What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Cortisone and somatropin
Somatropin's FDA label of August 20, 2026 names cortisone in its drug interactions section; the cortisone label PlainMeds reads does not name somatropin. The somatropin label: “Microsomal enzyme 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11βHSD-1) is required for conversion of cortisone to its active metabolite, cortisol, in hepatic and adipose tissue. ZOMACTON inhibits 11βHSD-1. …”
Check it at the source: the cortisone FDA label on DailyMed (effective June 6, 2025, Chartwell RX, LLC); the somatropin FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 20, 2026, Eli Lilly and Company).
What does the cortisone label say about somatropin?
Cortisone's label (effective June 6, 2025) does not name somatropin in these sections. A label lists what its studies and reports found; it is not a complete list.
Source: FDA drug label (Cortisone Acetate), Chartwell RX, LLC, effective June 6, 2025 (SPL set cc158d11-f356-4696-8b73-5d2681dcbcf2), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What does the somatropin label say about cortisone?
Somatropin label, drug interactionsReplacement Glucocorticoid Treatment Clinical Impact: Microsomal enzyme 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11βHSD-1) is required for conversion of cortisone to its active metabolite, cortisol, in hepatic and adipose tissue. HUMATROPE inhibits 11βHSD-1. Consequently, individuals with untreated GH deficiency have relative increases in 11βHSD-1 and serum cortisol. … Intervention: Patients treated with glucocorticoid replacement for hypoadrenalism may require an increase in their maintenance or stress doses following initiation of HUMATROPE [see Warnings and Precautions ()]. …
Omnitrope label (Sandoz Inc, July 10, 2025), drug interactionsInsulin and/or Oral Hypoglycemic Agents: May require adjustment ( 7.5 ) 7.1 11β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 1 (11βHSD-1) The microsomal enzyme 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11βHSD-1) is required for conversion of cortisone to its active metabolite, cortisol, in hepatic and adipose tissue. GH and somatropin inhibit 11βHSD-1.
Source: FDA drug label (Omnitrope, BLA021426), Sandoz Inc, effective July 10, 2025 (SPL set 58d84ffa-4056-4e36-ad67-7bd4aef444a5), via openFDA
Source: FDA drug label (Zomacton, BLA019774), Ferring Pharmaceuticals Inc., effective April 20, 2026 (SPL set 85ba081b-bee0-4a9a-aa0f-ae5b5e9a0886), via openFDA
Source: FDA drug label (Norditropin, BLA021148), Novo Nordisk, effective July 7, 2025 (SPL set 1058e17c-9261-459c-a3e6-fae38d196c14), via openFDA
Source: FDA drug label (HUMATROPE), Eli Lilly and Company, effective August 20, 2026 (SPL set a774e1ae-3997-49ee-8b0e-99a2b315d409), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
These are the labels' own sentences. PlainMeds does not grade interactions; a pharmacist or prescriber can say what they mean for one person's medicines.
Both medicines on the record
| Cortisone | Somatropin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Osteoarthritis, Asthma, Allergies, Herpes and shingles, Leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis | n/a |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | n/a | $752.22 per cartridge 5 mg cartridge |
| Shortage now | No current entry | A presentation being discontinued |
Source: FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026 and the FDA Drug Shortage Database (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Check more medicines together
- up to five at once