Hydrocortisone

Hydrocortisone is the medicinal form of cortisol, the hormone the body makes in the adrenal glands. As a drug it is a corticosteroid that calms inflammation and suppresses immune activity. It is the treatment of choice for adrenocortical insufficiency, and it is also used for adrenogenital syndrome, high blood calcium, thyroiditis, rheumatoid arthritis, dermatitis, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It can be given by mouth, applied to the skin, used rectally or injected, and long courses should be stopped slowly rather than abruptly. Reported side effects include mood changes, raised appetite, high blood sugar, high blood pressure and swelling, and long-term use can bring osteoporosis, adrenal insufficiency, upset stomach, weakness, easy bruising and yeast infections. Its safety in pregnancy is unclear. It was patented in 1936, approved for medical use in 1941, is on the World Health Organization List of Essential Medicines and is sold as a generic. It is recorded here as a reference entry on what is held about the drug, never as medical advice.