Preparation H (hydrocortisone)

Hydrocortisone and its acetate, buteprate, butyrate, and valerate esters are applied topically. Dermatologic preparations of the drugs are applied sparingly in thin films and are rubbed gently into the affected area 1-4 times daily. Rectal creams and ointments of the drugs are applied externally to the anal area. Some commercially available creams may be applied externally to the anogenital areas. Nonprescription preparations of the drugs should not be used for self-medication for longer than 7 days; if the condition worsens or symptoms persist, the drug should be discontinued and a physician consulted. Nonprescription preparations of the drugs should not be used in children younger than 2 years of age unless directed and supervised by a physician.

For dermatoses of the scalp, the hair may be parted and a small amount of lotion applied directly to the affected area and rubbed gently into the scalp. Usual hair care should be maintained, but the lotion should not be washed out immediately after application. Alternatively, for dermatoses of the scalp, hydrocortisone aerosol is applied to the dry scalp after shampooing. When the aerosol is used for other dermatoses, each 10-cm2 of affected area is sprayed for 1-2 seconds from a distance of about 15 cm 2 or 3 times daily.

Occlusive dressings may be used for severe or resistant dermatoses.

For use in the mouth, a small amount of 0.5% hydrocortisone acetate paste is pressed to the lesion without rubbing until a thin film develops. The paste is applied 2 or 3 times daily after meals and at bedtime. If substantial regeneration or repair of the oral tissues does not occur after 7 days of treatment, further investigation of the etiology of the oral lesions should be undertaken.

Hydrocortisone is administered rectally as a retention enema, and hydrocortisone acetate is given rectally as a suppository or an aerosol foam suspension according to the manufacturers' instructions. Patients should be advised that hydrocortisone acetate suppositories may stain fabric so that they can take appropriate precautionary measures. For the adjunctive treatment of ulcerative colitis, 100 mg of hydrocortisone is administered nightly as a retention enema. The patient should lie on his left side during and for 30 minutes after administration of the retention enema so that the drug will distribute throughout the left colon; the enema should be retained for at least 1 hour and preferably all night. Some clinicians administer 100 mg as a retention enema twice daily followed by 100 mg nightly when improvement occurs. The drug is usually given for 21 days or until clinical and proctologic remissions are achieved. Clinical symptoms may improve in 3-5 days, followed by proctologic improvement; in some cases, 2-3 months of therapy may be required to attain a proctologic remission. Therapy with hydrocortisone retention enema should be discontinued if clinical or proctologic improvement does not occur within 2-3 weeks. Following treatment for longer than 21 days, therapy with hydrocortisone enema should be withdrawn gradually by giving the drug every other night for 2-3 weeks and then discontinuing it.

In patients with ulcerative proctitis of the distal rectum who cannot retain corticosteroid enemas, 90 mg of hydrocortisone acetate (1 applicatorful of a 10% aerosol foam suspension) may be given rectally 1 or 2 times daily for 2-3 weeks and then, if necessary, every other day until clinical and proctologic improvements occur; symptoms may improve within 5-7 days. For the adjunctive treatment of ulcerative colitis of the rectum and other inflammatory conditions of the anorectum, 25 mg of hydrocortisone acetate as a suppository may be administered rectally in the morning and at night for 2 weeks; in severe proctitis, 25 mg may be given 3 times daily or 50 mg may be given twice daily. For the adjunctive treatment of postirradiation or factitial proctitis, therapy is generally continued for 6-8 weeks or less if an adequate response is attained. Alternatively, for the symptomatic treatment of internal hemorrhoids and the adjunctive treatment of other inflammatory conditions of the anorectum, 10 mg of hydrocortisone acetate as a suppository may be administered rectally in the morning and at night for 2-6 days.

No dosing information is available for this tab.

There is no enhanced messaging for this drug.

There are no contraindication interactions for this drug.

Severe Interaction: Action is required to reduce the risk of severe adverse interaction.

Agents That Affect Catecholamines/Iobenguane I 123

SEVERITY LEVEL: 2-Severe Interaction: Action is required to reduce the risk of severe adverse interaction.

MECHANISM OF ACTION: Many compounds that reduce catecholamine uptake or that deplete catecholamine stores may interfere with iobenguane uptake into cells.(1)

CLINICAL EFFECTS: Compounds that reduce catecholamine uptake or that deplete catecholamine stores may interfere with imaging completed with iobenguane.(1)

PREDISPOSING FACTORS: None determined.

PATIENT MANAGEMENT: Discuss the use of agents that affect catecholamines. Discontinue drugs that reduce catecholamine uptake or deplete catecholamine stores prior to imaging with iobenguane. Before imaging with iobenguane, discontinue agents that affect catecholamines for at least 5 biological half-lives, as clinically tolerated.(1)

DISCUSSION: Many agents may reduce catecholamine uptake or deplete catecholamine stores.(1) Examples include: - CNS stimulants or amphetamines (e.g. cocaine, methylphenidate, dextroamphetamine) - norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitors (e.g. phentermine) - norepinephrine and serotonin reuptake inhibitors (e.g. tramadol) - monoamine oxidase inhibitors (e.g. phenelzine, linezolid) - central monoamine depleting drugs (e.g. reserpine) - non-select beta adrenergic blocking drugs (e.g. labetalol) - alpha agonists or alpha/beta agonists (e.g. pseudoephedrine, phenylephrine, ephedrine, phenylpropanolamine, naphazoline) - tricyclic antidepressants or norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (e.g. amitriptyline, bupropion, duloxetine, mirtazapine, venlafaxine) - botanicals that may inhibit reuptake of norepinephrine, serotonin or dopamine (e.g. ephedra, ma huang, St. John's Wort, yohimbine)

Agents That Affect Catecholamines/Iobenguane I 131

SEVERITY LEVEL: 2-Severe Interaction: Action is required to reduce the risk of severe adverse interaction.

MECHANISM OF ACTION: Many compounds that reduce catecholamine uptake or that deplete catecholamine stores may interfere with iobenguane uptake into cells.(1)

CLINICAL EFFECTS: Compounds that reduce catecholamine uptake or that deplete catecholamine stores may impact the dosimetry calculations or effectiveness of iobenguane.(1)

PREDISPOSING FACTORS: None determined.

PATIENT MANAGEMENT: Discuss the use of agents that affect catecholamines. Discontinue drugs that reduce catecholamine uptake or deplete catecholamine stores for at least 5 half-lives before administration of either the dosimetry or a therapeutic dose of iobenguane. Do not administer these drugs until at least 7 days after each iobenguane dose.(1)

DISCUSSION: Many agents may reduce catecholamine uptake or deplete catecholamine stores.(1) Examples include: - CNS stimulants or amphetamines (e.g. cocaine, methylphenidate, dextroamphetamine) - norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitors (e.g. phentermine) - norepinephrine and serotonin reuptake inhibitors (e.g. tramadol) - monoamine oxidase inhibitors (e.g. phenelzine, linezolid) - central monoamine depleting drugs (e.g. reserpine) - non-select beta adrenergic blocking drugs (e.g. labetalol) - alpha agonists or alpha/beta agonists (e.g. pseudoephedrine, phenylephrine, ephedrine, phenylpropanolamine, naphazoline) - tricyclic antidepressants or norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (e.g. amitriptyline, bupropion, duloxetine, mirtazapine, venlafaxine) - botanicals that may inhibit reuptake of norepinephrine, serotonin or dopamine (e.g. ephedra, ma huang, St. John's Wort, yohimbine) - calcium channel blockers

Local Anesthetics/Long-Acting Bupivacaine

SEVERITY LEVEL: 2-Severe Interaction: Action is required to reduce the risk of severe adverse interaction.

MECHANISM OF ACTION: Concurrent use of other local anesthetics or use of other local anesthetics within 96 hours following long-acting bupivacaine may result in additive neurologic and cardiovascular effects. Use of articaine, benzocaine, bupivacaine, lidocaine, mepivacaine, prilocaine, procaine, ropivacaine, and tetracaine may also increase the risk of methemoglobinemia.(1,2) Non-liposomal bupivacaine may impact the pharmacokinetic and/or physicochemical properties of the liposomal formulation when administered in the same syringe or used simultaneously unless the ratio of mg of non-liposomal bupivacaine to mg of bupivacaine liposomal does not exceed 1:2.(1) Local anesthetics other than bupivacaine may trigger the immediate release of bupivacaine from the liposomal formulation when administered together locally.(1)

CLINICAL EFFECTS: Concurrent or use of local anesthetics with 96 hours of use of long-acting bupivacaine may result in neurologic and cardiovascular toxicity. Use of articaine, benzocaine, bupivacaine, lidocaine, mepivacaine, prilocaine, procaine, ropivacaine, and tetracaine may also result in methemoglobinemia.(1,2) Non-liposomal bupivacaine may impact the pharmacokinetic and/or physicochemical properties of the liposomal formulation when administered in the same syringe or used simultaneously unless the ratio of mg of non-liposomal bupivacaine to mg of bupivacaine liposomal does not exceed 1:2.(1) Local anesthetics other than bupivacaine may trigger the immediate release of bupivacaine from the liposomal formulation when administered together locally.(1)

PREDISPOSING FACTORS: Use of additional agents that are associated with methemoglobinemia may further increase the risk of methemoglobinemia.(1) Patients who are at increased risk of developing methemoglobinemia include those with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, congenital or idiopathic methemoglobinemia, cardiac or pulmonary compromise, infants under 6 months of age, and concurrent exposure to oxidizing agents or their metabolites are more susceptible to developing clinical manifestations of the condition. If local anesthetics must be used in these patients, close monitoring for symptoms and signs of methemoglobinemia is recommended.(1)

PATIENT MANAGEMENT: Avoid the use of other local anesthetics within 96 hours following the administration of long-acting bupivacaine. In patients for whom use is required, monitor for neurologic and cardiovascular effects. Also monitor for methemoglobinemia with use of articaine, benzocaine, bupivacaine, lidocaine, mepivacaine, prilocaine, procaine, ropivacaine, and tetracaine.(1,2) Non-liposomal bupivacaine may be administered in the same syringe as bupivacaine liposomal or injected immediately before bupivacaine liposomal as long as the ratio of mg of non-liposomal bupivacaine to mg of bupivacaine liposomal does not exceed 1:2.(1) Lidocaine may be administered 20 minutes or more prior to bupivacaine. It is unknown if other local anesthetics may be used without compromising the release characteristic of bupivacaine liposomal.(1)

DISCUSSION: Concurrent use of other local anesthetics or use of other local anesthetics within 96 hours following long-acting bupivacaine may result in additive neurologic and cardiovascular effects. Use of articaine, benzocaine, bupivacaine, lidocaine, mepivacaine, prilocaine, procaine, ropivacaine, and tetracaine may also increase the risk of methemoglobinemia.(1,2) Non-liposome bupivacaine may impact the pharmacokinetic and/or physicochemical properties of the liposomal formulation when administered in the same syringe or used simultaneously unless the ratio of mg of non-liposomal bupivacaine to mg of bupivacaine liposomal does not exceed 1:2.(1) Local anesthetics other than bupivacaine may trigger the immediate release of bupivacaine from the liposomal formulation when administered together locally. Lidocaine may be administered 20 minutes or more prior to bupivacaine. It is unknown if other local anesthetics may be used without compromising the release characteristic of bupivacaine liposomal.(1)

Moderate Interaction: Assess the risk to the patient and take action as needed.

Sympathomimetics (Direct, Mixed-Acting)/Methyldopa

SEVERITY LEVEL: 3-Moderate Interaction: Assess the risk to the patient and take action as needed.

MECHANISM OF ACTION: Unknown.

CLINICAL EFFECTS: The pressor response to sympathomimetics may be increased.

PREDISPOSING FACTORS: None determined.

PATIENT MANAGEMENT: Start with low doses of sympathomimetics and monitor blood pressure of patients during concurrent administration of sympathomimetics and methyldopa.

DISCUSSION: The pressor response to sympathomimetics has been reported to be increased during methyldopa administration. In addition to increased duration of pressor response, severe hypertension has been reported.

Sympathomimetics/Rauwolfia Alkaloids

SEVERITY LEVEL: 3-Moderate Interaction: Assess the risk to the patient and take action as needed.

MECHANISM OF ACTION: Reserpine depletes catecholamine stores within the peripheral vascular adrenergic nerve endings, thus indirect acting sympathomimetics are unable to trigger the release of catecholamines. The reserpine-induced catecholamine release increases sensitivity to the effects of direct acting sympathomimetics.

CLINICAL EFFECTS: Increased effects of direct acting sympathomimetics. Decreased effects of indirect acting sympathomimetics. Mixed acting sympathomimetics will show effects based on the predominance of either direct or indirect activity.

PREDISPOSING FACTORS: None determined.

PATIENT MANAGEMENT: If these agents are administered concurrently, monitor blood pressure. The dose of the sympathomimetic may need to be adjusted.

DISCUSSION: This interaction has been well documented in animal studies and human case reports have confirmed the interaction. Reserpine has been shown to decrease the response to epinephrine administered for hypotension. Reserpine has also been shown to decrease the effectiveness of ophthalmic epinephrine, a direct acting sympathomimetic. Ophthalmic phenylephrine has been shown to decrease the hypotensive effects of reserpine.

There is no enhanced messaging for this drug.

There are no contraindication contraindications for this drug.

• Bacterial skin and skin structure infection
• Large open wound

• Benign prostatic hyperplasia
• Cardiac arrhythmia
• Coronary artery disease
• Hypertension
• Hyperthyroidism
• Hypothalamic-pituitary insufficiency
• Nervousness

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Less Frequent

• Dermatitis due to topical drug
• Folliculitis
• Purpura
• Skin and skin structure infection
• Skin atrophy

Rare or Very Rare

• Acute respiratory failure
• Adrenocortical insufficiency
• Anaphylaxis
• Angioedema
• Bradycardia
• Bronchospastic pulmonary disease
• Bullous dermatitis
• Cardiac arrhythmia
• Cardiac arrhythmia
• Cataracts
• Central serous chorioretinopathy
• CNS toxicity
• Cyanosis
• Dizziness
• Eyelid edema
• Glaucoma
• Growth failure
• Headache disorder
• Headache disorder
• Hyperhidrosis
• Hypotension
• Hypothalamic-pituitary insufficiency
• Insomnia
• Intracranial hypertension
• Methemoglobinemia
• Nervousness
• Ocular hypertension
• Pallor
• Respiratory depression
• Seizure disorder
• Skin hypopigmentation
• Skin striae
• Skin ulcer
• Tachycardia
• Tremor
• Unconsciousness
• Urticaria

More Frequent

• Erythema
• Stinging of skin

Less Frequent

• Acute pain at drug application site
• Blanching of skin
• Blurred vision
• Edema
• Erythema
• Headache disorder
• Paresthesia
• Pruritus of skin
• Pruritus of skin
• Skin rash
• Skin rash
• Stinging of skin
• Telangiectasia
• Treatment site sequelae
• Urticaria

Rare or Very Rare

• Acneiform eruption
• Acute cognitive impairment
• Alopecia
• Apprehension
• Blistering skin
• Blurred vision
• Contact dermatitis
• Dizziness
• Drowsy
• Dry skin
• Dyschromia
• Euphoria
• Glycosuria
• Hirsutism
• Hypercortisolism
• Hyperesthesia
• Hyperglycemia
• Miliaria
• Muscle fasciculation
• Nervousness
• Perioral dermatitis
• Rectal irritation
• Sensation of cold
• Sensation of warmth
• Skin irritation
• Tinnitus
• Tremor
• Vomiting

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No enhanced messaging available.

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