Drug interactions
Hydrocortisone + Indomethacin
Severity: Moderate
Hydrocortisone and Indomethacin: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Concurrent corticosteroid and indomethacin use raises the risk of gastric ulceration and bleeding. Indomethacin has relatively high GI toxicity, so the additive risk is clinically relevant.
What this interaction means in plain words
Hydrocortisone and Indomethacin can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Hydrocortisone belongs to Endocrine; Indomethacin belongs to Musculoskeletal.
Why it happens
Additive gastrointestinal mucosal injury from NSAID prostaglandin inhibition and corticosteroid impairment of healing.
What to do
Limit duration, consider gastroprotection with a proton pump inhibitor, and monitor for GI bleeding.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
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Other interactions of Hydrocortisone
- Hydrocortisone + Mifepristone Contraindicated
- Hydrocortisone + Poliovirus vaccine live oral trivalent Contraindicated
- Hydrocortisone + Smallpox vaccine live Contraindicated
- Adenovirus types 4 and 7 live + Hydrocortisone Major
- Aldesleukin + Hydrocortisone Major
- Aspirin + Hydrocortisone Major
Other interactions of Indomethacin
- Indomethacin + Ketorolac Contraindicated
- Indomethacin + Ketorolac intranasal Contraindicated
- Aceclofenac + Indomethacin Major
- Acemetacin + Indomethacin Major
- Acetylsalicylic acid + Indomethacin Major
- Alteplase + Indomethacin Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Hydrocortisone with Indomethacin?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Hydrocortisone and Indomethacin can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Concurrent corticosteroid and indomethacin use raises the risk of gastric ulceration and bleeding. Indomethacin has relatively high GI toxicity, so the additive risk is clinically relevant.
How serious is the interaction between Hydrocortisone and Indomethacin?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Limit duration, consider gastroprotection with a proton pump inhibitor, and monitor for GI bleeding.
What other medicines interact with Hydrocortisone?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Hydrocortisone with, for example, Mifepristone, Poliovirus vaccine live oral trivalent, Smallpox vaccine live. The full list is on the Hydrocortisone page.
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