Cortizone-5 Side Effects

Generic name: hydrocortisone topical

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Jan 5, 2025.

Note: This document provides detailed information about Cortizone-5 Side Effects associated with hydrocortisone topical. Some dosage forms listed on this page may not apply specifically to the brand name Cortizone-5.

Applies to hydrocortisone topical: topical application cream, topical application lotion, topical application ointment, topical application solution.

Other dosage forms:

• topical application cream
• topical application cream, topical application ointment
• topical application cream, topical application foam, topical application gel/jelly, topical application liquid, topical application lotion, topical application ointment, topical application solution, topical application spray

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check the progress of you or your child at regular visits for any unwanted effects that may be caused by this medicine.

If your or your child's symptoms do not improve within 2 weeks, or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

Using too much of this medicine or using it for a long time may increase your risk of having adrenal or pituitary gland problems. The risk is greater for children and patients who use large amounts for a long time. Talk to your doctor right away if you or your child have blurred vision, darkening of the skin, diarrhea, dizziness or fainting, a fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeat, increased thirst or urination, irritability, loss of appetite, mental depression, nausea, skin rash, or unusual tiredness or weakness, or vomiting.

This medicine may cause serious skin reactions, which may occur if you cover the treated skin area or use the medicine for a long time. Check with your doctor right away if you or your child have thinning of the skin with easy bruising, reddish purple lines on the arms, face, legs, trunk, or groin areas, acne or pimples, darkening or lightening of skin color, blistering, burning, crusting, dryness, flaking of the skin, or itching, scaling, severe redness, soreness, swelling of the skin.

This medicine may increase the risk of eye or vision problems (eg, cataracts and glaucoma). Check with your doctor right away if you or your child have tearing, blurred vision, decreased vision, eye pain, headache, nausea or vomiting, or blindness. Your doctor may want your eyes be checked by an ophthalmologist (eye doctor).

Check with your doctor right away if you or your child have a skin rash, burning, stinging, swelling, or irritation on the skin. Do not use cosmetics or other skin care products on the treated areas.

Serious side effects of Cortizone-5

Along with its needed effects, hydrocortisone topical (the active ingredient contained in Cortizone-5) 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 topical:

Other side effects of Cortizone-5

Some side effects of hydrocortisone topical 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:

For healthcare professionals

Applies to hydrocortisone topical: compounding powder, rectal cream with applicator, rectal foam, rectal ointment, rectal solution, rectal suppository, topical cream, topical foam, topical gel, topical kit, topical lotion, topical ointment, topical pad, topical paste, topical solution, topical spray, topical stick.

General adverse events

The most commonly reported side effects were burning, itching, irritation, dryness, and folliculitis.^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

• Frequency not reported: Bradycardia, cardiac arrest, cardiac arrhythmias, cardiac enlargement, circulatory collapse, congestive heart failure, fat embolism, hypertension, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in premature infants, myocardial rupture following recent myocardial infarction, syncope, tachycardia, thromboembolism, thrombophlebitis, vasculitis^[Ref]

Endocrine

• Frequency not reported: HPA axis suppression, decreased carbohydrate and glucose tolerance, development of cushingoid state, glycosuria, hirsutism, hypertrichosis, increased requirements for insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents in diabetes, manifestations of latent diabetes mellitus, menstrual irregularities, secondary adrenocortical and pituitary unresponsiveness (particularly in times of stress, as in trauma, surgery, or illness), suppression of growth in pediatric patients^[Ref]

Immunologic

• Frequency not reported: Decreased resistance to infection, concomitant skin infections^[Ref]

Ocular

• Frequency not reported: Exophthalmos, glaucoma, increased intraocular pressure, posterior subcapsular cataracts, rare instances of blindness associated with periocular injections^[Ref]

Psychiatric

• Frequency not reported: Depression, emotional instability, euphoria, insomnia, mood swings, personality changes, psychic disorders^[Ref]

Local

• Frequency not reported: Burning, itching, irritation, dryness, folliculitis^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

• Frequency not reported: Abdominal distention, nausea, pancreatitis, peptic ulcer with possible perforation and hemorrhage, perforation of the small and large intestine (particularly in patients with inflammatory bowel disease), ulcerative esophagitis^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

• Frequency not reported: Aseptic necrosis of femoral and humeral heads, Charcot-like arthropathy, loss of muscle mass, muscle weakness, osteoporosis, pathologic fracture of long bones, steroid myopathy, tendon rupture, vertebral compression fractures^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

• Frequency not reported: Anaphylactoid reaction, anaphylaxis, angioedema^[Ref]

Respiratory

• Frequency not reported: Pulmonary edema

Dermatologic

• Frequency not reported: Acne, allergic dermatitis, cutaneous and subcutaneous atrophy, dry scaly skin, ecchymoses and petechiae, edema, erythema, hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation, impaired wound healing, increased sweating, rash, sterile abscess, striae, suppressed reactions to skin tests, thin fragile skin, thinning scalp hair, urticaria, miliaria, telangiectasia^[Ref]

Metabolic

• Frequency not reported: Fluid retention, hypokalemic alkalosis, potassium loss, sodium retention, negative nitrogen balance due to protein catabolism, increased appetite, weight gain^[Ref]

Hepatic

• Frequency not reported: Elevation in serum liver enzyme levels (usually reversible upon discontinuation), hepatomegaly^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Frequency not reported: Convulsions, headache, increased intracranial pressure with papilledema (pseudotumor cerebri) usually following discontinuation of treatment, neuritis, neuropathy, vertigo^[Ref]

Other

• Frequency not reported: Abnormal fat deposits, hiccups, increased or decreased motility and number of spermatozoa, malaise^[Ref]

See also:

Further information

Cortizone-5 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.

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