Cortisone

Cortisone is a prescription drug and is a corticosteroid hormone (glucocorticoid). It decreases your body's natural defensive response and reduces symptoms such as swelling and allergic-type reactions.

Cortisone is used to treat conditions such as arthritis, blood/hormone/immune system disorders, allergic reactions, certain skin and eye conditions, breathing problems, and certain cancers.

Adult and Pediatric Dosages:

tablets

• 5 mg
• 10 mg
• 25 mg

Dosing Considerations – Should be Given as Follows:

Anti-inflammatory/Immunosuppressive

Adult:

• 2.5 mg/kg/day orally divided every 8 hours or 25-300 mg/day orally each day or divided every 12 hours
• 1-5 mg/kg intramuscularly each day

Pediatric:

• 2.5 mg-10 mg/kg/day orally or 20-300 mg/m2/day orally divided every 6-8 hours

Physiologic Replacement

Adult:

• 0.5-0.75 mg/kg/day orally divided every 8 hours or 25-35 mg/day
• 0.25-0.35 mg/kg intramuscularly each day

Pediatric:

• 0.5-0.75 mg/kg/day orally or 20-25 mg/sq.meter/day orally divided every 8 hours

Common Side effects of Cortisone include:

• difficulty sleeping (insomnia)
• indigestion
• increased appetite
• male pattern hair growth in women
• nose bleed
• diabetes mellitus
• sodium retention
• reduced blood level of potassium
• fluid retention
• low blood calcium levels
• congestive heart failure
• high blood pressure
• muscle weakness
• vertebral compression fractures
• loss of blood supply to the femoral and humeral heads
• loss of muscle mass
• brittle or fragile bones
• tendon rupture, particularly of the Achilles tendon
• pathologic fracture of long bones
• ulcer with possible perforation and hemorrhage
• bloating/abdominal distention
• ulcerative esophagitis
• pancreatitis
• elevated alanine transaminase (ALT, SGPT)
• elevated aspartate transaminase (AST, SGOT)
• elevated alkaline phosphatase
• delayed wound healing
• facial reddening
• thin fragile skin
• increased sweating
• round spots on the skin
• discoloration of the skin
• may suppress reactions to skin tests
• increased intracranial pressure with swelling of the optic nerve
• convulsions
• spinning sensation (vertigo)
• headache
• irregular menstrual periods
• suppression of growth in children
• development of Cushingoid state
• decreased carbohydrate tolerance
• decreased adrenocortical and pituitary responsiveness
• increased requirements for insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents in diabetes
• cataract in back of the eye
• glaucoma
• increased pressure in the eye
• bulging eyes
• negative nitrogen balance due to protein catabolism

This document does not contain all possible side effects and others may occur. Check with your physician for additional information about side effects.

If your doctor has directed you to use this medication, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor, health care provider or pharmacist first.

Cortisone has no known severe interactions with other drugs.

Serious interactions of cortisone include:

• mifepristone

Cortisone has serious interactions with at least 73 different drugs.

Cortisone has moderate interactions with at least 232 different drugs.

Cortisone has minor interactions with at least 121 different drugs.

This information does not contain all possible interactions or adverse effects. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share this information with your doctor and pharmacist. Check with your health care professional or doctor for additional medical advice, or if you have health questions, concerns or for more information about this medicine.

Warnings

• This medication contains cortisone. Do not take it if you are allergic to cortisone or any ingredients contained in this drug.
• Keep out of reach of children
• In case of overdose, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center immediately

Contraindications

• Documented hypersensitivity
• Systemic fungal infection

Effects of Drug Abuse

• No information available

Short-Term Effects

• See "What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Cortisone?"

Long-Term Effects

• Risk of osteoporosis, myopathy, delayed wound healing
• See "What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Cortisone?"

Cautions

• Short acting agent
• Cirrhosis, ocular herpes simplex, high blood pressure (hypertension), diverticulitis, hypothyroidism, myasthenia gravis, peptic ulcer disease, osteoporosis, ulcerative colitis, psychotic tendencies, untreated systemic infections, renal insufficiency, and pregnancy
• Hydroxylated to active compound hydrocortisone
• When used to treat adrenocortical insufficiency may need to use additional mineralocorticoid
• Not indicated for intravenous use
• Diabetes mellitus, thromboembolic disorders
• Long-term treatment: Risk of osteoporosis, myopathy, delayed wound healing
• Patients receiving corticosteroids should avoid chickenpox or measles-infected persons if unvaccinated
• Latent tuberculosis may be reactivated
• Monitor patients with positive tuberculin test
• Some suggestion of slightly increase cleft palate risk if corticosteroids used in pregnancy, but not fully substantiated

Pregnancy and Lactation

• No information is available for use of cortisone during pregnancy
• Consult your physician
• Cortisone excretion in milk is unknown; use with caution when breastfeeding