- Inflammation:
- PO 20-240mg OD
- IV/IM 100-500mg/dose every 2 hours, 4 hours or 6 hours
- Status asthmaticus:
- IV 1-2mg/kg every 6 hours initially for 24 hours
- Maintenance: 0.5-1mg/kg every 6 hours
- Chronic adrenal insufficiency:
- PO 15-25mg/day divided every 8-12 hours
- PO 15-25mg/day divided every 8-12 hours
- Acute adrenal crisis (Off-label):
- 100mg IV bolus, then 200mg over 24 hours by continuous infusion or divided every 6 hours; then 100mg over 24 hours the following day
- When patient is stabilized:PO 50mg TDS *6 doses, then tapered to 30-50mg/day in divided doses
Tablet: 10mg
Injection: 100mg
- IV push: Over 0.5-10 min
- Intermittent infusion: Over 30 minutes
- For tablets, given with food or milk to reduce GI symptoms
Corticosteroid
It inhibits multiple inflammatory cytokines
- Cushingoid appearance
- Hirsutism
- Weight gain
- Erythema
- Abdominal discomfort
- Appetite changes
- Emotional lability
- Rash
- Urticaria
- Nausea & vomiting
- Sodium retention
- Fluid retention
- Hypokalemia
- Elevated BP
- Edema
- Diaphoresis
- Muscle atrophy
- Impaired wound healing (long-term use)
- Skin atrophy (long-term use)
- Petechiae
- Ecchymosis
- Skin pigmentation abnormality
- Acne
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Vertigo
- Insomnia
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Glucose intolerance
- Cushing syndrome (long-term use)
- Menstrual irregularities
- Increased IOP
- Leukocytosis
- Epidural lipomatosis
- Hypersensitivity to class/components
- Systemic fungal infection
- Cerebral malaria
- Abrupt withdrawal (high-dose or long-term use)
- Mifepristone
- Desmopressin
- Live vaccines
- Tamoligene
Drug Status
| Availability | Prescription or OTC by Pharmacist |
| Pregnancy | Category C |
| Breastfeeding | Not recommended |
| Schedule | Not controlled |
| BRAND NAME | STRENGTH | FORMULATION | PACK SIZE | MANUFACTURER | DISTRIBUTOR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cortitab | 10mg | Tablet | 30’s | Metro Pharma | Metro Pharma |
| Galcort | 100mg | Injection | 1’s | Galpha Labs | Medilife Biologicals |
| H-Cort | 100mg | Injection | 1’s | Crown Healthcare | Crown Healthcare |
| Hydrocortisone | 100mg | Injection | 1’s | Laborate Pharma | Harley’s Ltd |
| Hydrocortisone | 100mg | Injection | 1’s | Lincoln Pharma C/O Medox Pharma | Medox Pharma |
| Hydrocortisone | 100mg | Injection | 1’s | Rotexmedica GMBH | Nairobi Pharma |
| Labohydro | 1% w/w | Injection | 1’s | Laborate India | Harley’s Ltd |
| Ocortin | 100mg | Injection | 10’s | Bliss GVS | Prunus Pharma |
| Primacort | 100mg | Injection | 50’s | Macleods Pharma | Sai Pharma |
| S-hydro | 100mg | Injection | 1’s | Synermed Pharma | Synermed Pharma |
| Umicort | 100mg | Injection | 1’s | Umedica Labs | Unisel Ltd |