Reports of acute toxicity and/or deaths following hydrocortisone overdose are rare. No antidote is available. Symptoms may range from excitement/arousal to mania or psychosis. Signs include high blood pressure, elevated plasma glucose levels and hypokalaemia. Treatment is probably not indicated for reactions due to chronic poisoning unless the patient has a condition that would render him/her unusually susceptible to ill effects from hydrocortisone. In which case, symptomatic treatment should be instituted as necessary.
Not applicable
Summary of the safety profile
Hydrocortisone is given as replacement therapy aimed at restoring normal cortisol levels. The adverse reaction profile in the treatment of adrenal insufficiency is therefore not comparable to that in other conditions requiring much higher doses of oral or parenteral glucocorticoids.
Overall, the frequency and type of adverse reactions were similar for Rapicort 100 mg once daily modified-release tablets and hydrocortisone tablets given three times daily in a 12-week study. Fatigue has been reported as very common.
Tabulated list of adverse reactions
A total of 80 patients (173 patient-years of data) have been treated with modified-release hydrocortisone in clinical studies. Adverse reactions from these studies and from postmarketing surveillance are listed below by system organ class and frequency as follows:
Very common (>1/10); Common (>1/100 to <1/10).
| MedDRA System Organ Class | Frequency of adverse reactions | |
| Very common | Common | |
| Nervous system disorders | Vertigo Headache | |
| Gastrointestinal disorders | Diarrhoea | Upper abdominal pain Nausea |
| Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders | Pruritus Rash | |
| Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders | Arthralgia | |
| General disorders and administration site conditions | Fatigue | |
In addition the following adverse reactions have been reported for other hydrocortisone medicinal products given for indications other than adrenal insufficiency replacement therapy in higher doses (frequencies not known).
Immune system disorders
Activation of infection (tuberculosis, fungal and viral infections including herpes).
Endocrine disorders
Induction of glucose intolerance or diabetes mellitus.
Metabolism and nutrition disorders
Sodium and water retention and oedema tendency, hypertension, hypokalemia.
Psychiatric disorders
Euphoria and psychosis, insomnia.
Eye disorders
Increased intraocular pressure and cataract.
Gastrointestinal disorders
Dyspepsia and deterioration of existing gastric ulcer.
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders
Cushing-like symptoms, stria, ecchymoses, acne and hirsutism, impaired wound healing.
Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
Osteoporosis with spontaneous fractures.
Reporting of suspected adverse reactions
Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the United Kingdom Yellow Card Scheme Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard.
Animal experiments have shown that prenatal exposure to very high doses of glucocorticoids can induce malformations (cleft palate, skeletal malformations). Animal studies have also shown that prenatal exposure to high doses of glucocorticoids (but lower than teratogenic doses) may be associated with increased risk of intrauterine growth retardation, cardiovascular disease in adulthood and permanent changes in glucocorticoid receptor density, neurotransmitter turnover and behaviour.
Treatment of adrenal insufficiency in adults.
Pharmacotherapeutic group: Corticosteroids for systemic use, glucocorticoids. ATC code: H02AB09.
Pharmacodynamic action
Hydrocortisone is a glucocorticoid and the synthetic form of endogenously produced cortisol. Glucocorticoids are important steroids for intermediary metabolism, immune function, musculoskeletal and connective tissue and the brain. Cortisol is the principal glucocorticoid secreted by the adrenal cortex.
Naturally-occurring glucocorticoids (hydrocortisone and cortisol), which also have salt-retaining properties, are used as replacement therapy in adrenal insufficiency. They are also used for their potent anti-inflammatory effects in disorders of many organ systems. Glucocorticoids cause profound and varied metabolic effects. In addition they modify the body's immune responses to diverse stimuli.
Clinical efficacy
The pivotal study was a randomised, two-period 12-week crossover multi-centre trial in 64 patients with primary adrenal insufficiency, 11 of whom had concomitant diabetes mellitus and 11 had hypertension. The study compared modified-release tablets given once daily with conventional tablets given three times daily using the same daily dose of hydrocortisone (20 to 40 mg).
Compared to conventional tablets given three times daily, once daily modified-release tablets resulted in an increased cortisol exposure during the first four hours after intake in the morning but reduced exposure in the late afternoon/evening and over the 24-hour period (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Observed mean serum cortisol concentration versus clock time following single and multiple dosing in primary adrenal insufficiency patients (n=62) after oral administration of Rapicort 100 mg given once daily and hydrocortisone thrice daily.
Absorption
Following oral administration, hydrocortisone is rapidly and well absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and the absorption has been reported to be more than 95% for an oral 20 mg dose (tablets). Hydrocortisone is a class II active substance according to the biopharmaceutical classification system (BCS) with a high intestinal permeability and a low dissolution rate, especially at higher doses. The modified-release tablet has an outer coating layer that provides an immediate release of the drug and an extended release core. The immediate-release part provides a rapid onset of absorption and the extended release part provides a more extended plasma profile of cortisol. The bioavailability (AUC0-24h) is 20% lower with the modified-release tablet compared to the same daily dose of hydrocortisone given as conventional tablets three times daily. When the oral dose is increased the total plasma exposure of cortisol increased less than proportional. The exposure increased three-fold when the dose of hydrocortisone modified-release increased from 5 mg to 20 mg.
The absorption rate of hydrocortisone was reduced after food intake resulting in a delay in the time to maximal concentration in plasma from on average less than 1 hour to over 2.5 hours. On the other hand, the extent of absorption and bioavailability was approximately 30% higher for the 20 mg tablet after food intake compared to fasting and there was no absorption failure or dose dumping.
Distribution
In plasma, cortisol is bound to corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG, also called transcortin) and albumin. The binding is about 90%.
Elimination
The terminal half-life has been reported to be about 1.5 hours following intravenous and oral dosing of hydrocortisone tablets. The terminal half-life of cortisol following administration of Rapicort 100 mg was about 3 hours and formulation release controlled. This terminal half-life is similar to the pharmacokinetics of endogenous cortisol that also is secretion-controlled.
Hydrocortisone (cortisol) is a lipophilic drug that is eliminated completely via metabolism with a low clearance and accordingly low intestinal and hepatic extraction ratios.
Hydrocortisone is eliminated completely by metabolism by 11ßHSD type 1 and type 2 enzymes and CYP 3A4 in the liver and in peripheral tissue. CYP 3A4 is involved in the clearance of cortisol by the formation of 6β-hydroxycortisol which is excreted in urine. The transport of cortisol across membranes is expected to be mediated mainly by passive diffusion and therefore renal and biliary clearances are negligible.
Special populations
Renal impairment
A small amount of cortisol is excreted in the urine unchanged (<0.5% of the daily production), meaning that cortisol is eliminated completely by metabolism. Since severe renal impairment may affect medicinal products completely eliminated via metabolism, dose adjustment may be needed.
Hepatic impairment
No study has been performed in patients with hepatic impairment, however data in the literature for hydrocortisone support that no dose adjustment is required in mild to moderate hepatic impairment. In case of severe hepatic impairment, the functional liver mass decreases and thus the metabolising capacity for hydrocortisone. This may require dose individualisation.
Paediatric population
No pharmacokinetic data are available in children or adolescents.
Acute adrenal insufficiency
Acute adrenal insufficiency may develop in patients with known adrenal insufficiency who are on inadequate daily doses or in situations with increased cortisol need. Events have been reported in patients treated with Rapicort 100 mg. Adrenal crisis can develop in patients with acute adrenal insufficiency. Therefore, patients should be advised of the signs and symptoms of acute adrenal insufficiency and of adrenal crisis and the need to seek immediate medical attention.
During adrenal crisis parenteral, preferably intravenous administration of hydrocortisone in high doses, together with sodium chloride 9 mg/ml (0.9%) solution for infusion, should be administered according to current treatment guidelines.
Concomitant infections
'Use in intercurrent illness'. The patient must be carefully informed how to act in these situations and also advised to immediately seek medical attention should an acute deterioration occur; especially in cases of gastroenteritis, vomiting and/or diarrhoea leading to fluid and salt loss, as well as to inadequate absorption of oral hydrocortisone.Patients with adrenal insufficiency and concomitant retroviral infection, such as HIV, need careful dose adjustment due to potential interaction with antiretroviral medicinal products and increased hydrocortisone dose due to the infection.
Scientific reports do not support immunosuppressive effects of hydrocortisone in doses that have been used for replacement therapy in patients with adrenal insufficiency. Therefore, there is no reason to believe that replacement doses of hydrocortisone will exacerbate any systemic infection or worsen the outcome of such an infection. Moreover, there is no reason to believe that doses of hydrocortisone used for replacement therapy in adrenal insufficiency may reduce the response to vaccines and increase the risk of generalised infection with live vaccines.
Gastric emptying and motility disorders
Modified-release tablets are not recommended in patients with increased gastrointestinal motility, i.e. chronic diarrhoea, due to the risk of impaired cortisol exposure. There are no data in patients with confirmed slow gastric emptying or decreased motility disease/disorder. The clinical response should be monitored in patients with these conditions.
Using higher than normal doses of hydrocortisone
High (supra-physiological) dosages of hydrocortisone can cause elevation of blood pressure, salt and water retention, and increased excretion of potassium. Long-term treatment with higher than physiological hydrocortisone doses can lead to clinical features resembling Cushing´s syndrome with increased adiposity, abdominal obesity, hypertension and diabetes, and thus result in an increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.
Old age and low body mass index are known risk factors for common adverse reactions of pharmacological doses of glucocorticoids such as osteoporosis, thinning of skin, diabetes mellitus, hypertension and increased susceptibility to infections.
All glucocorticoids increase calcium excretion and reduce the bone-remodelling rate. Patients with adrenal insufficiency on long-term glucocorticoid replacement therapy have been found to have reduced bone mineral density.
Prolonged use of high doses of glucocorticoids may produce posterior subcapsular cataracts, and glaucoma with possible damage to the optic nerves. Such effects have not been reported in patients receiving replacement therapy with glucocorticoids in doses used in adrenal insufficiency.
Psychiatric adverse reactions may occur with systemic glucocorticoids. This may occur during commencement of treatment and during dose adjustments. Risks may be higher when high doses are given. Most reactions resolve after dose reduction, although specific treatment may be necessary.
Thyroid function
Patients with adrenal insufficiency should be monitored for thyroid dysfunction as both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism may markedly influence the exposure of administered hydrocortisone.
Treatment of primary adrenal insufficiency often warrants addition of a mineralocorticoid.
Rapicort 100 mg has minor influence on the ability to drive and use machines. Fatigue and episodes of short-lasting vertigo have been reported.
Untreated and poorly replaced adrenal insufficiency may affect the ability to drive and use machines.
Posology
Rapicort 100 mg is given as maintenance therapy. Oral replacement doses must be individualised according to the clinical response. A common maintenance dose is 20 - 30 mg per day, given once daily in the morning. In patients with some remaining endogenous cortisol production a lower dose may be sufficient. 40 mg is the highest maintenance dose studied. The lowest possible maintenance dosage should be used. In situations when the body is exposed to excessive physical and/or mental stress, patients may need additional substitution of immediate release hydrocortisone tablets especially in the afternoon/evening, see also section 'Use in intercurrent illness' where other ways of temporarily increasing the dose of hydrocortisone is described.
Changing from conventional oral glucocorticoid treatment to Rapicort 100 mg
When changing patients from conventional oral hydrocortisone replacement therapy given three times daily to Rapicort 100 mg, an identical total daily dose may be given. Due to a lower bioavailability of the daily dose of Rapicort 100 mg compared to that of conventional hydrocortisone tablets given three times daily clinical response needs to be monitored and further dose individualisation may be required. Changing patients from hydrocortisone tablets given twice daily, cortisone acetate or synthetic glucocorticoids to Rapicort 100 mg has not been studied, but changing to a hydrocortisone equivalent daily dose of Rapicort 100 mg is recommended in these instances; further dose individualisation may be required.
Use in intercurrent illness
During intercurrent illness, there should be high awareness of the risk of developing acute adrenal insufficiency.
In severe situations, an increase in dose is immediately required and oral administration of hydrocortisone must be replaced with parenteral, preferably intravenous treatment.
In less severe situations when intravenous administration of hydrocortisone is not required, for instance low grade infections, fever of any aetiology and stressful situations such as minor surgical procedures, the normal oral daily replacement dose must be increased temporarily; the total daily dose should be increased by administering the maintenance dose twice or thrice daily with 8 ± 2 hours intervals (an increase in number of administrations, not increasing the morning dose). Once the intercurrent illness episode is over, patients can return to the normal maintenance dose.
Special populations
Elderly
Renal impairment
There is no need for dosage adjustment in patients with mild to moderate renal impairment.
Hepatic impairment
There is no need for dose adjustment in mild to moderate hepatic impairment.
Paediatric population
The safety and efficacy of Rapicort 100 mg in children/adolescents aged below 18 years have not yet been established. No data are available.
Method of administration
Patients should be instructed to take Rapicort 100 mg orally with a glass of water on awakening at least 30 minutes before food intake, preferably in an upright position and between 6.00 am and 8.00 am in the morning. It should be swallowed whole; tablets should not be divided, chewed or crushed. If more than one daily administration is required the morning dose should be given as instructed, additional doses given later during the day can be given with or without food.
Any unused medicinal product or waste material should be disposed of in accordance with local requirements.
