Drug interactions
Hydrocortisone + Vecuronium
Severity: Moderate
Hydrocortisone and Vecuronium: 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 aminosteroid neuromuscular blockers such as vecuronium are associated with acute quadriplegic myopathy, particularly in critically ill patients with prolonged blockade. Recovery can be slow and may extend ICU stay.
What this interaction means in plain words
Hydrocortisone and Vecuronium 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; Vecuronium belongs to Musculoskeletal.
Why it happens
Additive skeletal muscle toxicity from corticosteroids and prolonged neuromuscular blockade; the exact mechanism is not fully established.
What to do
Use the shortest effective duration of neuromuscular blockade and the lowest steroid dose, with train-of-four monitoring. Evaluate 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?
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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 Vecuronium
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Hydrocortisone with Vecuronium?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Hydrocortisone and Vecuronium 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 aminosteroid neuromuscular blockers such as vecuronium are associated with acute quadriplegic myopathy, particularly in critically ill patients with prolonged blockade. Recovery can be slow and may extend ICU stay.
How serious is the interaction between Hydrocortisone and Vecuronium?
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 shortest effective duration of neuromuscular blockade and the lowest steroid dose, with train-of-four monitoring. Evaluate 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.
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