Petacort
Petacort is a steroid medicine used to treat various conditions, including serious illnesses, by replacing natural hormones in your body.
Form
tabletti
Strength
2.5 mg
Active Ingredient
Hydrocortisone
Manufacturer
Hualan Pharmaceuticals Limited
How to Use
Dosage
Adults typically take 20-30 mg daily. Children take 0.4-0.8 mg per kilogram of body weight daily, divided into 2-3 doses. Your doctor will decide the exact dose.
Method
Take this medicine by mouth.
Important
Your doctor will determine your maximum daily dose based on your condition.
Possible Side Effects
COMMON
- •Feeling depressed, including thoughts of harming yourself
- •Feeling unusually happy (mania) or having sudden mood swings
- •Feeling anxious, having trouble sleeping, difficulty thinking, confusion, or memory loss
- •Seeing or hearing things that are not there, strange or scary thoughts, changes in behavior, or feeling alone
RARE
- •Itching or rash
- •Swelling of the face, lips, or throat
- •Difficulty breathing or wheezing
- •Heart failure (symptoms like swollen ankles, chest pain, breathing difficulties, fast or slow heartbeat, high blood pressure)
- •High blood pressure (headaches, feeling unwell)
- •Thickening of the heart muscle in premature babies
- •Easier to get infections, which can sometimes be life-threatening
- •Worsening of infections like chickenpox and measles, or return of tuberculosis
- •High number of red blood cells
- •High number of white blood cells
- •Low number of certain white blood cells (eosinopenia)
- •Cancer of the lymphatic system (lymphoma)
- •Bleeding stomach ulcers (stomach pain, rectal bleeding, black stool, or bloody vomit)
- •Inflammation of the pancreas (stomach pain and discomfort)
- •Infection or sores in the throat or esophagus (difficulty swallowing, chest pain)
- •Increased pressure in the head (headache, vomiting, weakness, drowsiness), especially in children after stopping treatment
- •Muscle weakness or wasting
- •Weakening or thinning of bones (osteoporosis), increasing fracture risk, especially in older women
- •Bone breaks or fractures
- •Joint inflammation in the knee and groin (avascular necrosis)
- •Vision changes due to cataracts, blurred vision, or glaucoma (increased eye pressure)
- •Irregular or missed periods in women
- •Developing Cushing's syndrome (rounded face, enlarged cheeks and belly, thin arms and legs, red face, increased appetite)
- •Slowed growth in children
- •Disorder in hormone production by adrenal glands and pituitary gland, especially after surgery, accident, or illness
- •Increased facial and body hair in women
- •Sodium and fluid retention
- •Potassium deficiency (low potassium levels causing alkalosis)
- •Weight gain
- •Increased appetite
- •Loss of potassium salts from the body, leading to cramps and seizures
- •Slow healing of cuts and wounds
- •Redness of skin
- •Easy bruising, red or purple spots, acne
- •Incorrect skin test results
- •Trouble processing carbohydrates, high blood sugar (leading to increased thirst and urination)
- •Breakdown of body protein (weight loss, decreased muscle mass in arms and legs)
- •Calcium and nitrogen loss
Important Warnings
- Do not stop taking this medicine suddenly without talking to your doctor, as your dose may need to be lowered gradually.
- Avoid contact with people who have chickenpox or shingles if you have never had them, as this medicine can make you seriously ill. See a doctor immediately if exposed.
- Tell your doctor if you are getting vaccinated, as steroids can make vaccines less effective. Do not get live virus vaccines while taking Petacort.
- If you have an accident, get sick, or need surgery (including dental surgery) while taking or after taking hydrocortisone, tell your doctor or dentist you are on steroids.
- This medicine can cause serious mental health problems, including feeling depressed or having suicidal thoughts. Talk to your doctor right away if you experience any changes in mood or behavior.
Show 2 more warnings
- If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding, talk to your doctor before taking this medicine.
- This medicine can affect your ability to drive or use machines. Do not drive or operate machinery if you experience muscle weakness, vision problems, or mood changes.