Hydrocortisone User Reviews & Ratings

• Cyn...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 18, 2024

For Inflammatory Conditions "I was put on prednisone and did NOT react well at all, experiencing most of the horrible side effects. After doing some online googling, I talked to my rheumatologist into prescribing 'plain old' hydrocortisone pills, and it has changed my life for the better! I have been taking it for over a year now (off and on) and have not felt healthier & happier in twenty years. I am not sure why docs always seem to prefer prednisone?! But for me, it was NOT the answer, as the side effects were absolutely nightmarish. On the other hand, I have had ZERO side effects while on a low dose of hydrocortisone. When I learned that hydrocortisone is closer to what our bodies naturally produce, it was a big 'A-ha!' moment for me as I am ultra-sensitive and have a hard time with meds and foods, etc."

• Anonymous
• September 23, 2011

Cortef (hydrocortisone) for Adrenocortical Insufficiency "After a long chronic stress, my adrenals were in 'burnout.' This medicine, until now, has worked great. The progression has been very slow but with satisfaction. The only side effects were an upset stomach (which have gone) and frequent urination (which has been reduced)."

• MrM...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 27, 2019

Cortef (hydrocortisone) for Adrenocortical Insufficiency "Started experiencing fatigue a few years ago and passed out suddenly. Rushed to the hospital with a normal cardiac workup and blood tests. After seeing a long list of doctors, one finally came to the realization I had adrenal insufficiency. Prescribed 10 mg hydrocortisone daily and feel much better."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 18, 2013

Cortef (hydrocortisone) for Adrenocortical Insufficiency "Made stomach upset early on, gurgly/hungry feeling. Goes away. Severe prolonged subclinical hypothyroidism resulted in needing this medicine. Makes my Cytomel work. And reduced my anxiety to manageable levels. Even the little painful scab bumps I used to get on my scalp are gone... gone! Those things were as painful as a bee sting the day after."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 3, 2024

For Adrenocortical Insufficiency "I was diagnosed with AI after receiving a number of dire diagnoses in the ICU. Finally, the head of Endocrinology correctly diagnosed AI… he supposed I had damaged my pituitary during military parachute operations. I now am “vertical,” which is good, but numerous steroidal-induced side effects are troubling. I especially deplore my weight gain and rashes. Still, hydrocortisone is indeed a lifesaver. I have reduced to 20 per day, two times. Hopefully lower as time goes on. Best wishes, all."

• Sop...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 1, 2025

For Addison's Disease "I take hydrocort for Addison's. I hate steroids, but I respect their use in the treatment of many illnesses. Make sure to take a multivitamin, and especially one that treats the health of bones. This medication and all steroids have the side effect of osteoporosis. Be sure to get a bone scan before you start the medication. Make sure all your doctors know you are on a steroid. Steroids lower your immune system and have the potential to cause osteoporosis. I am a trauma ER nurse."

• Ham...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 16, 2024

For Addison's Disease "My diagnosis is not confirmed as yet, but it was the first treatment with hydrocortisone at double the normal dose of 80 mg per day. I was completely out of it on a ventilator for five days, but I recovered, and I was glad to be well again."

• Ell...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 12, 2019

Cortef (hydrocortisone) for Addison's Disease "Cortef has saved my life. Diagnosed with Addison’s 7 years ago after months of declined health (deathly thin, anxious, random cry spells, brain fog, intense nausea, lower back pain) and eventually slipping into a coma. Once the doctors figured out it was Addison, they put me on Cortef. It was a bit of a challenge at first, trying to figure out the right amount for my body, however, after about 2 years of trial and error, I found the right dosage and the proper times to take them, as I found that was extremely important. I was also put on Cytomel, which I would highly suggest for anyone who’s struggling with Addison’s disease. With those combined meds, Addison’s became controllable. Until I started premenopausal symptoms, and now it feels like the first year of my Addison diagnosis. I’ve been taking a bit more Cortef as of late to help me through the premenopause, which can become more of an issue for the body and brain."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 3, 2017

For Addison's Disease "This medication is life-sustaining. I take a total of 20 mg divided into several doses throughout the day. It has supported muscle development so that now, after a year of treatment, I am a healthy weight for my height and am able to live an active life. No digestive issues. No sleep issues. No other side effects. My blood pressure has increased to a healthy level. I no longer have spells of dizziness or see stars."

• Aar...
• December 23, 2020

For Adrenocortical Insufficiency "I’m on 20 mg daily, split into 3 doses: 10 mg/5 mg/5 mg. Keeps my blood pressure stable and blood sugar levels. But got long-term muscle weakness in my legs now, so got to use crutches now. Without this medication, I wouldn’t be here to speak about this. So I’m really grateful I’m still here."

• Anonymous
• April 12, 2009

For Adrenocortical Insufficiency "I was put on this for 3 months. It's been 2 years now, and I can't wean off it. My immune system is in bad shape, and I'm developing side effects. I wish I'd been put on something else. It was nice at first, thinking it was only short term, but now it's becoming a bigger problem than help."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 13, 2018

For Addison's Disease "Since being on hydrocortisone, I have retained a lot of fluid in my face, neck, arms, legs, and stomach! Before this medication, I was a happy size 9 and had an athletic physique! Now I’m a whopping, miserable, depressed size 16! After just one year on this medication!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 24, 2022

For Adrenocortical Insufficiency "I had surgery in 1997 to partially remove a pituitary tumor, which damaged the gland, so I have taken 15 mg of hydrocortisone daily for almost 25 years to replace my adrenal function. It truly has saved my life! I didn't experience any noticeable side effects, thankfully!"

• Pet...
• October 16, 2020

For Adrenocortical Insufficiency "I believe hydrocortisone is much better than prednisone. With hydrocortisone in pill form, side effects were minimal to none. Prednisone at 1 pill daily, after three weeks, came irregular weight gain, stomach, face, arm, hands, and fingers very noticeable swelling. Very painful back and side pain. Salt and water retention, headaches."

• Lou...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 25, 2021

For Adrenocortical Insufficiency "It worked great for me. As sometimes I would have attacks where I couldn't breathe and the air would go in just in time before I passed out. I was intubated 2 times. My oxygen was normal, and then there was no air at all. It was good I was in the emergency department. Then, I went on the cortisone and haven't had any attacks since."

• Tam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 19, 2022

For Addison's Disease "This drug is awful, but it saved my life, so I’ll give it some credit. It stabilized my blood pressure and I'm no longer in a critical state, but I’ve gained so much weight, and I had insane anxiety at a higher dose. It would make me uncontrollably agitated and emotional. But I’m alive and at a lower dose now, but I want the weight gone."

• Bia...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 17, 2022

For Addison's Disease "Doing nothing for me. Takes effect in about 10 minutes and lasts about 2 hours. Then, I am back to feeling bad. You know the desperation, the pain everywhere, lights off, no noises, can't breathe. I feel like an emergency every day. So fatigued. I have a sudden small cramp inside my right eye every once in a while. It hurts from some time after that like something in the back inside twisted. It comes back another day. Is this a side effect or am I just too far gone?"

• DIV...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 15, 2021

For Inflammatory Conditions "I’m using this for desquamative inflammatory vaginitis. When I use it, I feel better, but when I stop, I feel weird again. I’m still trying to figure out if it’s helping or not. I still have a few weeks, so I’ll see."

• smi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 13, 2020

For Inflammatory Conditions "I am using the hydrocortisone cream 2.5% for a light case of hemorrhoids, lots of burning and itching. This is some great stuff, way better than Prep-H. Only been using for a week, two times a day, and hemorrhoids almost gone. And the burning and itching is gone, and I have only used half a tube. I will try to keep some of this on hand. Good stuff."

• Ash...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 11, 2021

For Adrenocortical Insufficiency "I have been on oral hydrocortisone for about six months now and trying to decrease the medicine to get completely off of it, even though I was on a low dose before. I have had really bad side effects the whole time taking this drug, but I am also very sensitive to medication. My ACTH levels are rising, so the drug did its job, but I would not take it again unless necessary."

• Ter...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 23, 2021

Cortenema (hydrocortisone) for Ulcerative Colitis "My husband has been using the Cortenema for 3 months now. He uses it twice a day, and it's done absolutely nothing for his rectosigmoiditis. They just switched him to budesonide on Wednesday, so we’ll see if that at least does something for him."

• Sea...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 12, 2025

For Adrenocortical Insufficiency "I’ve been on hydrocortisone since 2016. It took a year to diagnose after an ABI and then a year of seeing endocrinologist after endocrinologist that all had their own ideas about how to treat AI. One said take 20 in the morning. None were useful for stress dosing. I take 10/7 am, 5/1 pm, and 5/6 pm. It took a while and many adrenal crises before they figured out my body does not absorb oral HC nor prednisone nor methylprednisolone or dexamethasone. Also, as an EMT, we don’t carry HC even though 100 mg is necessary in case of severe trauma to avoid cardiogenic shock. There’s only one state, Maine, which has an AI protocol, but it was written as 125 mg Solucortef or 125 mg SoluMedrol, which is 5x stronger than HC."

• Lar...
• September 25, 2014

Cortef (hydrocortisone) for Adrenocortical Insufficiency "Take 25 mg daily - 15 mg morning/10 mg evening for 46 years. No side effects. No symptoms. Restored my well-being!"

• Sin...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 26, 2016

For Adrenocortical Insufficiency "Tests showed my cortisol production was low, but I do not feel any better on HC. And I am fatter now than ever before. I even have fat on my mid and lower back."

• Len...
• October 30, 2008

For Adrenocortical Insufficiency "This medicine has kept me alive for 20 years with very few side effects."