What is Hydrocortisone topical?

An example of Hydrocortisone topical

Hydrocortisone topical is a corticosteroid applied to the skin for relief of inflammation of corticosteroid-responsive skin disorders.

Reported Purpose & Perceived Effectiveness

Reasons and Perceived effectiveness
Perceived Effectiveness
Purpose # of patients # of patients with evaluations
Major
Moderate
Slight
None
Can’t tell
88 24 Efficacy_major Efficacy_moderate Efficacy_slight Efficacy_none Efficacy_cant_tell
54 14 Efficacy_major Efficacy_moderate Efficacy_slight Efficacy_cant_tell
7 2 Efficacy_moderate Efficacy_none
7 1 Efficacy_none
6 2 Efficacy_moderate
3 1 Efficacy_major

See all 111 patients currently taking Hydrocortisone topical

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Reported Side Effects

Side effects as an overall problem

Severe
2
Moderate
4
Mild
5
None
38

Commonly reported side effects, conditions, and hospitalizations associated with Hydrocortisone topical

4
2
2
2
Hospitalization 2
1
See all 12 reported side effects See top 6 reported side effects

Reported Dosages

Frequently reported dosages based on patients currently taking Hydrocortisone topical. See all 26 dosages

  1% as needed 1other as needed 0.5% as needed 2.5% as needed 0.1 g daily 0.2 g daily 0.5 g daily 1 g daily 2 g daily 2.5 g daily
  22 Number of Patients: 22 4 Number of Patients: 4 10 Number of Patients: 10 8 Number of Patients: 8 6 Number of Patients: 6 4 Number of Patients: 4 9 Number of Patients: 9 16 Number of Patients: 16 4 Number of Patients: 4 7 Number of Patients: 7  

Reported Stop Reasons

Why Patients Stopped Taking Hydrocortisone topical (multiple reasons could be selected)
Reason # Patients Percentage of patients
Did not seem to work 30   Did not seem to work: 42%
Other 15   Other: 21%
Course of treatment ended 11   Course of treatment ended: 15%
Doctor's advice 9   Doctor's advice: 13%
Side effects too severe 4   Side effects too severe: 6%
Change in health plan coverage 4   Change in health plan coverage: 6%
Expense 3   Expense: 4%
Personal research 3   Personal research: 4%
Not indicated 2   Not indicated: 3%

See all 66 patients who’ve stopped taking Hydrocortisone topical

Currently Taking Hydrocortisone topical

A bar graph

0-1 month 1-3 months 3-6 months 6 months-1year 1-2 years 2 years or more
0
0

Stopped Taking Hydrocortisone topical

A bar graph

0-1 month 1-3 months 3-6 months 6 months-1year 1-2 years 2 years or more

Reported Adherence, Burden & Cost See details from patient evaluations

Adherence

Taking treatment as prescribed

Adherence of Hydrocortisone topical

Always
19 39%
Usually
18 37%
Sometimes
11 22%
Never
1 2%

Burden

Difficulty being on treatment

Burden of Hydrocortisone topical

Very
4 8%
Somewhat
10 20%
A little
14 29%
Not at all
21 43%

Cost

Paid out of pocket

Cost of Hydrocortisone topical

$200+
0 0%
$100-199
0 0%
$50-99
1 4%
$25-49
2 8%
< $25
22 88%

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8 patient evaluations for Hydrocortisone topical

Purposes: Psoriasis and Hemorrhoids (Started Jul 01, 2010)
Date Dosage Psoriasis Perceived effectiveness Hemorrhoids Perceived effectiveness Side Effects Adherence Burden
Jul 17, 2012 As needed Led_efficacy_4Led_efficacy_4Led_efficacy_4Led_efficacy_4Major Led_efficacy_3Led_efficacy_3Led_efficacy_3Led_defaultModerate MildMildMildMildMild AlwaysAlwaysAlwaysAlwaysAlways Not at allNot at allNot at allNot at allNot at all
  • Icon_thumb_off 0 helpful marks
Purpose: Psoriasis (Started Feb 22, 2012)
Date Dosage Perceived effectiveness Side Effects Adherence Burden
Jul 17, 2012 2 other Daily Led_efficacy_4Led_efficacy_4Led_efficacy_4Led_efficacy_4Major NoneNoneNoneNoneNone AlwaysAlwaysAlwaysAlwaysAlways Not at allNot at allNot at allNot at allNot at all
Jul 04, 2012 2 other Daily Led_efficacy_3Led_efficacy_3Led_efficacy_3Led_defaultModerate NoneNoneNoneNoneNone AlwaysAlwaysAlwaysAlwaysAlways Not at allNot at allNot at allNot at allNot at all
Date
Jul 04, 2012
Advice & Tips
if you are a thumb sucker like me it is advisable on the night time dose to wear cotton gloves while you are asleep
Cost
< $25 monthly
  • Icon_thumb_off 0 helpful marks
Purposes: Eczema and Dyshidrotic Eczema (pompholyx) (Started Feb 03, 2012)
Date Dosage Eczema Perceived effectiveness Dyshidrotic Eczema (pompholyx) Perceived effectiveness Side Effects Adherence Burden
Feb 14, 2012 1 g Daily Led_efficacy_2Led_efficacy_2Led_defaultLed_defaultSlight Led_efficacy_2Led_efficacy_2Led_defaultLed_defaultSlight SevereSevereSevereSevereSevere AlwaysAlwaysAlwaysAlwaysAlways Not at allNot at allNot at allNot at allNot at all
Date
Feb 14, 2012
Advice & Tips
This medication worked well for what it was prescribed for, but with me having a low immune system and it having a steroid in it I started to get infections under my breast. The only time I get these is when I am on a steroid or I come in contact with Strep. I stopped taking it because of this reason. I also notice while I was taking it that I felt "unwell" like I was sick, but had no symptoms of really being sick except for a cough and a runny noise. I didn't have this before taking this medication.
Cost
< $25 monthly
  • Icon_thumb_off 0 helpful marks
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What is hydrocortisone topical?

Hydrocortisone is a topical steroid. It reduces the actions of chemicals in the body that cause inflammation, redness, and swelling.

Hydrocortisone topical is used to treat inflammation of the skin caused by a number of conditions such as allergic reactions, eczema, or psoriasis.

Hydrocortisone topical may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.


Precautions

Do not use this medication if you are allergic to hydrocortisone.

Hydrocortisone topical will not treat a bacterial, fungal, or viral skin infection.

FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

It is not known whether hydrocortisone topical passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Do not use this medication on a child without a doctor’s advice. Children are more sensitive to the effects of hydrocortisone topical.

Avoid getting this medication in your eyes, mouth, and nose, or on your lips. If it does get into any of these areas, wash with water. Do not use hydrocortisone topical on sunburned, windburned, irritated, or broken skin. Also avoid using this medication in open wounds.

Avoid using skin products that can cause irritation, such as harsh soaps or shampoos or skin cleansers, hair coloring or permanent chemicals, hair removers or waxes, or skin products with alcohol, spices, astringents, or lime. Do not use other medicated skin products unless your doctor has told you to.

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Instructions

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine, or if anyone has accidentally swallowed it. An overdose of hydrocortisone topical applied to the skin is not expected to produce life-threatening symptoms.

Use the medication as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and use the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

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Side Effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using hydrocortisone topical and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

  • blurred vision, or seeing halos around lights;
  • uneven heartbeats;
  • sleep problems (insomnia);
  • weight gain, puffiness in your face; or
  • feeling tired.

Less serious side effects may include:

  • skin redness, burning, itching, or peeling;
  • thinning of your skin;
  • blistering skin; or
  • stretch marks.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

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Interactions

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 your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

Other Names

Locoid, Acticort 100, Aeroseb-HC, Ala-Cort, Ala-Scalp HP, Aloe Cort, Anucort-HC, Anumed-HC, Anuprep-HC, Anurx-HC, Anusert HC-1, Anusol HC-1, Anusol-HC, Anutone-HC, Anuzone HC, Aquanil HC, Beta HC, Caldecort, Cort-Dome, Cort-Dome High Potency, Cortaid, Cortaid Intensive Therapy, Cortaid Maximum Strength, Cortaid with Aloe, Cortane, Corticaine, Corticreme, Cortizone for Kids, Cortizone-10, Cortizone-10 Anal Itch Cream, Cortizone-10 Plus, Cortizone-5, Cotacort, Delcort, Dermacort, Dermarest Dricort, Dermarest Eczema Medicated, Dermarest Plus Anti-Itch, Dermol HC, Dermolate, Dermtex HC, Encort, Genasone/Aloe, Gly-Cort, Gynecort Maximum Strength, Hemorrhoidal HC, Hemril-30, Hemril-HC Uniserts, Hi-Cor, Hycort, Hydrocort cream, Hydrocortisone 1% In Absorbase, Hydrocortisone AC, Hydrocortisone with Aloe, Hydrocortisone-Aloe, Hytone, Instacort, Instacort 10, Ivocort, Lacticare-HC, Locoid Lipocream, MD Hydrocortisone, Massengill Medicated Soft Cloth, Neutrogena T-Scalp, Nogenic HC, NuZon, Nupercainal HC 1%, Orabase HCA, Pandel, Penecort, Preparation H Hydrocortisone, Procort, Procto-Kit 1%, Procto-Kit 2.5%, Proctocort, Proctocream-HC, Proctosert HC, Proctosol-HC, Proctozone HC, Proctozone-H, Recort Plus, Rectasol-HC, Rederm, Sarnol-HC, Scalp-Cort, Texacort, Tucks HC, U-Cort, Westcort, hydrocortisone topical, Cetacort, Cortizone-10 Intensive Healing Formula, Itch-X Lotion, Locoid Lotion, NuCort with Aloe, Nutracort, Procto-Pak 1%, Scalacort, and Scalp-Aid

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Disclaimer

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.

Copyright 1996-2004 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version 2.05. Revision date 8/23/04

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