Cortef and/or Equivalents
| Drug | Related Drug Names |
|---|---|
| Cortef 5mg and/or Equivalents | Hydrocortisone |
| Cortef 10mg and/or Equivalents | Cortef, Hydrocortisone, Hydrocortone |
| Cortef 20mg and/or Equivalents | Cortef, Hydrocortisone, Hydrocortone, Hysone |
Cortef
Cortef Drug description
Cortef is a drug that contains a glucocorticoid called hydrocortisone. Cortef is supplied in the form of tablets which contain hydrocortisone in three varying concentrations; namely 5 mg, 10 mg or 20 mg. The inactive components of the drug include mineral oil, lactose, sucrose, calcium stearate, sorbic acid and corn starch.
Conditions Treated by Cortef
Cortef tablets are prescribed for various conditions which include:
- Endocrine disorders such as non suppurative thyroiditis, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, adrenocortical insufficiency or hypercalcemia that is associated with cancer.
- Rheumatic disorders such as psoriatic arthritis, bursitis, gouty arthritis, osteoarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and epicondylitis.
- Dermatologic diseases such as severe psoriasis, severe erythema multiforme, pemphigus or mycosis fungoides.
- Collagen disorders such as acute case of rheumatic carditis, systemic lupus erythematosus and polymyositis.
- Allergic conditions such as contact dermatitis, drug hypersensitivity reactions, serum sickness, allergic rhinitis or bronchial asthma.
- Ophthalmic diseases such as chorioretinitis, keratitis, optic neuritis, allergic conjunctivitis, anterior segment inflammation, iritis or ophthalmia.
- Hematologic disorders such as RBC anemia, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura or hypoplastic anemia etc.
- Respiratory disorders such as berylliosis, aspiration pneumonitis, symptomatic sarcodiasis or Loeffler’s syndrome.
- Neoplastic disorders such as leukemia or lymphomas.
- Nervous system ailments such as multiple sclerosis.
- Edematous states such as for induction of a diuresis or for remission of proteinuria.
- Gastrointestinal diseases such as regional enteritis or ulcerative colitis.
Cortef Dosage Information
a) Typical Dosage Recommendations
Doctors prescribe Cortef depending on the disease for which the patient is being treated and on the severity of the patient’s condition. Some patients are treated with low dosages of the drug whereas some are required to take higher doses of the drug over a long period of time. The tablets are generally required to be taken with a little amount of water. It is very essential to take the drug ion its original form and not chew, crush or grind the tablets since this can affect the efficacy of the medicine.
Patients are strictly advised to take the medicine on time and not miss any doses. In case a patient misses a dose, the medicine must be taken as soon as possible. If it is already time for the patient to take the next dose, the missed dose can be skipped. It is very important not to take extra doses to make up for the missed dose.
c) Overdosing
Overdosing of the drug may lead to dizziness, headache, stomach ache or nausea. In case you think you or someone else may have been overdosed, you must immediately contact your doctor or rush to the emergency medical care center.
Cortef Warnings
You must inform your doctor if you are suffering from any heart ailments, kidney disorders, liver infections, diabetes, blood pressure related problems etc. Your doctor should know your medical history and whether you have any allergies to specific components in the drug. It is not known whether Cortef is harmful to the unborn baby. Hence pregnant females or females who are planning to get pregnant during the course of this treatment must not be given this medicine. Cortef can be excreted into breast milk and can be harmful to the nursing baby. Cortef being a steroid acts on the immune system of the body. This can make your body susceptible to infections. Hence you must report to your doctor if you have fever, sore throat or flu like symptoms. In the same way, you must void contact with people who are suffering from infectious diseases or from people who have recently been vaccinated. Steroid can cause stunted growth in children and hence you must watch your children carefully if they have been prescribed this drug. You must report to your doctor if you find any unusual or abnormal growth changes in your child. Doctors will require you to go for regular medical check ups and various tests such as blood tests, kidney and liver function tests etc. You must follow all instructions given by your doctor, since regular monitoring of your condition is essential while you are being treated with Cortef. Cortef can affect the mental condition of the patient and lead to conditions such as insomnia, mood swings, depression etc. A careful watch is required in such cases and patients must be sent to the doctor if they show any unusual symptoms.
Cortef Side Effects
Side effects of a drug are seen in many patients as soon as they start taking the drug. However as the body slowly becomes accustomed to the drug, side effects reduce and gradually go away. It is important to keep a watch on what side effects occur and whether they are increasing in frequency and intensity. In such cases it is important to consult your doctor. Some side effects that are known to be associated with the use of Cortef include:
- Impaired wound healing
- Nausea
- Bloody stools
- Shortness of breath
- Dizziness
- Difficulty in urinating
- Headache
- Blurring of vision
- Vertigo
- Fluid retention
- Spinning sensation
- Severe abdominal pain
- Rashes
- Hives
- Glaucoma
- Osteoporosis
- Chest pain
- Facial erythema
- Soreness of throat
- Abdominal distension
- Acne
- Sleep disorders
- Flu like symptoms
- Mood changes
- Muscle discomfort
- Rapid weight gain or weight loss
- Severe sweating
- Menstrual irregularities
- Bloating
Cortef Drug Interactions
When two or more drugs interact with each other they can affect the efficacy of each other. There are chances that they may form a new compound which is harmful to your body. Hence it is very important to discuss with your doctor if you are taking any drugs, herbal pills, dietary supplements, vitamin pills, protein shakes or any other prescription or over the counter medicines. You must also let your doctor know if you are consuming alcohol or if you smoke. This will enable your doctor to understand whether prescribing Cortef would be beneficial to your condition. Some drugs that can interact with Cortef include:
- Coumadin
- Nizoral
- Dilantin
- Sandimmune
- Gengraf
- Aspirin
- Neoral
- Rimactane
- Luminal
- Diuretics
If you have any questions about buying discount Cortef online or any other prescription products you can contact our team of professional Patient Service Representatives or one of our pharmacists 24-7 by calling 1-800-226-3784.
Notice: The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.
Cortef and/or Equivalents warnings, side-effects and general information
