Source: Health Products Regulatory Authority (IE) Revision Year: 2020 Publisher: Teva B.V., Swensweg 5, 2031GA Haarlem, Netherlands
Pharmacotherapeutic group: corticosteroids for systemic use
ATC Code: H02AB09
Hydrocortisone is a glucocorticoid. Glucocorticoids are adrenocortical steroids, both naturally-occurring and synthetic, which are readily absorbed from the gastro-intestinal tract.
Hydrocortisone is believed to be the principal corticosteroid secreted by the adrenal cortex. Naturally-occurring glucocorticosteroids (hydrocortisone and cortisone), which also have salt-retaining properties, are used as replacement therapy in adrenocortical deficiency states. They are also used for their potent anti-inflammatory effects in disorders of many organ systems. Glucocorticoids cause profound and varied metabolic effects. In addition they modify the body’s immune responses to diverse stimuli.
Hydrocortisone is readily absorbed from the gastro-intestinal tract and 90% or more of the drug is reversibly bound to protein.
The binding is accounted for by two protein fractions. One, corticosteroid-binding globulin is glycoprotein; the other is albumin.
Hydrocortisone is metabolised in the liver and most body tissues to hydrogenated and degraded forms such as tetrahydrocortisone and tetrahydrocortisol which are excreted in the urine, mainly conjugated as glucuronides, together with a very small proportion of unchanged hydrocortisone.
No relevant information.
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