Drug interactions
Hydrocortisone + Succinylcholine
Severity: Moderate
Hydrocortisone and Succinylcholine: 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 with neuromuscular blockers have been linked to acute myopathy, mostly with prolonged ICU use. Hydrocortisone may also modify the response to succinylcholine, though the single-dose depolarizing blockade is brief.
What this interaction means in plain words
Hydrocortisone and Succinylcholine 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; Succinylcholine belongs to Musculoskeletal.
Why it happens
Additive skeletal muscle toxicity from corticosteroids and neuromuscular blockade; the mechanism is not fully defined.
What to do
Limit the duration of neuromuscular blockade and the steroid dose where possible. Monitor neuromuscular recovery and watch for persistent weakness.
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 Succinylcholine, 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 Succinylcholine
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Hydrocortisone with Succinylcholine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Hydrocortisone and Succinylcholine 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 with neuromuscular blockers have been linked to acute myopathy, mostly with prolonged ICU use. Hydrocortisone may also modify the response to succinylcholine, though the single-dose depolarizing blockade is brief.
How serious is the interaction between Hydrocortisone and Succinylcholine?
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 the duration of neuromuscular blockade and the steroid dose where possible. Monitor neuromuscular recovery and watch for persistent weakness.
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.
