Cortone is a prescription drug used to treat many different inflammatory disorders, including rheumatoid arthritis, dermatitis, and allergies. It is classified as a glucocorticoid, a group of drugs that work by inhibiting the immune system's natural inflammatory response. Patients are typically instructed to take daily doses of the oral medication to provide ongoing relief for swelling, pain, and irritation. When used exactly as recommended by a doctor, most people experience significant improvements in their symptoms within a few days of beginning treatment.
Glucocorticoids like Cortone are synthetic steroids. Chemically, they are identical to hormones that are naturally produced in the body to regulate immune system activity. When a person takes Cortone, the medication is absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract and transferred to the bloodstream. It binds to glucocorticoid receptors in the body to stop the immune system's production of histamines and other chemicals that trigger inflammation.
Cortone is effective in treating a number of autoimmune diseases, including lupus, arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome, and carditis. It is also used to combat severe inflammatory skin disorders such as dermatitis, psoriasis, and allergy-related hives. In addition, people with serious bacterial or viral infections that cause recurring problems may be able to benefit from regular Cortone doses. Some patients who suffer from adrenocortical insufficiency, an inability to produce enough natural glucocorticoids, take Cortone as a supplement.
There are no set dosage recommendations for all patients. Instead, doctors thoroughly review their patients' current medication usage and specific health conditions to determine prescriptions. An individual may be instructed to take 10 to 25 milligram doses one to four times a day, or more frequently in some cases. Since Cortone is primarily used for chronic conditions, it is likely that a patient will need to keep taking the drug for several months or years to manage long-term symptoms.
As with other steroid medications, the risk of side effects when taking Cortone is fairly significant. Most side effects are mild and do not require medication adjustments or hospital visits. Common problems include headaches, dizziness, and stomach cramps. Patients occasionally have trouble sleeping, slight vision changes, and weight gain, and some women experience irregular or delayed menstruation. Rarely, the medication can cause serious side effects that do need to be addressed at a hospital, including a fast heartbeat, seizures, severe muscle or joint pain, and swelling of the extremities.
Patients who follow their doctors' instructions and attend regular medical checkups usually tolerate the drug well. If side effects do occur or the medication does not relieve symptoms, a physician should be consulted to discuss other options. He or she can consider adjusting doses or switching to a different anti-inflammatory agent.