hydrocortisone sodium phosphate at a glance
Medicine class
Glucocorticoid corticosteroid
Main roles
Replaces deficient cortisol and suppresses inflammation or allergic responses
Available forms
Oral solutions, soluble tablets, injection and preservative-free single-dose eye drops
What is hydrocortisone sodium phosphate used for?
Licensed uses depend on the formulation.
Oral solutions: cortisol replacement for adrenal insufficiency in infants, children and adolescents within the authorised age range.
Soluble tablets: selected replacement uses and emergency treatment of severe asthma or serious hypersensitivity reactions in authorised age groups.
Injection: rapid systemic corticosteroid treatment, including for severe asthma, serious allergic reactions, shock associated with injury or infection, and adrenal failure; it may also be injected into selected inflamed soft tissues.
Eye drops: mild non-infectious allergic or inflammatory conjunctival disease.
How does hydrocortisone sodium phosphate work?
Hydrocortisone acts like cortisol made by the adrenal glands. It replaces deficient cortisol and changes immune signalling to reduce inflammatory mediators responsible for swelling, redness and allergic symptoms.
hydrocortisone sodium phosphate preparations and strengths
Eye drops
Route: Ophthalmic
Strengths: 3.35 mg/mL
Oral solution
Route: Oral
Strengths: 5 mg/5 mL, 10 mg/5 mL
Tablet
Route: Oral
Strengths: 10 mg
How to take hydrocortisone sodium phosphate
Use only the prescribed formulation and follow its leaflet and your individual care plan.
Measure oral solution with the supplied oral syringe, not a household spoon. Specified gastric feeding tubes may be used; flush the tube with water afterwards as directed.
Dissolve soluble tablets fully in water and take the prepared solution immediately.
Injection must be given by an appropriately trained person using an authorised route. It must not be injected directly into a tendon.
For eye drops, do not touch the eye or eyelid with the tip. Use each preservative-free container immediately after opening and discard the remainder. Gentle pressure over the tear duct can reduce systemic absorption.
Do not wear contact lenses during corticosteroid eye-drop treatment. Wait until blurred vision clears before driving or operating machinery.
hydrocortisone sodium phosphate side effects
Common or expected effects
- Systemic formulations can cause headache, dizziness, tiredness or weakness, indigestion, nausea, diarrhoea and ankle swelling.
- Eye drops may briefly cause mild burning or stinging.
- Effects vary with formulation, systemic exposure and treatment duration.
Get urgent medical advice
- Serious allergy, including breathing difficulty, collapse or swelling of the face, mouth or throat.
- Severe weakness, fainting, confusion or persistent vomiting suggesting adrenal insufficiency or adrenal crisis.
- Fever or other significant infection symptoms.
- Marked mood or behavioural changes, hallucinations or thoughts of self-harm.
- Vomiting blood, dark vomit, black stools or severe abdominal pain.
- New visual disturbance, severe eye pain, worsening redness or symptoms of eye infection.
hydrocortisone sodium phosphate in pregnancy
Systemic hydrocortisone can be used during pregnancy when recommended by a clinician; necessary cortisol replacement should not be stopped. The underlying illness, formulation and systemic exposure should be reviewed. The eye drops are not recommended unless the prescriber considers them clearly necessary.
hydrocortisone sodium phosphate while breastfeeding
Hydrocortisone is a preferred systemic corticosteroid during breastfeeding and is naturally present in breast milk. Infant monitoring may be appropriate with high systemic exposure or prolonged treatment. Discuss eye-drop use with the prescriber because product-specific evidence is limited.
hydrocortisone sodium phosphate interactions
Relevance depends on route, systemic exposure and treatment duration. Check prescribed, over-the-counter and herbal products with a pharmacist or prescriber.
Strong CYP3A inhibitors, including ritonavir, cobicistat, azole antifungals and some macrolide antibiotics
May increase hydrocortisone exposure and systemic corticosteroid adverse effects.
CYP3A inducers, including some antiretroviral medicines
May reduce exposure and increase the risk of inadequate cortisol replacement or adrenal crisis.
Common questions about hydrocortisone sodium phosphate
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Is hydrocortisone sodium phosphate the same as hydrocortisone?
It is a water-soluble phosphate ester used to provide hydrocortisone. Labels may express the active amount as hydrocortisone while identifying hydrocortisone sodium phosphate as the form present.
Can systemic treatment be stopped suddenly?
No. Do not stop without clinical advice because abrupt withdrawal may cause recurrent disease, steroid withdrawal or adrenal insufficiency.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.