SoluCortef

Generic Name: Hydrocortisone sodium succinate
Product Name: SoluCortef

Indication

Solu-Cortef is a type of medicine called a corticosteroid. It is used to control symptoms caused by sudden low levels of corticosteroids in the body. This can be due to many reasons, including abnormal stress in Addison’s disease or surgical removal of the adrenal glands. Low blood levels of corticosteroids must be treated with replacement therapy to allow the body to function normally. Solu-Cortef is also used to decrease inflammation. This can help to control a wide variety of disease states, characterized by excessive inflammation. These include disorders such as:

Solu-Cortef is also used in the treatment of aspiration of the stomach contents, certain types of tuberculosis, shock due to decreased production of hormones from the adrenal gland, and other inflammatory conditions requiring rapid and intense corticosteroid therapy.

Action

Solu-Cortef is a corticosteroid. Corticosteroids are hormones produced naturally by the adrenal glands which have many important functions on every organ system. Corticosteroids affect the heart and its response to natural chemicals that affect heart rate. They also affect water and salt balance in the body and allow the body to cope with stress. They do so by increasing the rate and force of the heartbeat, increasing blood supply to essential areas, such as the heart, brain and muscles, and increasing the body?s supply of energy by raising blood sugar levels. Solu-Cortef is also used to control symptoms caused by sudden low levels of corticosteroids in the body. This can be due to many reasons, including abnormal stress in disorders such as Addison?s disease, or surgical removal of the adrenal glands. Low blood levels of corticosteroids must be treated with replacement therapy to ensure the body functions normally. Solu-Cortef is also used to treat inflammation, and does so by acting within cells to prevent the release of certain chemicals tat are important in the immune system. These chemicals are normally involved in producing immune and allergic responses, resulting in inflammation. Decreasing the release of these chemicals in a particular area reduces inflammation.

Dose advice

Adults

Solu-Cortef can be administered by either intravenous or intramuscular injection. The preferred method of usage for initial emergency dosage is intravenous injection. After this, dosage via an oral preparation, or a longer acting injectable preparation should be considered. The recommended initial dose of Solu-Cortef sterile powder is 100 to 500mg depending on the severity of the condition. The dose can be repeated at two, four, or six hourly intervals according to the condition being treated and patient response. High dose therapy with corticosteroids should only be continued until the patient’s condition has stabilized, this is usually between 48 to 72 hours. Short term high dose therapy increases the risk of peptic ulceration.

Infants/Children

A reduced dose is recommended, determined by the condition being treated, the response of the patient, patient age and bodyweight. The dose should not be less than 25mg daily.

Schedule

Common side effects

Side effects of medicines can affect people in different ways. The following are a list of common side effects that people have experienced when taking this medication.