Cortisone

Brand Names

Cortisone, Cortizone, Cortisone shots, Cortone Acetate

What is Cortisone

Cortisone is an injection relieving pain and inflammation in a specific area of your body. Cortisone shots are most commonly given in joints such as your ankle, elbow, hip, knee, shoulder, spine and wrist. Cortisone shots can relieve even the small joints in your hands and feet.

Cortisone shots commonly contain a corticosteroid medication and a local anesthetic. In most cases, people receive cortisone shots in their doctor's office. You have to know that large doses of cortisone shots can cause serious side effects.

Side effects of Cortisone

It is very important to inform your doctor if you have noticed such serious side effects as:

• allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue or throat
• problems with your vision
• swelling, rapid weight gain, feeling short of breath
• severe depression, unusual thoughts or behavior, seizure (convulsions)
• bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood
• pancreatitis (severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, nausea and vomiting, fast heart rate)
• low potassium (confusion, uneven heart rate, extreme thirst, increased urination, leg discomfort, muscle weakness or limp feeling)
• dangerously high blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, buzzing in your ears, anxiety, confusion, chest pain, shortness of breath, uneven heartbeats, seizure)

Less serious side effects of Cortisone include the followings:

• sleep problems (insomnia), mood changes
• acne, dry skin, thinning skin, bruising or discoloration
• slow wound healing
• increased sweating
• headache, dizziness, spinning sensation
• nausea, stomach pain, bloating
• changes in the shape or location of body fat (especially in your arms, legs, face, neck, breasts and waist)

Indication

Cortisone is a steroid that used to prevent the release of substances in the body causing inflammation.

Cortisone also treats such conditions as allergic disorders, skin conditions, ulcerative colitis, arthritis, lupus, psoriasis or breathing disorders.

Precautions

You should not use cortisone if you have any of these conditions:

• allergic reaction to it
• liver disease (such as cirrhosis)
• kidney disease
• a thyroid disorder
• diabetes
• a history of malaria
• tuberculosis
• osteoporosis
• a muscle disorder such as myasthenia gravis
• glaucoma or cataracts
• herpes infection of the eyes
• stomach ulcers, ulcerative colitis or diverticulitis
• depression or mental illness
• congestive heart failure
• high blood pressure

Dosage forms

There is only one adult dose of Cortisone is 25-300 mg per day, oral or IM, in 1-2 divided doses.