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[Guest guest]

hydrocortisone, oral (cont.)

Hydrocortisone impairs calcium absorption and new bone formation.

Patients on prolonged treatment with hydrocortisone and other

corticosteroids can develop osteoporosis and an increased risk of

bone fractures. Supplemental calcium and vitamin D are encouraged to

slow this process of bone thinning. In rare individuals, destruction

of large joints can occur while undergoing treatment with

hydrocortisone or other corticosteroids. These patients experience

severe pain in the joints involved, and can require joint

replacements. The reason behind such destruction is not clear.

PREGNANCY: Hydrocortisone can be used in pregnancy, but is generally

avoided.

NURSING MOTHERS: Hydrocortisone can appear in breast milk, and can

have adverse effects on the baby. Therefore, mothers taking

hydrocortisone should discontinue nursing.

SIDE EFFECTS: Hydrocortisone side effects depend on the dose, the

duration and the frequency of administration. Short courses of

hydrocortisone are usually well tolerated with few and mild side

effects. Long term, high doses of hydrocortisone will usually produce

predictable, and potentially serious side effects. Whenever possible,

the lowest effective doses of hydrocortisone should be used for the

shortest possible length of time to minimize side effects. Alternate

day dosing can also help reduce side effects.

Side effects of hydrocortisone and other corticosteroids range from

mild annoyances to serious irreversible bodily damages. Side effects

include fluid retention, weight gain, high blood pressure, potassium

loss, headache, muscle weakness, puffiness of and hair growth on the

face, thinning and easy bruising of the skin, glaucoma, cataracts,

peptic ulceration, worsening of diabetes, irregular menses, growth

retardation in children, convulsions, and psychic disturbances.

Psychic disturbances can include depression, euphoria, insomnia, mood

swings, personality changes, and even psychotic behavior. The bone

and joint complications of corticosteroids are discussed above in

DRUG INTERACTIONS.

[Guest guest]

All this info is for the high dosages, for allergies and such, not

for physiological dosages, according to Jefferies.

Jan

> hydrocortisone, oral (cont.)

>

>

> Hydrocortisone impairs calcium absorption and new bone formation.

> Patients on prolonged treatment with hydrocortisone and other

> corticosteroids can develop osteoporosis and an increased risk of

> bone fractures. Supplemental calcium and vitamin D are encouraged

to

> slow this process of bone thinning. In rare individuals,

destruction

> of large joints can occur while undergoing treatment with

> hydrocortisone or other corticosteroids. These patients experience

> severe pain in the joints involved, and can require joint

> replacements. The reason behind such destruction is not clear.

>

> PREGNANCY: Hydrocortisone can be used in pregnancy, but is

generally

> avoided.

>

> NURSING MOTHERS: Hydrocortisone can appear in breast milk, and can

> have adverse effects on the baby. Therefore, mothers taking

> hydrocortisone should discontinue nursing.

>

> SIDE EFFECTS: Hydrocortisone side effects depend on the dose, the

> duration and the frequency of administration. Short courses of

> hydrocortisone are usually well tolerated with few and mild side

> effects. Long term, high doses of hydrocortisone will usually

produce

> predictable, and potentially serious side effects. Whenever

possible,

> the lowest effective doses of hydrocortisone should be used for the

> shortest possible length of time to minimize side effects.

Alternate

> day dosing can also help reduce side effects.

>

> Side effects of hydrocortisone and other corticosteroids range from

> mild annoyances to serious irreversible bodily damages. Side

effects

> include fluid retention, weight gain, high blood pressure,

potassium

> loss, headache, muscle weakness, puffiness of and hair growth on

the

> face, thinning and easy bruising of the skin, glaucoma, cataracts,

> peptic ulceration, worsening of diabetes, irregular menses, growth

> retardation in children, convulsions, and psychic disturbances.

> Psychic disturbances can include depression, euphoria, insomnia,

mood

> swings, personality changes, and even psychotic behavior. The bone

> and joint complications of corticosteroids are discussed above in

> DRUG INTERACTIONS.