This NHS content is written for people in England. Medicine names, availability, prescribing and services may differ in other countries.
Hydrocortisone tablets are a type of medicine known as a steroid (corticosteroid). Corticosteroids are not the same as anabolic steroids.
Hydrocortisone tablets work as a hormone replacement for a natural hormone called cortisol.
You may take hydrocortisone tablets if your body does not make enough cortisol – for example if you have Addison's disease or if you've had your adrenal glands taken out.
They can also be prescribed for hypopituitarism, a rare condition affecting the pituitary gland.
Hydrocortisone tablets come as standard tablets, slow-release tablets and soluble tablets. These are only available on prescription.
View the original NHS website page ↗. Refreshed 19 August 2026.
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