Hydrocortisone, Ophthalmic
“This page provides important general information for pet owners whose animals have been prescribed Hydrocortisone, Ophthalmic in Perth during a consultation by Dr Noor.”
Hydrocortisone, Ophthalmic for pets
(hye-dro-kort-uh-sown)
Description:
This medicine is a steroid medicine used to reduce swelling and redness.
Other Names for this Medication:
- Cortisporin®
- Ocu-Cort®
- Polysporin®
Common Dosage Forms:
- For animals:
- There are no veterinary-made versions.
- For people:
- It is available as a 1% eye liquid (suspension) or an eye ointment.
- These human products are often combined with antibiotics (most often neomycin, bacitracin, and polymyxin).
- They commonly come in 5 mL and 10 mL dropper bottles, or in 3.5 g tubes.
This handout does not include every possible detail about this medicine. It is meant to answer common questions, but it does not replace advice from a medical professional. If you need more details or have questions about this medicine, contact your veterinarian or your pharmacist.
Key Information
- This medicine is used to reduce eye inflammation (such as redness and puffiness). It is most often used only for a short period.
- Use correct application steps so the medicine does not get contaminated. Keep the cap closed tightly whenever you are not using it.
- If your animal needs other eye medicines too, wait 5 minutes after using this one before putting any other eye medicine in the eye.
- Keep it at room temperature. Protect it from moisture and direct light. Do not freeze it.
- Do not use it if your animal has a sore/open area on the surface of the eye (an eye ulcer), or if the eye problem is caused by a fungus or a virus.
- Do not use this medicine in birds.
How is this medication useful?
Hydrocortisone is used to calm swelling and redness in the eye when the cause is allergies, a bacterial infection, or irritation from something that got into the eye. It is also used for swelling and redness inside the eye (inflammation of the inner eye, also called uveitis). It may be used by itself, or it may be used together with antibiotic medicines when needed.
This medicine has approved uses for people and for animals (but not for birds). However, only human versions are made. You and your veterinarian can talk about why this medicine is the best option.
What should I tell my veterinarian to see if this medication can be safely given?
Many different factors can change how well this medicine works for your animal. Talk with your veterinarian about the points below so you can make treatment choices together.
- Other medicines may affect this one. Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist about everything your animal receives, including other eye medicines, vitamins, supplements, and herbal products. Also share how much you give and when you give each one.
- Tell your veterinarian about any health problems your animal has now, or has had before.
- If your animal has had the same problem in the past, explain what was used before and whether it helped or did not help.
- If your animal is pregnant or nursing, discuss possible risks of using this medicine.
- Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist about any past medicine problems your animal has had, including side effects such as allergic reactions, not wanting to eat, diarrhea, itching, or hair loss.
How long until I will know if this medication is working, and how long will the effects of this medication last?
You should expect your animal to start feeling better within 1 to 2 hours. After that, the signs you can see should begin to improve. The effect lasts a moderate amount of time, meaning it can continue for a few days.
When should this medication not be used or be used very carefully?
No medicine is completely safe for every patient. Your veterinarian will talk with you about any concerns that apply to your animal.
This drug should be used WITH CAUTION in patients:
- If your animal fits any of the situations listed below, speak with your veterinarian about weighing the risks against the benefits.
- Animals that have an allergy to this medicine or to similar medicines.
- Birds, because they react very strongly to steroid medicines.
- Cats or horses when a virus (for example, herpes) or a fungus may be causing the eye infection.
- Animals with an eye ulcer.
- Animals with diabetes.
- Animals with glaucoma.
- Animals that are pregnant or nursing.
What are the side effects of this medication?
Side effects that usually are not serious include:
If any of the following are strong, get worse, or do not go away, contact your veterinarian.
- Mild eye burning, stinging, irritation, or increased redness.
- Drooping of the eyelid.
Side effects that may be serious or indicate a serious problem:
If you notice any of the following, contact your veterinarian right away.
- Trouble breathing or swelling in the throat, which may be signs of a severe allergic reaction.
- Signs that suggest an eye infection (for example, squinting or more redness).
- Eye injuries that do not heal.
- In animals with diabetes, changes in blood sugar or urine sugar.
If my animal gets too much of this medication (an overdose), what should I do?
Because this medicine is used in the eye, giving too much is not likely. However, problems could happen if your animal eats the medicine.
If this occurs, contact your veterinarian or an animal poison control center immediately for instructions.
How should this medication be given?
- For the medicine to work as intended, give it exactly the way your veterinarian directed. Always read the prescription label so you confirm you are giving it correctly.
- Some versions must be shaken well before use. Follow the directions given by your veterinarian or pharmacist.
- Clean your hands before you apply the medicine.
- To avoid contaminating the medicine, do not let the dropper tip touch your animal’s eye and do not let it touch anything else.
- If medicine remains on the fur or skin around the eye, gently clean it away using a damp tissue or cloth.
- If you must give more than one eye medicine, leave a 5-minute gap between each one. Put eye drops in before eye ointments so the drops can soak into the eye.
- If your horse is receiving this medicine as an eye liquid, your veterinarian may have placed a special eye tube (a subpalpebral lavage, or SPL, catheter). Use that tube only as your veterinarian instructed. After you put the medicine into the tube, use only air to flush the medicine through to the eye.
- If you are struggling to apply the medicine, or if your animal resists treatment, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist for advice on how to give it and how to reduce stress during dosing.
- This medicine may be used for different lengths of time. Make sure you understand how long your veterinarian wants you to keep giving it. You may need prescription refills before treatment is finished. Do not stop the medicine without speaking to your veterinarian, because there may be important reasons to continue.
What should I do if I miss giving a dose of this medication?
If you forget a dose, give it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one and give the next dose at the normal time. Then continue with the usual schedule. Do not give two doses at once and do not give extra doses.
How should I store this medication?
- Keep this medicine in the original prescription container. Store it at room temperature and keep it away from light.
- If your veterinarian or pharmacist prepared a custom-made version (a compounded product) for your animal, follow the storage directions and the expiration date provided for that product.
- Store it where children and animals cannot reach it.
Can handling this medication be hazardous to me, my family, or other animals?
No special handling steps are required unless you are allergic to this medicine or to similar medicines (for example, dexamethasone). Even so, it is a good habit to wash your hands after you handle any medicine.
How should I dispose of this medication if I don’t use it all?
- Do not pour this medicine into a toilet or down a sink.
- If your area has a community medicine “take-back” option, use that.
- If there is no take-back program, combine the medicine with something undesirable like used coffee grounds or cat litter. This helps keep it less appealing to children and animals and harder to recognize for anyone searching through trash. Put the mixture into a sealable plastic bag so it will not leak, and place it in the household trash.
- Do not keep leftover medicine to use later, and do not give it to anyone else.
What other information is important for this medication?
- Some animal competitions may not allow the use of this medicine. Check the rules before entering your animal in a competition while your animal is receiving it.
- If you have more questions about this medicine, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist.
“Disclaimer: The information on this page is provided as general educational material only. Every animal’s health situation is unique, and treatment decisions must be based on a full veterinary assessment. Always follow the specific instructions given during your consultation, and contact the prescribing veterinarian if you have any concerns.”
Related Medication Information
- Prednisolone, Ophthalmic
- Diclofenac, Ophthalmic
- Gentamicin/Betamethasone, Ophthalmic
- Neomycin/Polymyxin/Dexamethasone, Ophthalmic
- Triple Antibiotic/Hydrocortisone, Ophthalmic