Drug interactions
Hydrocortisone + Prednisolone
Severity: Moderate
Hydrocortisone and Prednisolone: 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
Both are systemic glucocorticoids, so combining them gives duplicate therapy with additive steroid effects and adverse effects. There is no meaningful pharmacokinetic reduction of prednisolone exposure.
What this interaction means in plain words
Hydrocortisone and Prednisolone 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; Prednisolone belongs to Endocrine.
Why it happens
Additive glucocorticoid receptor effects (therapeutic duplication); no clinically relevant enzyme effect is established.
What to do
Avoid concurrent systemic use unless intentionally prescribed, such as stress dosing. Count total glucocorticoid dose and monitor glucose, blood pressure and infection risk.
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 Prednisolone
- Bcg vaccine live + Prednisolone Contraindicated
- Measles mumps and rubella vaccine live + Prednisolone Contraindicated
- Measles mumps rubella and varicella vaccine live + Prednisolone Contraindicated
- Measles vaccine + Prednisolone Contraindicated
- Mifepristone + Prednisolone Contraindicated
- Prednisolone + Radium-223 dichloride Contraindicated
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
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Hydrocortisone with Prednisolone?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Hydrocortisone and Prednisolone 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. Both are systemic glucocorticoids, so combining them gives duplicate therapy with additive steroid effects and adverse effects. There is no meaningful pharmacokinetic reduction of prednisolone exposure.
How serious is the interaction between Hydrocortisone and Prednisolone?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Avoid concurrent systemic use unless intentionally prescribed, such as stress dosing. Count total glucocorticoid dose and monitor glucose, blood pressure and infection risk.
What other medicines interact with Prednisolone?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Prednisolone with, for example, Bcg vaccine live, Measles mumps and rubella vaccine live, Measles mumps rubella and varicella vaccine live. The full list is on the Prednisolone page.
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