Use this medication exactly as directed on the label, or as it has been prescribed by your
doctor. Do not use the medication in larger or smaller amounts, or use it for longer than
recommended.
Hydrocortisone topical will not treat a bacterial, fungal, or viral skin infection.
Wash your hands before and after each application, unless you are using hydrocortisone
topical to treat a hand condition.
Apply a small amount to the affected area and rub it gently into the skin.
Avoid using this medication on your face, near your eyes or mouth, or on body areas
where you have skin folds or thin skin.
Do not cover treated skin areas with a bandage or other covering unless your doctor
has told you to. If you are treating the diaper area of a baby, do not use plastic pants or
tight-fitting diapers. Covering the skin that is treated with hydrocortisone topical can increase
the amount of the drug your skin absorbs, which may lead to unwanted side effects. Follow your
doctor’s instructions.
Contact your doctor if your condition does not improve or if it gets worse after using
this medication for several days. It is important to use hydrocortisone topical regularly to get the
most benefit.
Store hydrocortisone topical at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic
reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Stop using hydrocortisone topical and call your doctor at once if you have any of
these serious side effects:
blurred vision, or seeing halos around lights;
uneven heartbeats;
sleep problems (insomnia);
weight gain, puffiness in your face; or
feeling tired.
Continue using the medication and talk with your doctor if you have
any of these less serious side effects:
skin redness, burning, itching, or peeling;
thinning of your skin;
blistering skin; or
stretch marks.
Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your
doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.
There may be other drugs that can affect hydrocortisone topical. Tell your doctor about all
the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals,
herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication
without telling your doctor.
Avoid getting this medication in your eyes, mouth, and nose, or on your lips. If it
does get into any of these areas, wash with water. Do not use hydrocortisone topical on
sunburned, windburned, irritated, or broken skin. Also avoid using this medication in open
wounds.
Avoid using skin products that can cause irritation, such as harsh soaps or shampoos or
skin cleansers, hair coloring or permanent chemicals, hair removers or waxes, or skin products
with alcohol, spices, astringents, or lime. Do not use other medicated skin products unless your
doctor has told you to.
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this
medicine, or if anyone has accidentally swallowed it. An overdose of hydrocortisone topical
applied to the skin is not expected to produce life-threatening symptoms.
Use the medication as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip
the missed dose and use the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Use this medication exactly as directed on the label, or as it has been prescribed by your
doctor. Do not use the medication in larger amounts or for longer than recommended.
Do not cover treated skin areas with a bandage or other covering unless your doctor
has told you to. If you are treating the diaper area of a baby, do not use plastic pants or
tight-fitting diapers. Covering the skin that is treated with hydrocortisone topical can increase
the amount of the drug your skin absorbs, which may lead to unwanted side effects. Follow your
doctor’s instructions.
Avoid using this medication on your face, near your eyes, or on body areas where you
have skin folds or thin skin.
Do not use this medication on a child without a doctor’s advice. Children are more
sensitive to the effects of hydrocortisone topical.
Hydrocortisone topical will not treat a bacterial, fungal, or viral skin infection.
Contact your doctor if your condition does not improve or if it gets worse after using
this medication for several days.
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to hydrocortisone.
Hydrocortisone topical will not treat a bacterial, fungal, or viral skin infection.
FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell
your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
It is not known whether hydrocortisone topical passes into breast milk or if it could
harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are
breast-feeding a baby.
Do not use this medication on a child without a doctor’s advice. Children are more
sensitive to the effects of hydrocortisone topical.
Hydrocortisone topical is available over the counter and with a prescription under many
brand and generic names. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about this medication,
especially if it is new to you.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share
your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ("Multum") is accurate,
up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. In addition, the drug information contained herein may be time sensitive.
Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and end-users in the United States. Cerner Multum does not warrant
that uses outside of the United States are appropriate. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy.
Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or
to serve end-users viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare
practitioners. Healthcare practitioners should use their professional judgment in using the information provided. The absence of a warning for a
given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for
any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides.
The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions,
or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
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