin absorbs, which may lead to unwanted side effects. Follow your doctor's instructions.
Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve, or if they get worse while using hydrocortisone topical.
Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Use the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222 if anyone has accidentally swallowed the medication.
An overdose of hydrocortisone topical is not expected to produce life threatening symptoms. However, long term use of high steroid doses can lead to symptoms such as thinning skin, easy bruising, changes in the shape or location of body fat (especially in your face, neck, back, and waist), increased acne or facial hair, menstrual problems, impotence, or loss of interest in sex.
What should I avoid while using hydrocortisone topical?
Do not take by mouth. Hydrocortisone topical is for use only on the skin. Do not use this medicine on open wounds or on sunburned, windburned, dry, chapped, or irritated skin. If this medication gets in your eyes, nose, mouth, rectum, or vagina, rinse with water.
Rinse with water if this medication gets in your eyes.
Avoid using skin products that can cause irritation, such as harsh soaps, shampoos, or skin cleansers, hair coloring or permanent chemicals, hair removers or waxes, or skin products with alcohol, spices, astringents, or lime.
What are the possible side effects of hydrocortisone topical?
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Topical steroid medicine can be absorbed through the skin, which may cause steroid side effects throughout the body. Stop using hydrocortisone topical and call your doctor if you have:
- weight gain (especially in your face or your upper back and torso);
- slow wound healing, thinning skin, increased body hair;
- irregular menstrual periods, changes in sexual function; or
- muscle weakness, tired feeling, depression, anxiety, feeling irritable.
Children can absorb larger amounts of this medicine through the skin and may be more likely to have side effects.
Common side effects may include:
- acne, skin redness;
- mild burning, tingling or prickly feeling;
- changes in skin color; or
- dryness or cracking of treated skin.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What other drugs will affect hydrocortisone topical?
It is not likely that other drugs you take orally or inject will have an effect on topically applied hydrocortisone. But many drugs can interact with each other. Tell each of your health care providers about all medicines you use, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.
Where can I get more information?
Your pharmacist can provide more information about hydrocortisone topical.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
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