Hydrocortisone

Hydrocortisone
Clinical data
Trade names	Cortef, others
Other names	Cortisol; 11β,17α,21-Trihydroxypregn-4-ene-3,20-dione; 11β,17α,21-Trihydroxyprogesterone
AHFS/Drugs.com	Monograph
MedlinePlus	a682206
License data	US DailyMed: Hydrocortisone;
Pregnancy; category	AU: A;
Routes of; administration	By mouth, intravenous, topical, rectal
Drug class	Glucocorticoid; Mineralocorticoid
ATC code	A01AC03 (WHO) A07EA02 (WHO), C05AA01 (WHO), D07AA02 (WHO), D07XA01 (WHO), H02AB09 (WHO), S01BA02 (WHO), S01CB03 (WHO), S02BA01 (WHO);
Legal status
Legal status	AU: S4 (Prescription only) / S3 / S2; UK: POM (Prescription only) / P / GSL; US: OTC / Rx-only; EU: OTC / Rx-only;
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability	Oral: 96 ± 20%
Protein binding	92 ± 2% (92–93%)
Metabolism	11β-HSDsTooltip 11β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases, others
Metabolites	Cortisone, others
Onset of action	Oral: 1.2 ± 0.4 hours (Tmax)
Elimination half-life	1.2–2.0 hours
Duration of action	8–12 hours
Identifiers
	IUPAC name (8S,9S,10R,11S,13S,14S,17R)-11,17-Dihydroxy-17-(2-hydroxyacetyl)-10,13-dimethyl-2,6,7,8,9,11,12,14,15,16-decahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-one;
CAS Number	50-23-7 ;
PubChem CID	5754;
DrugBank	DB00741 ;
ChemSpider	5551 ;
UNII	WI4X0X7BPJ;
KEGG	D00088 ; D00165 ;
ChEBI	CHEBI:17650 ;
ChEMBL	ChEMBL389621 ;
Chemical and physical data
Formula	C21H30O5
Molar mass	362.466 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image;
	SMILES O=C4\C=C2/[C@]([C@H]1[C@@H](O)C[C@@]3([C@@](O)(C(=O)CO)CC[C@H]3[C@@H]1CC2)C)(C)CC4;
	InChI InChI=1S/C21H30O5/c1-19-7-5-13(23)9-12(19)3-4-14-15-6-8-21(26,17(25)11-22)20(15,2)10-16(24)18(14)19/h9,14-16,18,22,24,26H,3-8,10-11H2,1-2H3/t14-,15-,16-,18+,19-,20-,21-/m0/s1 ; Key:JYGXADMDTFJGBT-VWUMJDOOSA-N ;
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Hydrocortisone is the name for the hormone cortisol when supplied as a medication. It is a corticosteroid and works as an anti-inflammatory and by immune suppression. Uses include conditions such as adrenocortical insufficiency, adrenogenital syndrome, high blood calcium, thyroiditis, rheumatoid arthritis, dermatitis, asthma, and COPD. It is the treatment of choice for adrenocortical insufficiency. It can be given by mouth, topically, rectally or by injection. Stopping treatment after long-term use should be done slowly.

Common side effects may include mood changes, increased appetite, hyperglycemia, hypertension, and edema (swelling). With long-term use, common side effects include osteoporosis, adrenal insufficiency, upset stomach, physical weakness, easy bruising, and candidiasis (yeast infections). It is unclear if it is safe for use during pregnancy.

Hydrocortisone was patented in 1936 and approved for medical use in 1941. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines. It is available as a generic medication. In 2022, it was the 202nd most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 2 million prescriptions.