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Cortisone Coupon - Cortisone 25mg tablet

cortisone

Generic Cortisone
Used for Adrenal Insufficiency, Allergic Conjunctivitis, Allergic Rhinitis, Anaphylaxis, Asthma, Chronic ITP, Eczema, Edema, Eye Inflammation, Gout, Leukemia, Lupus, Multiple Sclerosis, Osteoarthritis, Psoriasis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Seborrheic Dermatitis, Tuberculosis, Ulcerative Colitis

Cortisone is a short-acting steroid medication used to treat different conditions that involve an overactive immune system. It's taken by mouth, but your dose can differ depending on condition you taking cortisone for. Short-term side effects of cortisone include changes in appetite, mood swings, and trouble sleeping. If you take this medication for a long time, you might experience weight gain or weakening of your bones.

Reviewed by:
reviewerAlly Tsai, PharmD
reviewerConnie Zheng, PharmD
Last reviewed on May 8, 2023
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What is Cortisone?

What is Cortisone used for?

Cortisone is used for many different medical conditions, including:

How Cortisone works

Cortisone is a corticosteroid. It's a lab-made medication that's similar to cortisol, a natural stress hormone your body makes. Cortisone works by calming down your body's immune response, which can help get rid of certain medical problems that are caused by a sensitive immune system. In addition, cortisone lowers the amount of inflammatory chemicals that cause pain, redness, itching, and swelling.

Drug facts

Common BrandsCortone(brand no longer available)
Drug ClassCorticosteroid
Controlled Substance ClassificationNot a controlled medication
Generic StatusLower-cost generic available
AvailabilityPrescription only
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Side effects of Cortisone

The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.

Common Side Effects

  • Swelling
  • Muscle weakness
  • Stomach pain
  • Bloating
  • Increased appetite
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Weight gain
  • Dizziness
  • Nausea

Less Common Side Effects

  • Skin thinning
  • Rash
  • Sweating
  • Infection
  • Joint problems
  • Headache
  • Blurry or cloudy vision
  • Eye pain
  • Eye redness

Cortisone serious side effects

Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.

  • Withdrawal symptoms: fatigue, body aches, dizziness, muscle weakness, poor appetite, nausea, vomiting, belly pain, joint pain

Source: DailyMed

The following Cortisone side effects have also been reported

Corticosteroids may lower your resistance to infections. Also, any infection you get may be harder to treat. Always check with your doctor as soon as possible if you notice any signs of a possible infection, such as sore throat, fever, sneezing, or coughing.

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

Less common

Decreased or blurred vision

frequent urination

increased thirst

Rare

Blindness (sudden, when injected in the head or neck area)

burning, numbness, pain, or tingling at or near place of injection

confusion

excitement

false sense of well-being

hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there)

mental depression

mistaken feelings of self-importance or being mistreated

mood swings (sudden and wide)

redness, swelling, or other sign of allergy or infection at place of injection

restlessness

skin rash or hives

Additional side effects may occur if you take this medicine for a long time. Check with your doctor if any of the following side effects occur:

Abdominal or stomach pain or burning (continuing)

acne

bloody or black, tarry stools

changes in vision

eye pain

filling or rounding out of the face

headache

irregular heartbeat

menstrual problems

muscle cramps or pain

muscle weakness

nausea

pain in arms, back, hips, legs, ribs, or shoulders

pitting, scarring, or depression of skin at place of injection

reddish purple lines on arms, face, groin, legs, or trunk

redness of eyes

sensitivity of eyes to light

stunting of growth (in children)

swelling of feet or lower legs

tearing of eyes

thin, shiny skin

trouble in sleeping

unusual bruising

unusual increase in hair growth

unusual tiredness or weakness

vomiting

weight gain (rapid)

wounds that will not heal

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

Increased appetite

indigestion

loss of appetite (for triamcinolone only)

nervousness or restlessness

Less common or rare

Darkening or lightening of skin color

dizziness or lightheadedness

flushing of face or cheeks

hiccups

increased joint pain (after injection into a joint)

increased sweating

nosebleeds (after injection into the nose)

sensation of spinning

After you stop using this medicine, your body may need time to adjust. The length of time this takes depends on the amount of medicine you were using and how long you used it. If you have taken large doses of this medicine for a long time, your body may need one year to adjust. During this time, check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Abdominal, stomach, or back pain

dizziness

fainting

fever

loss of appetite (continuing)

muscle or joint pain

nausea

reappearance of disease symptoms

shortness of breath

unexplained headaches (frequent or continuing)

unusual tiredness or weakness

vomiting

weight loss (rapid)

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

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Pros and cons of Cortisone

Pros

  • Available as a lower-cost, generic medication
  • Works well to treat many different conditions involving the immune system
  • Less potent compared to other steroids, which might lead to fewer side effects

Cons

  • Long-term use might weaken your bones and cause high blood sugar
  • Can slow down growth in children
  • Stopping suddenly can lead to withdrawal symptoms if you've been taking it for a long time
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Pharmacist tips for Cortisone

pharmacist
  • It's very important that you take cortisone according to your provider's treatment plan, even if you start feeling better. Missing doses or stopping cortisone suddenly can cause withdrawal symptoms, such as fatigue, body aches, and weakness.
  • Cortisone can cause stomach irritation. Taking cortisone with food can help relieve stomach upset.
  • Avoid getting live vaccines, such as MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine) and FluMist (nasal flu vaccine), while you're taking cortisone. This is because cortisone dampens your immune system and live vaccines might not be as safe or won't work as well. Talk with your provider or pharmacist before you get a vaccine. They can let you know which ones are safe and help schedule them while you’re taking cortisone.
  • Cortisone can raise your blood sugars and blood pressure. If you've high blood pressure or diabetes, it's important that you check your blood pressure and blood sugar while taking this medication.
  • Taking cortisone can raise your risk of an infection. Tell your provider right away if you've signs of an infection, such as fever, chills, congestion, cough, or a wound that won't heal.
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Risks and warnings for Cortisone

Cortisone can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.

New or worsened infection

  • Risk factors: Taking other medications that weaken the immune system | Using cortisone for a long time | People who aren't vaccinated against viral illnesses | Coming into contact with people who have viral illnesses | History of bacterial or viral conditions | Receiving live vaccines

Using cortisone long term can raise your risk of getting an infection or hide signs of an infection. These infections include serious fungal, viral (e.g., chicken pox, measles), or bacterial (e.g, tuberculosis or TB) infections. Avoid close contact with anyone who had a history of these serious infections during treatment with cortisone. If you have had TB or parasitic (worm) infections in the past, let your provider know so they can closely monitor you for symptoms and make sure these infections don't come back. In addition, talk to your provider first before getting any vaccination. Live vaccines might not be safe for you since they can sometimes raise your risk of an infection during treatment with high doses of cortisone.

Mood and behavior changes

  • Risk factor: History of mental health conditions

Cortisone can cause changes in your mood or behavior. Tell your provider right away if you feel depressed, have mood swings, trouble sleeping, anxiety, or hallucinations (hearing or seeing things that aren't there) while taking this medication.

Reduced adrenal gland health

  • Risk factors: Using cortisone for a long period of time | Stress such as trauma, injury, or infection

In some rare cases, using cortisone for a long time can cause a medical condition called adrenal suppression. This is when your adrenal glands stop making your own natural hormones as your body gets used to cortisone. If you suddenly stop taking cortisone, you can experience symptoms of withdrawal including fever, joint or muscle pain, and low energy. To prevent adrenal suppression from happening, your provider will prescribe the lowest possible dose of cortisone that works well for you for the shortest amount of time. If you need to use cortisone for a long period of time, your provider might order blood work to test how well your adrenal gland works. Let your provider know if you have symptoms of withdrawal. Don't suddenly stop using cortisone without talking to your provider first.

Changes in heart and kidney function

  • Risk factors: Recent heart attack | History of heart failure, high blood pressure, or kidney problems

Cortisone can cause changes in your fluids and electrolytes (e.g., sodium, potassium, and calcium). This can result in high blood pressure, swelling, and kidney problems. In addition, some studies suggest that cortisone can damage the heart if used after a recent heart attack. If you have a history of heart failure, heart attack, high blood pressure, or kidney problems, let your provider know before using this medication.

Stomach problems

  • Risk factors: History of stomach bleeding or ulcers | History of ulcerative colitis | Taking other medications that can also cause stomach problems | Alcohol use

Taking cortisone raises the risk of stomach damage, leading to certain problems, like stomach irritation, and more seriously, ulcers and bleeding. Your risk is higher if you have a history of stomach problems or if you're taking other medications that can damage your stomach, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). You should avoid drinking alcohol while taking this medication because it can worsen stomach irritation. Get medical attention right away if you have stomach pain that doesn't go away or you get bloody or dark stools. These can be signs of a serious stomach problem.

Eye problems with long-term use

  • Risk factors: Cataracts | Glaucoma | History of herpes eye infection

Using cortisone for a long period of time can lead to greater risk of cataracts, glaucoma, and certain eye infections. Tell your provider if you currently have an eye infection or have had a viral eye infection (herpes keratitis) in the past. If you experience blurry vision, eye pain, or any vision changes during treatment with this medication, let your provider know right away. You might need to get regular eye exams during long-term treatment with cortisone.

Bone problems with long-term use

  • Risk factors: Taking cortisone at high doses or for a long period of time | Risks for osteoporosis (e.g., female, history of falls, smoking) | Infants and young children

Long-term use of cortisone can lower calcium absorption and weaken your bone. Over time, this will cause or worsen osteoporosis in adults or slow down growth in children. If you've had bone fractures before or have osteoporosis (weak bones), talk to your provider about your risk before using this medication.

High blood sugar

  • Risk factors: Taking cortisone for a long period of time

Using cortisone for a long period of time can sometimes raise your blood sugar levels. If blood sugar is not controlled, this can lead to diabetes. Let your provider know if you have symptoms like confusion, feeling sleepy, unusual thirst or hunger, passing urine more often, flushing, fast breathing, or breath that smells like fruit. If you have diabetes, your provider may ask you to check your blood sugar regularly to make sure this medication is safe for you.

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Cortisone dosage

The average cost for 30 tablets of 25mg of Cortisone is $39.45 with a free GoodRx coupon. This is 92.60% off the average retail price of $532.99.
tabletTablet
DosageQuantityPrice as low asPrice per unit
25mg30 tablets$39.45$1.32

Typical dosage for Cortisone

In general, the dose of cortisone depends on the condition that you're taking the medication for and how serious it is. Your provider will raise or lower your dose based on how you respond to this medication and if you have any side effects.

The typical starting dose of cortisone can range from 25 mg to 300 mg by mouth per day.

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Interactions between Cortisone and other drugs

Cortisone may interact with certain medications or supplements. Always let your doctor and pharmacist know about any other medications or supplements (including prescribed and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and dietary or herbal supplements) that you are currently taking. The list below does not include all possible drug interactions with Cortisone. Please note that only the generic name of each medication is listed below.

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking any of these medicines, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using medicines in this class with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with a medication in this class or change some of the other medicines you take.

Using medicines in this class with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

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How much does Cortisone cost?

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Cortisone (generic)
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Cortisone contraindications

Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Cortisone will not be safe for you to take.

  • Currently have a fungal infection
  • Receiving live vaccines - High dose of cortisone
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What are alternatives to Cortisone?

There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Cortisone. Compare a few possible alternatives below.
Cortisone
Used for:

Cortisone is used for many different medical conditions, including:

$39.45Lowest GoodRx priceView prices
Used for:

This medication is used for many different conditions. Generally, it's used for autoimmune problems, conditions related to swelling, or cancer. Some examples include:

$7.85Lowest GoodRx priceView prices
Used for:
$22.76Lowest GoodRx priceView prices
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News about Cortisone

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Cortisone images

White Round 113 And C E - Cortisone Acetate 25mg Tablet
This medicine is White, Round, Scored Tablet Imprinted With "113" And "C E".White Round 113 And C E - Cortisone Acetate 25mg Tablet

References

Best studies we found

American Academy of Ophthalmology. (2023). What is herpes keratitis? 

Briot, K., et al. (2015). Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis. RMD Open. 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2011). Tuberculosis general information fact sheet. 

GoodRx Health has strict sourcing policies and relies on primary sources such as medical organizations, governmental agencies, academic institutions, and peer-reviewed scientific journals. Learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate, thorough, and unbiased by reading our editorial guidelines.