What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Hydrocortisone and prednisone
Prednisone's FDA label of April 22, 2025 names hydrocortisone in its warnings section; hydrocortisone's label does not name prednisone itself but warns about its class (Corticosteroids). The prednisone label: “Average and large doses of hydrocortisone or cortisone can cause elevation of blood pressure, salt and water retention, and increased excretion of potassium.”
Check it at the source: the hydrocortisone FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 19, 2026); the prednisone FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 22, 2025, Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc.).
What does the hydrocortisone label say about prednisone?
Hydrocortisone's label does not name prednisone itself; it warns about its class (Corticosteroids):
Hydrocortisone label, contraindicationsCONTRAINDICATIONS ALKINDI SPRINKLE is contraindicated in patients with hypersensitivity to hydrocortisone or to any of the ingredients in ALKINDI SPRINKLE. Anaphylactic reactions have occurred in patients receiving corticosteroids [see Adverse Reactions ( 6.2 )].
Hydrocortisone label, contraindicationsIntramuscular corticosteroid preparations are contraindicated for idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.
Source: FDA drug label (hydrocortisone 1), Kroger Company, effective August 19, 2026 (SPL set f05edff2-2dc5-427c-b52c-518e0aaef4e0), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What does the prednisone label say about hydrocortisone?
Prednisone label, warningsAverage and large doses of hydrocortisone or cortisone can cause elevation of blood pressure, salt and water retention, and increased excretion of potassium.
Source: FDA drug label (PredniSONE), Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc., effective April 22, 2025 (SPL set 3115aef0-fd50-4ec8-a064-3effb695f3f2), 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
| Hydrocortisone | Prednisone | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Osteoarthritis, Asthma, Allergies, Herpes and shingles, Leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, Eczema (atopic dermatitis) | Osteoarthritis, Asthma, Allergies, Herpes and shingles, Leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, Multiple sclerosis, Eczema (atopic dermatitis), Anemia, Organ transplant rejection |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | $0.0613 per gram 1% cream | $0.0643 per tablet 20 mg tablet |
| Shortage now | A presentation being discontinued | No current entry |
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