Pronunciation: LYE-doe-kane /hye-droe-KOR-ti-sone
Generic Name: Lidocaine/HydrocortisoneBrand Name: Examples include AnaMantle HC and RectaGel HC
RectaGel HC Cream is used for:
Treating pain, itching, soreness, and discomfort due to hemorrhoids.
RectaGel HC Cream is an anti-inflammatory and topical anesthetic combination. It works by preventing nerves from transmitting painful impulses to the brain and decreasing inflammation around the affected area.
Do NOT use RectaGel HC Cream if:
- you are allergic to any ingredient in RectaGel HC Cream or to similar medications (eg, amide-type local anesthetics)
- you have a tuberculous or fungal infection of the skin, a herpes simplex skin infection, or a skin infection following smallpox vaccination
Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.
Before using RectaGel HC Cream:
Some medical conditions may interact with RectaGel HC Cream. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:
- if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
- if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
- if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
- you have had a severe allergic reaction (eg, severe rash, hives, difficulty breathing, dizziness) to any anesthetic medicine
- you have measles, chickenpox, a skin infection or other skin problems, or any recent vaccinations, or if you have ever had a positive tuberculin skin test
- you have heart, liver, or kidney problems
Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with RectaGel HC Cream. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:
- Barbiturates (eg, phenobarbital), carbamazepine, or fluconazole because they may increase RectaGel HC Cream's effectiveness
- Amiodarone, aprepitant, beta-blockers (eg, atenolol), cimetidine, clarithromycin, estrogens (eg, ethinyl estradiol), mexiletine, oral contraceptives (eg, ethinyl estradiol/norethindrone), or rifampin because side effects, such as sluggishness, confusion, slow breathing, low blood pressure, and slow heartbeat, may occur
- Live vaccines or ritodrine because the actions and side effects of these medicines may be increased
- Hydantoins (eg, phenytoin) or mifepristone because their effectiveness may be decreased by RectaGel HC Cream
This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if RectaGel HC Cream may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.
How to use RectaGel HC Cream:
Use RectaGel HC Cream as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.
- Use RectaGel HC Cream according to the directions on the package label or as directed by your doctor.
- If you miss a dose of RectaGel HC Cream and you are using it regularly, use it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule.
Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use RectaGel HC Cream.
Important safety information:
- If you use topical products too often, your condition may become worse.
- RectaGel HC Cream has a corticosteroid in it. Before you start any new medicine, check the label to see if it has a corticosteroid in it too. If it does or if you are not sure, check with your doctor or pharmacist.
- Tell your doctor or dentist that you take RectaGel HC Cream before you receive any medical or dental care, emergency care, or surgery.
- RectaGel HC Cream may cause a numbing effect at the application site. Do not scratch, rub, or expose the area to extreme hot or cold temperature until the numbness is gone.
- Do NOT take more than the recommended dose, apply more often, or use for longer than prescribed without checking with your doctor.
- Caution is advised when using RectaGel HC Cream in CHILDREN; they may be more sensitive to its effects. Corticosteroids may affect growth rate in CHILDREN and teenagers in some cases. They may need regular growth checks while they use RectaGel HC Cream.
- PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: It is not known if RectaGel HC Cream can cause harm to the fetus. If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using RectaGel HC Cream while you are pregnant. It is not known if RectaGel HC Cream is found in breast milk after topical use. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you use RectaGel HC Cream, check with your doctor. Discuss any possible risks to your baby.
Possible side effects of RectaGel HC Cream:
All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:
Redness or swelling at the application site.
Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:
Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); persistent irritation or infection.
This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.
See also: RectaGel HC side effects (in more detail)
If OVERDOSE is suspected:
Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center, or emergency room immediately. RectaGel HC Cream may be harmful if swallowed.
Proper storage of RectaGel HC Cream:Store RectaGel HC Cream at room temperature, between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C). Store away from heat and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Protect from freezing. Keep RectaGel HC Cream out of the reach of children and away from pets.
General information:
- If you have any questions about RectaGel HC Cream, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
- RectaGel HC Cream is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
- If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.
- Check with your pharmacist about how to dispose of unused medicine.
This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about RectaGel HC Cream. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
Issue Date: February 1, 2012
Database Edition 12.1.1.002
Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.
More RectaGel HC resources
- RectaGel HC Side Effects (in more detail)
- RectaGel HC Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
- RectaGel HC Drug Interactions
- RectaGel HC Support Group
- 1 Review for RectaGel HC - Add your own review/rating
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