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Hydrocortisone
This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours. If you have any further questions, ask your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.
What is in this leaflet:
1. What Hydrocortisone Cream is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you use Hydrocortisone Cream
3. How to use Hydrocortisone Cream
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Hydrocortisone Cream
6. Contents of the pack and other information
1. WHAT HYDROCORTISONE CREAM IS AND WHAT IT IS USED FOR
Hydrocortisone belongs to a group of medicines called topical corticosteroids. These work by calming the inflammation that occurs during certain skin conditions or reactions. Hydrocortisone Cream may be used for treating various skin conditions including:
- Eczema.
- Dermatitis, including intertrigo (irritation between skin folds).
- Insect bite reactions.
- Inflammation of the external ear (otitis externa).
- Prurigo nodularis- a long term skin condition where very itchy lumps appear.
- Neurodermitis's- a long term skin condition where itchy skin becomes thick due to scratching.
- Nappy rash, if infection exists it is being treated with appropriate antibiotics.
2. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU USE HYDROCORTISONE CREAM
Do not use Hydrocortisone Cream if you:
- Are allergic to hydrocortisone or any of the other ingredients of this medicine.
- Have any other skin infection such as athlete foot (tinea pedis), chickenpox (varicella) or shingles (Herpes zoster), cold sores (Herpes simplex), impetigo, ringworm or thrush, infected lesions, ulcerative conditions, red appearance on face, peri-oral dermatitis or acne.
If there is a worsening of your condition during use consult your prescriber - you may be experiencing an allergic reaction, have an infection or your condition requires a different treatment. If you experience a recurrence of your condition shortly after stopping treatment, within 2 weeks, do not restart using the cream/ointment without consulting your prescriber unless your prescriber has previously advised you to so. If your condition has resolved and on recurrence the redness extends beyond the initial treatment area and you experience a burning sensation, please seek medical advice before restarting treatment. Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before using Hydrocortisone Cream if you: Have psoriasis, the condition may become worse after stopping long-term treatment Will be applying the cream to your face. This cream should not be used for long on the face as it may damage the facial skin.
Are using this cream under occlusive dressing that can considerably increase the absorption of this cream.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist or nurse before using Hydrocortisone Cream if you will be using the cream for the treatment of dermatitis or nappy rash on children and infants. In children and infants treatment should not normally exceed 7 days.
Caution should be taken to keep away from the eyes. Contact you doctor if you experience blurred vision or other visual disturbances.
Do not smoke or go near naked flames - risk of severe burns. Fabric (clothing, bedding, dressings etc.) that has been in contact with this product burns more easily and is a serious fire hazard. Washing clothing and bedding may reduce product build-up but not totally remove it. Other medicines and Hydrocortisone Cream
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before using this medicine. If you are breast- feeding, do not apply the product to your chest area. Hydrocortisone Cream contains Chlorocresol. This may cause allergic reactions.
3. HOW TO USE HYDROCORTISONE CREAM
Always use this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
For application to the skin:
- Wash your hands before and after applying Hydrocortisone Cream, but if applying to the hands, do not wash after application.
- Apply sufficient cream to thinly cover the affected area and gently rub into the skin until it disappears.
If the affected area becomes weepy or infected, stop using the cream and speak to your doctor. You may need to start antibiotic treatment, especially if the infection spreads. You should not normally use Hydrocortisone Cream on the face for many weeks or months, unless specifically prescribed by your doctor.
The recommended dose is:
Adults (including the elderly): Gently apply a thin layer of cream to the affected area(s) two or three times a day.
Children and Infants: Apply as for adults but avoid long term use. Treatment should be limited to seven days, especially in infants. The lowest concentration suitable should be used.
Do not use under a nappy or an airtight dressing (such as a plaster) on an infant because this will enable too much active ingredient to pass through the skin.
If you use more Hydrocortisone Cream than you should?
- If you squeeze out too much cream, wipe off the excess with a paper towel. Do not use the cream under airtight dressings (such as plasters) or nappies, as too much hydrocortisone may be absorbed and may result in adverse effects upon adrenal gland function.
- If you forget to use Hydrocortisone Cream.
- If you forget to apply the Hydrocortisone Cream, apply it as soon as possible and carry on as before. If it is 3 hours or less until the next application, then ignore the missed dose.
- If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
4. POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. Most patients using Hydrocortisone Cream will have no problems when used in the correct amount for the prescribed time.
If the following happens, stop using the cream and tell your doctor immediately or go to the casualty department at your nearest hospital:
An allergic reaction (swelling of the lips, face or neck leading to severe difficulty in breathing; skin rash or hives). This is a very serious but rare side effect. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalization.
Other effects which may occur:
- The skin may become thinner when used in the nappy areas of children where conditions are moist.
- If Hydrocortisone Cream is used often over a large area of skin or for a long time, especially under dressings, adverse effects on adrenal gland function are more likely. These effects are also more likely in children and infants.
- Prolonged use, especially on sensitive areas including skin folds, may result in thinning of the skin, widening of the blood vessels, stretch marks and may suppress the functioning of the adrenal gland.
- Blurred vision. This side effect has been reported, but the frequency for it to occur is not known.
- Steroid withdrawal reaction: If used continuously for prolonged periods a withdrawal reaction may occur on stopping treatment with some or all of the following features: redness of the skin which can extend beyond the initial area treated, a burning or stinging sensation, intense itching, peeling of the skin, oozing open sores.
- If your condition becomes worse during treatment, you may have an allergy to one of the ingredients of the cream or an infection. Stop using the cream and tell your doctor as soon as possible.
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet.
By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. HOW TO STORE HYDROCORTISONE CREAM
- Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
- Do not use this medicine after the expiry date stated on the carton. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
- Do not store above 25 °C.
- Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
6. CONTENTS OF THE PACK AND OTHER INFORMATION
What Hydrocortisone Cream contains.
- The active substance is micronised hydrocortisone.
- The other ingredients are cetomacrogol emulsifying wax, chlorocresol (see section 2), liquid paraffin, macrogol 300, white soft paraffin and purified water.
- What Hydrocortisone Cream looks like and contents of the pack.
- A collapsible aluminum tube, with a membrane seal at the nozzle, internal epoxy lacquer, latex end seal band in the crimp seal area and a white plastic cap for reclosure after piercing membrane.
- Hydrocortisone Cream is provided in 15g, 30g and 50g tubes.
Marketing Authorization Holder: Strides Pharma UK Ltd. UNIT 4, THE METRO CENTRE, DWIGHT ROAD, WATFORD, WD18 9SS, UNITED KINGDOM.
Manufacturer: Beltapharm Via Stelvio, 66-20095 Cusano Milanino-Milan-Italy.