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Hydrocortisone is a steroid medicine that reduces inflammation in the body.
The information in this medication guide is specific to Proctocort cream, ointment, or suppository.
Proctocort is used to treat itching or swelling caused by hemorrhoids or other inflammatory conditions of the rectum or anus.
Proctocort is also used together with other medications to treat ulcerative colitis, proctitis, and other inflammatory conditions of the lower intestines and rectal area.
Proctocort may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
The information in this medication guide is specific to Proctocort cream, ointment, or suppository.
Do not take Proctocort by mouth. It is for use only in your rectum.
This medication comes with patient instructions for safe and effective use. Follow these directions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions. You may need to use this medication for up to 8 weeks.
Call your doctor at once if you have any bleeding from your rectum, feeling short of breath (even with mild exertion), swelling of your ankles or feet, or rapid weight gain.
There may be other drugs that can interact with Proctocort. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.
Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve or if they get worse after using Proctocort for a few days.
Ask a doctor or pharmacist if it is safe for you to use this medicine if you have:
congestive heart failure;
a history of tuberculosis;
stomach ulcer or diverticulitis;
a colostomy or ileostomy;
fever or any type of infection;
kidney disease;
high blood pressure; or
myasthenia gravis.
Also tell your doctor if you have diabetes. Steroid medicines may increase the glucose (sugar) levels in your blood or urine. You may also need to adjust the dose of your diabetes medications.
FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether Proctocort will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication.
It is not known whether hydrocortisone passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Use exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not use in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.
Do not take Proctocort by mouth. It is for use only in your rectum.
This medication comes with patient instructions for safe and effective use. Follow these directions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions. You may need to use this medication for up to 8 weeks.
Wash your hands before and after using Proctocort.
Try to empty your bowel and bladder just before using Proctocort.
Remove the outer wrapper from the suppository before inserting it. Avoid handling the suppository too long or it will melt in your hands. The rectal suppository can stain clothing or other fabrics it comes into contact with.
For best results from the suppository, lie down after inserting it and hold in the suppository. The suppository will melt quickly once inserted and you should feel little or no discomfort while holding it in.
For best results from the cream, use only the applicator provided with the medication. Otherwise, follow the directions provided with your rectal cream.
Avoid using the bathroom for one to three hours after inserting the cream or suppository.
Apply the ointment to the rectum and surrounding skin of the rectal area as directed on the package label.
Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve or if they get worse after using this medicine for a few days.
Store the rectal cream at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
Store the rectal suppositories at cool room temperature away from moisture and heat. Do not refrigerate or freeze them.
Use the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
An overdose of Proctocort is not expected to produce life-threatening symptoms. However, long-term use of high steroid doses can lead to symptoms such as thinning skin, easy bruising, changes in the shape or location of body fat (especially in your face, neck, back, and waist), increased acne or facial hair, menstrual problems, impotence, or loss of interest in sex.
Avoid getting a vaccine during your treatment with Proctocort. Vaccines may not work as well while you are using a steroid medicine.
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:
feeling short of breath, even with mild exertion;
swelling of your ankles or feet;
muscle weakness;
rapid weight gain, especially in your face and midsection;
severe rectal pain or burning;
bleeding from your rectum;
severe stomach pain;
sudden and severe headache or pain behind your eyes; or
seizure (convulsions).
Less serious side effects may include:
mild rectal pain or burning;
acne;
changes in your menstrual periods;
increased sweating; or
increased facial or body hair growth.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Before using Proctocort, tell your doctor if you also use insulin or take oral diabetes medication.
There may be other drugs that can interact with Proctocort. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.
Medically reviewed by USARx EDITORIAL TEAM Last updated on 1/1/2020.
Source: Drugs.com Proctocort (www.drugs.com/mtm/proctocort-cream-ointment-suppository.html).
Note: This document contains side effect information about hydrocortisone topical. Some of the dosage forms listed on this page may not apply to the brand name Proctocort.
Applies to hydrocortisone topical: topical application cream, topical application gel/jelly, topical application liquid, topical application lotion, topical application ointment, topical application solution, topical application spray
Other dosage forms:
Along with its needed effects, hydrocortisone topical (the active ingredient contained in Proctocort) may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking hydrocortisone topical:
Incidence not known
Some side effects of hydrocortisone topical may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Incidence not known
Applies to hydrocortisone topical: compounding powder, rectal cream with applicator, rectal foam, rectal ointment, rectal solution, rectal suppository, topical cream, topical gel, topical kit, topical lotion, topical ointment, topical pad, topical paste, topical solution, topical spray, topical stick
The most commonly reported side effects were burning, itching, irritation, dryness, and folliculitis.
Frequency not reported: Bradycardia, cardiac arrest, cardiac arrhythmias, cardiac enlargement, circulatory collapse, congestive heart failure, fat embolism, hypertension, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in premature infants, myocardial rupture following recent myocardial infarction, syncope, tachycardia, thromboembolism, thrombophlebitis, vasculitis
Frequency not reported: HPA axis suppression, decreased carbohydrate and glucose tolerance, development of cushingoid state, glycosuria, hirsutism, hypertrichosis, increased requirements for insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents in diabetes, manifestations of latent diabetes mellitus, menstrual irregularities, secondary adrenocortical and pituitary unresponsiveness (particularly in times of stress, as in trauma, surgery, or illness), suppression of growth in pediatric patients
Frequency not reported: Decreased resistance to infection, concomitant skin infections
Frequency not reported: Exophthalmos, glaucoma, increased intraocular pressure, posterior subcapsular cataracts, rare instances of blindness associated with periocular injections
Frequency not reported: Depression, emotional instability, euphoria, insomnia, mood swings, personality changes, psychic disorders
Frequency not reported: Burning, itching, irritation, dryness, folliculitis
Frequency not reported: Abdominal distention, nausea, pancreatitis, peptic ulcer with possible perforation and hemorrhage, perforation of the small and large intestine (particularly in patients with inflammatory bowel disease), ulcerative esophagitis
Frequency not reported: Aseptic necrosis of femoral and humeral heads, Charcot-like arthropathy, loss of muscle mass, muscle weakness, osteoporosis, pathologic fracture of long bones, steroid myopathy, tendon rupture, vertebral compression fractures
Frequency not reported: Anaphylactoid reaction, anaphylaxis, angioedema
Frequency not reported: Pulmonary edema
Frequency not reported: Acne, allergic dermatitis, cutaneous and subcutaneous atrophy, dry scaly skin, ecchymoses and petechiae, edema, erythema, hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation, impaired wound healing, increased sweating, rash, sterile abscess, striae, suppressed reactions to skin tests, thin fragile skin, thinning scalp hair, urticaria, miliaria, telangiectasia
Frequency not reported: Fluid retention, hypokalemic alkalosis, potassium loss, sodium retention, negative nitrogen balance due to protein catabolism, increased appetite, weight gain
Frequency not reported: Elevation in serum liver enzyme levels (usually reversible upon discontinuation), hepatomegaly
Frequency not reported: Convulsions, headache, increased intracranial pressure with papilledema (pseudotumor cerebri) usually following discontinuation of treatment, neuritis, neuropathy, vertigo
Frequency not reported: Abnormal fat deposits, hiccups, increased or decreased motility and number of spermatozoa, malaise
Medically reviewed by USARx EDITORIAL TEAM Last updated on 1/1/2020.
Source: Drugs.com Proctocort (www.drugs.com/mtm/proctocort-cream-ointment-suppository.html).
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