Drug interactions
Hydrocortisone + Rocuronium
Severity: Moderate
Hydrocortisone and Rocuronium: 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
Corticosteroids given with nondepolarizing neuromuscular blockers, especially during prolonged ICU use, are associated with acute quadriplegic myopathy. Corticosteroids may also alter the depth or duration of neuromuscular blockade. The risk is greatest with high-dose steroids and prolonged blockade.
What this interaction means in plain words
Hydrocortisone and Rocuronium 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; Rocuronium belongs to Musculoskeletal.
Why it happens
Additive skeletal muscle toxicity (steroid-related myopathy with prolonged neuromuscular blockade); the exact mechanism is not fully established.
What to do
Use the lowest effective dose and shortest duration of the neuromuscular blocker, and monitor depth of blockade with train-of-four. Assess for persistent weakness and check creatine kinase if myopathy is suspected.
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?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Hydrocortisone and Rocuronium, the additional notes, the evidence detail and the whole-prescription interaction checker.
- Full clinical management advice
- Additional notes
- Evidence detail
- Interaction checker for a whole prescription
Try Pro+ free for 7 days on the web. No card needed.
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 Rocuronium
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Hydrocortisone with Rocuronium?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Hydrocortisone and Rocuronium 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. Corticosteroids given with nondepolarizing neuromuscular blockers, especially during prolonged ICU use, are associated with acute quadriplegic myopathy. Corticosteroids may also alter the depth or duration of neuromuscular blockade. The risk is greatest with high-dose steroids and prolonged blockade.
How serious is the interaction between Hydrocortisone and Rocuronium?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Use the lowest effective dose and shortest duration of the neuromuscular blocker, and monitor depth of blockade with train-of-four. Assess for persistent weakness and check creatine kinase if myopathy is suspected.
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.
Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app
Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.
