What is Hydrocortisone Enema?

Rectal corticosteroids are used to treat mild or moderate ulcerative colitis. They also may be used along with systemic (oral or injection) corticosteroids or other medicines to treat severe disease or mild to moderate disease that has spread too far to be treated effectively by medicine inserted into the rectum alone. Rectal corticosteroids also are used to help relieve swelling, itching, and discomfort of some other rectal problems, including hemorrhoids and inflammation of the rectum caused by radiation therapy.

Rectal corticosteroids are available only with your doctor's prescription.

It is important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits.

For patients using the enema form of this medicine:

• This medicine usually comes with patient directions. Read and follow them carefully before using this medicine.

For patients using the foam form of this medicine:

• This medicine is used with a special applicator. Do not insert any part of the aerosol container into the rectum.

For patients using the suppository form of this medicine:

• If the suppository is too soft to insert, chill it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or run cold water over it before removing the wrapper.
• To insert the suppository: First remove the wrapper and moisten the suppository with cold water. Lie down on your side and use your finger to push the suppository well up into the rectum.

Do not use rectal corticosteroids in larger amounts, more often, or for a longer time than your doctor ordered. To do so may increase the chance of absorption through the lining of the rectum and the chance of side effects.

The dose medicines in this class will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of these medicines. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

For betamethasone

• For enema dosage form:
  • For ulcerative colitis:
    • Adults—The usual dose is 5 milligrams (mg) (1 unit), used as directed, every night for two to four weeks.
    • Children—Dose must be determined by your doctor.

For budesonide

• For enema dosage form:
  • For ulcerative colitis:
    • Adults—The usual dose is 2 milligrams (mg) (1 unit), used as directed, every night for four to eight weeks.
    • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

For hydrocortisone

• For enema dosage form:
  • For ulcerative colitis:
    • Adults—The usual dose is 100 milligrams (mg) (1 unit), used as directed, every night for two or three weeks or until condition improves as determined by your doctor.
    • Children—Dose must be determined by your doctor.

For hydrocortisone acetate

• For foam dosage form:
  • For ulcerative colitis:
    • Adults—At first, 1 applicatorful, used as directed, one or two times a day for two or three weeks. Then, the dose may be decreased to 1 applicatorful every other day.
    • Children—Dose must be determined by your doctor.
• For suppository dosage form:
  • For ulcerative colitis:
    • Adults—The usual dose is 25 or 30 milligrams (mg) two times a day, in the morning and at night, for two weeks. In more severe cases, the dose may be 25 or 30 mg three times a day or 50 or 60 mg two times a day.
    • Children—Dose must be determined by your doctor.
  • For inflammation of the rectum caused by radiation therapy:
    • Adults—The usual dose is 25 or 30 mg two times a day, in the morning and at night, for six to eight weeks.
    • Children—Dose must be determined by your doctor.
  • For other rectal problems:
    • Adults—The usual dose is 20 to 30 mg a day for three days, or 40 to 80 mg a day as needed.
    • Children—Dose must be determined by your doctor.

For tixocortol

• For enema dosage form:
  • For ulcerative colitis:
    • Adults—The usual dose is 250 milligrams (mg) (1 unit), used as directed, at bedtime for twenty-one days in a row.
    • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Do not puncture, break, or burn the rectal foam aerosol container, even when it is empty.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to medicines in this group or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Children and teenagers who must use this medicine should be checked often by their doctor. Rectal corticosteroids may be absorbed through the lining of the rectum and, rarely, may affect growth, especially if used in large amounts or for a long time. Before using this medicine in children, you should discuss its use with the child's doctor.

Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults. Although there is no specific information comparing use of rectal corticosteroids in the elderly with use in other age groups, these medicines are not expected to cause different side effects or problems in older people than they do in younger adults.

Betamethasone may change the number and ability of movement of sperm in men. Budesonide crosses the placenta. It is not known whether other rectal corticosteroids cross the placenta. Studies in animals have shown that budesonide, hydrocortisone, and hydrocortisone acetate cause birth defects. Rectal corticosteroids should not be used in large amounts or for a long time by women who are pregnant or who are planning to become pregnant.

It is not known whether rectal corticosteroids pass into breast milk. However, systemic (oral and injection) corticosteroids pass into breast milk and may cause problems with growth in nursing babies. It may be necessary for you to take a different medicine or to stop breast-feeding during treatment. Be sure you have discussed with your doctor the risks and benefits of using the medicine.

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. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of medicines in this class. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Acute psychosis—This condition may be made worse.

• Chickenpox (including recent exposure) or
• Measles (including recent exposure)—Risk of severe disease affecting other parts of the body.

• Type 2 diabetes mellitus—Corticosteroids may cause a loss of control of diabetes by increasing blood glucose (sugar).

• Glaucoma—Corticosteroids may cause the pressure within the eye to increase.

• Heart disease or
• Hypertension (high blood pressure) or
• Kidney disease or
• Myasthenia gravis or
• Overactive thyroid or
• Swelling of blood vessels—Corticosteroids should be used with caution.

• Herpes simplex of the eye—Corticosteroids may cause additional problems in the eye.

• Ileocolostomy, postsurgical or
• Infection or
• Tuberculosis (active TB, nonactive TB, or past history of)—Corticosteroids may cause slower healing, worsen existing infections, or cause new infections.

• Liver disease or
• Underactive thyroid—With these conditions, the body may not eliminate the corticosteroid at the usual rate; therefore, the medicine's effect may be increased.

• Osteoporosis—Corticosteroids may worsen osteoporosis because they cause the body to lose more calcium.

• Other stomach or intestine problems or
• Severe ulcerative colitis—Corticosteroids may cover up symptoms of a worsening stomach or intestinal condition; a patient would not know if his or her condition was getting worse and would not get medical help when needed.

• Stomach ulcer—Corticosteroids may worsen this condition by causing an increase in the amount of acid in the stomach.

Do not stop using this medicine without first checking with your doctor. Your doctor may want you to reduce gradually the amount you are using before you completely stop using it.

Check with your doctor if your condition does not improve within 2 or 3 weeks or if it becomes worse.

Check with your doctor if you notice rectal bleeding, pain, burning, itching, blistering, or any other sign of irritation that you did not have before you started using this medicine.

Use of suppositories may cause staining of clothing or fabric.

Tell the doctor in charge that you are using this medicine:

• Before having skin tests
• Before having any kind of surgery (including dental surgery) or emergency treatment
• If you get a serious infection or injury

Avoid close contact with anyone who has chickenpox or measles. This is especially important for children. Tell your doctor right away if you think you have been exposed to chickenpox or measles.

While you are being treated with this medicine, and after you stop taking it, do not have any immunizations without your doctor's approval.

For patients with diabetes:

• This medicine may affect blood glucose (sugar) levels. If you notice a change in the results of your blood or urine sugar tests or if you have any questions, check with your doctor.