Patient leaflets and SmPCs, drug interaction checker, official and paediatric dosages, pregnancy and breastfeeding guidance, and NHS pharmacy opening hours — all in one place.
Patient leaflets and SmPCs, drug interaction checker, official and paediatric dosages, pregnancy and breastfeeding guidance, and NHS pharmacy opening hours — all in one place.
Hydrocortisone 1% Cream contains the active ingredient hydrocortisone which belongs to a group of medicines called corticosteroids or 'steroids'. Steroids like hydrocortisone are applied to the skin to reduce inflammation. Hydrocortisone cream is indicated for the treatment of irritant contact dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, mild to moderate eczema and insect bite reactions. Corticosteroid creams, ointments and other topical preparations come in four different potencies or strengths. These are known as mild, moderately potent, potent or very potent. Healthcare professionals will usually refer to topical corticosteroid potency rather than strength. A potent or strong corticosteroid has a much stronger effect than a mild corticosteroid when using the same amount. Be aware the percentage of active ingredient that is sometimes included on product packaging does not indicate potency. Hydrocortisone 1% Cream is classed as a mild corticosteroid. Your healthcare professional will prescribe or advise a steroid of the appropriate potency for your condition.
• if you are allergic to hydrocortisone or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6) (allergic reactions include mild symptoms such as itching and/or rash. More severe symptoms include swelling of the face, lips, tongue and/or throat with difficulty in swallowing or breathing). • on the eyes, face, anal or genital areas, on broken skin or infected skin, e.g. impetigo, cold sores, acne, athletes foot or infected bites and stings.
• in pregnancy, breast-feeding Warnings and precautions: Contact your doctor if you experience blurred vision or other visual disturbances. If there is a worsening of your condition during use, consult your doctor – 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 without consulting your doctor or pharmacist. 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.
May cause local skin reactions and blurred vision. Steroid withdrawal reaction: If used over prolonged periods a withdrawal reaction which might appear to be different from the previous condition, may occur in some patients during treatment or within days to weeks after 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. Reporting of side effects If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
Do not use any medicine after the expiry date on the carton and tube and keep them in their original pack. 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.
PL 06464/3149 To request a copy of this leaflet in Braille, large print or audio format, contact the licence holder at the above address or telephone: 01268 535200 (select option Medical Information) / e-mail: [email protected]
Hydrocortisone Cream 1% P comes as cream containing 1%. Always follow the dose your doctor or pharmacist has given you, and read the leaflet that comes with the medicine.
The active substance in Hydrocortisone Cream 1% P is hydrocortisone acetate.
Medicines with the same active substance include: Hc45 Hydrocortisone Cream, Hydrocortisone cream 1% w/w. They are interchangeable only if your prescriber or pharmacist says so.
This leaflet reproduces the patient information leaflet approved for Hydrocortisone Cream 1% P, as published on the electronic medicines compendium (emc). The version printed inside your medicine’s packaging is the one that applies to you.
Whether a medicine is available over the counter or on prescription only depends on its licence. Check the leaflet, or ask your pharmacist — they can tell you straight away.
The text above reproduces the patient information leaflet approved for this medicine, restructured for easier reading.
Hydrocortisone cream is indicated for the treatment of irritant contact dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, mild to moderate eczema and insect bite reactions.
Posology
Adults and children: To be applied sparingly to the affected skin once or twice a day for a maximum of 7 days after gently cleansing the area.
Dosage recommendations as above for children over 10 years of age. The product should not be used in children under 10 years of age without medical advice.
Method of administration
For topical administration.
Apply accurately and sparingly to a small area. Massage gently into the skin.
Hypersensitivity to hydrocortisone acetate or to any other excipients listed in section 6.1
The product should not be used on the eyes or face (for example, in rosacea or perioral dermatoses), the ano-genital area or on broken or infected skin including impetigo, cold sores, acne athlete's foot, or infected bites and stings.
In the presence of untreated infections of bacterial, viral, tuberculous or fungal origin.
Not for use with an occlusive dressing or on large areas of the body.
No known interactions.
Pregnancy
This product should not be used in pregnancy without medical advice. There are no or limited amount of data from the use of topical corticosteroids in pregnant women. Studies in animals have shown reproductive toxicity (see section 5.3).
Breast-feeding
This product should not be used whilst breast-feeding unless recommended by a health care professional. Corticosteroids are excreted in human milk. There is no information about effects on lactation. A risk to new-borns/infants cannot be excluded.
Fertility
No known effects.
No adverse effects known.
Acute overdose is highly unlikely. No special precautions or antidotes are likely to be needed. Chronic overdose or misuse may increase the risk of topical or systemic steroid-related adverse effects, including hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis suppression and Cushing's syndrome.
Management of overdose with topical corticosteroids includes gradual discontinuation under medical supervision.
Ask anything about Hydrocortisone Cream 1% P. The assistant answers only from this leaflet — if the leaflet does not cover it, it will say so. It does not give medical advice.
Answers come from the patient leaflet published on the electronic medicines compendium (emc). They are not medical advice. Ask a pharmacist or your GP if you are unsure. For urgent help call NHS 111, or 999 in an emergency.
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