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Cortifoam Side Effects

Generic name: hydrocortisone

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Feb 12, 2025.

Note: This document provides detailed information about Cortifoam Side Effects associated with hydrocortisone. Some dosage forms listed on this page may not apply specifically to the brand name Cortifoam.

Applies to hydrocortisone: oral granule, oral tablet.

Other dosage forms:

Precautions

If you will be taking this medicine for a long time, it is very important that your doctor check you at regular visits for any unwanted effects that may be caused by this medicine. Blood or urine tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

Not giving enough or stopping Alkindi® Sprinkle, or switching from other hydrocortisone (the active ingredient contained in Cortifoam) medicine may cause serious adrenal gland problems (eg, adrenal crisis). Check with your doctor right away if you have darkening of the skin, diarrhea, dizziness, fainting, joint pain, loss of appetite, mental depression, nausea, skin rash, unusual tiredness or weakness, or vomiting.

Using too much of this medicine or using it for a long time may increase your risk of having adrenal gland problems (eg, Cushing's syndrome). Talk to your doctor right away if you have blurred vision, dizziness or fainting, a fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeat, increased thirst or urination, irritability, or unusual tiredness or weakness.

If you are using this medicine for a long time, tell your doctor about any extra stress or anxiety in your life, including other health concerns and emotional stress. Your dose of this medicine might need to be changed for a short time while you have extra stress.

This medicine may cause you to get more infections than usual. Avoid people who are sick or have infections and wash your hands often. If you are exposed to chickenpox or measles, tell your doctor right away. If you start to have a fever, chills, sore throat, or any other sign of an infection, call your doctor right away.

Check with your doctor right away if blurred vision, difficulty in reading, eye pain, or any other change in vision occurs during or after treatment. These may be symptoms of eye or vision problems (eg, cataracts, glaucoma, central serous chorioretinopathy). Your doctor may want you to have your eyes checked by an ophthalmologist (eye doctor).

While you are being treated with hydrocortisone, do not have any immunizations (vaccines) without your doctor's approval. Hydrocortisone may lower your body's resistance and the vaccine may not work as well or you might get the infection the vaccine is meant to prevent. In addition, you should not be around other persons living in your household who receive live virus vaccines because there is a chance they could pass the virus on to you. Some examples of live vaccines include measles, mumps, influenza (nasal flu vaccine), poliovirus (oral form), rotavirus, and rubella. Do not get close to them and do not stay in the same room with them for very long. If you have questions about this, talk to your doctor.

This medicine may cause changes in mood or behavior for some patients. Tell your doctor right away if you have depression, mood swings, a false or unusual sense of well-being, trouble with sleeping, or personality changes while taking this medicine.

This medicine might cause thinning of the bones (osteoporosis) or slow growth in children if used for a long time. Tell your doctor if you have any bone pain or if you have an increased risk for osteoporosis. If your child is using this medicine, tell the doctor if you think your child is not growing properly.

Make sure any doctor or dentist who treats you knows that you are using this medicine. This medicine may affect the results of certain skin tests.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Serious side effects of Cortifoam

Along with its needed effects, hydrocortisone may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking hydrocortisone:

More common side effects

  • aggression
  • anxiety
  • blurred vision
  • burning, dry, or itching eyes
  • decrease in the amount of urine
  • discharge, excessive tearing
  • dizziness
  • dry mouth
  • ear congestion
  • fast, slow, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse
  • fever
  • headache
  • irregular heartbeats
  • irritability
  • mental depression
  • mood changes
  • noisy, rattling breathing
  • numbness or tingling in the arms or legs
  • pounding in the ears
  • redness, pain, swelling of eye, eyelid, or inner lining of the eyelid
  • restlessness
  • runny or stuffy nose
  • shaking
  • sneezing
  • sore throat
  • swelling of the fingers, hands, feet, or lower legs
  • trouble breathing
  • trouble sleeping
  • trouble thinking, speaking, or walking
  • unusual tiredness or weakness
  • weight gain

Incidence not known

  • backache
  • bloody, black, or tarry stools
  • cough or hoarseness
  • darkening of the skin
  • decrease in height
  • decreased vision
  • diarrhea
  • eye pain
  • eye tearing
  • facial hair growth in females
  • fainting
  • fever or chills
  • flushed, dry skin
  • fractures
  • fruit-like breath odor
  • full or round face, neck, or trunk
  • heartburn or indigestion (severe and continuous)
  • increased hunger
  • increased thirst
  • increased urination
  • loss of appetite
  • loss of sexual desire or ability
  • lower back or side pain
  • menstrual irregularities
  • muscle pain, tenderness, wasting, or weakness
  • nausea
  • pain in the back, ribs, arms, or legs
  • painful or difficult urination
  • skin rash
  • stomach pain or cramps
  • sweating
  • trouble healing
  • unexplained weight loss
  • vision changes
  • vomiting
  • vomiting of material that looks like coffee grounds

Other side effects of Cortifoam

Some side effects of hydrocortisone may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common side effects

  • hives
  • increased appetite
  • large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs
  • puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, or lips

Incidence not known

  • abnormal fat deposits on the face, neck, and trunk
  • acne
  • dry scalp
  • lightening of normal skin color
  • red face
  • reddish purple lines on the arms, face, legs, trunk, or groin
  • swelling of the stomach area
  • thinning of the scalp hair

For healthcare professionals

Applies to hydrocortisone: compounding powder, injectable powder for injection, injectable solution, injectable suspension, oral granule, oral suspension, oral tablet, rectal enema, rectal foam with applicator.

General adverse events

Corticosteroid side effects/complications are primarily dose and duration dependent; adverse effects are infrequent with physiologic or lower pharmacologic dosages. Short-term effects have included sodium retention-related weight gain and fluid accumulation, hyperglycemia/glucose intolerance, hypokalemia, and psychic disturbances. Long-term effects have included hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal activity suppression, Cushingoid appearance, hirsutism, impotence, menstrual irregularities, peptic ulcer disease, cataracts and increased intraocular pressure/glaucoma, myopathy, osteoporosis, and vertebral compression fractures.[Ref]

Cardiovascular

Endocrine

An antagonism occurs between the parathyroids and hypercorticism. Latent hyperparathyroidism may be unmasked by administration of corticosteroids; hypoparathyroidism may be manifest by phosphate retention occurring in renal failure caused by adrenal insufficiency.[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

Metabolic

Musculoskeletal

Aseptic necrosis has been reported most often to affect the femoral head. Corticosteroid myopathy has presented as weakness and wasting of the proximal limb and girdle muscles and generally has been reversible following cessation of therapy.

Corticosteroids inhibit intestinal absorption and increase urinary excretion of calcium leading to bone resorption and bone loss. Postmenopausal females are at risk of loss of bone density. Sixteen percent of elderly patients treated with corticosteroids for 5 years may experience vertebral compression fractures.[Ref]

Immunologic

Hepatic

Increases in serum transaminases and alkaline phosphatase have been observed with corticosteroid therapy; these laboratory changes are generally small, not associated with clinical symptoms, and are reversible upon discontinuation.[Ref]

Hematologic

Corticosteroid therapy has been associated with a total increase in WBC; with an increase in neutrophils and a decrease in monocytes, lymphocytes, and eosinophils.[Ref]

Dermatologic

Ocular

Psychiatric

In adults, the incidence of severe psychic reactions has been estimated to be around 5% to 6%. Psychological effects have been reported on withdrawal of corticosteroids, although the incidence is unknown.[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

Case reports of hypersensitivity reactions to corticosteroids have been relatively uncommon. Side effects have included bronchospasm, shock, urticaria, and angioedema. Cross-reactivity between aspirin and hydrocortisone in patients with aspirin-sensitive respiratory disease has been suggested as the mechanism in patients with asthma, however data are controversial. Anaphylaxis has been most frequently associated with rapid injection or infusion of a high dose of corticosteroid. Reactions may be mediated by an immune or nonimmune mechanism.

Bronchospasm after intravenous hydrocortisone has been reported in some patients with aspirin-sensitive respiratory disease. A challenge study with oral aspirin followed with 100 mg hydrocortisone (IV) resulted in respiratory reactions to aspirin in 45 of 53 patients. These 45 patients then received a hydrocortisone challenge. No naso-ocular, dermal, or respiratory reactions were noted in 44 of 45 patients administered hydrocortisone. One aspirin-sensitive patient experienced bronchospasm and naso-ocular reactions to hydrocortisone and naso-ocular with minimal bronchospasm with methylprednisolone. Following aspirin desensitization and while on maintenance aspirin therapy, this patient again reacted with similar symptoms to hydrocortisone.[Ref]

Other

Genitourinary

Nervous system

Paresthesia, arachnoiditis, meningitis, paraparesis/paraplegia, and sensory disturbances have occurred after intrathecal administration. Intrathecal use is contraindicated and epidural administration is not recommended due to the occurrence of serious adverse events having been associated with these routes of administration.

Oncologic

Respiratory

See also:

References

1. (2001) "Product Information. Hydrocortone (hydrocortisone)." Merck & Co., Inc

2. (2001) "Product Information. Cortenema (hydrocortisone topical)." Solvay Pharmaceuticals Inc

3. (2022) "Product Information. Solu-CORTEF (hydrocortisone)." Pfizer U.S. Pharmaceuticals Group

4. Cerner Multum, Inc. "UK Summary of Product Characteristics."

5. Cerner Multum, Inc. "Australian Product Information."

6. (2017) "Product Information. Cortef (hydrocortisone)." Pfizer U.S. Pharmaceuticals Group

7. (2017) "Product Information. Cortifoam (hydrocortisone)." Meda Pharmaceuticals

8. Egashira K, Origuchi H, Sagara T, Kikuchi Y (1987) "Coronary artery spasm during hydrocortisone-induced allergic reactions." Am Heart J, 113, p. 1516-7

9. Lauerma AI, Reitamo S, Maibach HI (1991) "Systemic hydrocortisone/cortisol induces allergic skin reactions in presensitized subjects." J Am Acad Dermatol, 24, p. 182-5

10. Kamm GL, Hagmeyer KO (1999) "Allergic-type reactions to corticosteroids." Ann Pharmacother, 33, p. 451-60

11. Peller JS, Bardana EJ Jr (1985) "Anaphylactoid reaction to corticosteroid: case report and review of the literature." Ann Allergy, 54, p. 302-5

12. Dajani BM, Sliman NA, Shubair KS, Hamzeh YS (1981) "Bronchospasm caused by intravenous hydrocortisone sodium succinate (Solu-Cortef) in aspirin-sensitive asthmatics." J Allergy Clin Immunol, 68, p. 201-4

13. Mendelson LM, Meltzer EO, Hamburger RN (1974) "Anaphylaxis-like reactions to corticosteroid therapy." J Allergy Clin Immunol, 54, p. 125-31

14. Feigenbaum BA, Stevenson DD, Simon RA (1995) "Hydrocortisone sodium succinate does not cross-react with aspirin in aspirin-sensitive patients with asthma." J Allergy Clin Immunol, 96, p. 545-8

15. Fulcher DA, Katelaris CH (1991) "Anaphylactoid reaction to intravenous hydrocortisone sodium succinate: a case report and literature review [see comments." Med J Aust, 154, p. 210-4

16. Partridge MR, Gibson GJ (1978) "Adverse bronchial reactions to intravenous hydrocortisone in two aspirin-sensitive asthmatic patients." Br Med J, 1, p. 1521-2

Frequently asked questions

Further information

Cortifoam side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Note: Medication side effects may be underreported. If you are experiencing side effects that are not listed, submit a report to the FDA by following this guide.