Cortisone Side Effects

Some side effects of cortisone may not be reported. Always consult your doctor or healthcare specialist for medical advice. You may also report side effects to the FDA.

For the Consumer

Applies to cortisone: oral tablet

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

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• problems with your vision;

• swelling, rapid weight gain, feeling short of breath;

• severe depression, unusual thoughts or behavior, seizure (convulsions);

• bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood;

• pancreatitis (severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, nausea and vomiting, fast heart rate);

• low potassium (confusion, uneven heart rate, extreme thirst, increased urination, leg discomfort, muscle weakness or limp feeling); or

• dangerously high blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, buzzing in your ears, anxiety, confusion, chest pain, shortness of breath, uneven heartbeats, seizure).

Less serious side effects of cortisone may include:

• sleep problems (insomnia), mood changes;

• acne, dry skin, thinning skin, bruising or discoloration;

• slow wound healing;

• increased sweating;

• headache, dizziness, spinning sensation;

• nausea, stomach pain, bloating; or

• changes in the shape or location of body fat (especially in your arms, legs, face, neck, breasts, and waist).

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

For Healthcare Professionals

Applies to cortisone: compounding powder, injectable suspension, oral tablet

Cardiovascular

Cardiovascular side effects including myocardial rupture following recent myocardial infarction, fluid retention, sodium retention, congestive heart failure, potassium loss, hypokalemic alkalosis, and hypertension have been reported with cortisone therapy.

Gastrointestinal

Gastrointestinal side effects including peptic ulcer with potential perforation and hemorrhage, perforation of small and large bowel, pancreatitis, abdominal distention, nausea, increased appetite, and ulcerative esophagitis have been reported.

Musculoskeletal

Musculoskeletal side effects including muscle weakness, steroid myopathy, loss of muscle mass, osteoporosis, vertebral compression fractures, aseptic necrosis of femoral and humoral heads, pathologic fracture of long bones, and tendon rupture have been reported.

Psychiatric

Psychiatric side effects including euphoria, insomnia, mood swings, personality changes, severe depression, and psychotic manifestations have been reported.

Nervous system

Nervous system side effects including convulsions, increased intracranial pressure with papilledema, vertigo, myalgia, arthralgia, malaise, headache, and psychic disturbances have been reported.

Endocrine

Endocrine side effects including development of cushingoid state, suppression of growth in children, and secondary adrenocortical and pituitary unresponsiveness have been reported.

Ocular

Ocular side effects including posterior subcapsular cataracts, increased intraocular pressure, glaucoma, and exophthalmos have been reported.

Hematologic

Thromboembolism has rarely been reported.

Genitourinary

Increase/decrease in motility and number of spermatozoa in men and menstrual irregularities in women have been reported rarely.

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