Short to Medium Acting Glucocorticoids

Finally, the combined acetone extracts are extracted once again at least 6 litres using l/4th volmne of ethylene diehloride and the extract is carefully evaported to get rid of the solvent under vacuum to obtain hydrocortisone. 

Hydrocortisone represnts the principal natural glucocorticoid in human beings and thus, may be regarded as the prototype of all glucocorticoids. It essentially bears the following characteristic features, namely  

Dose As sodium succinate salt of hydrocortisone injection as 100 mg IM as hydrocortisone acetate intraarticular injection and as topical cream 1-2.5% for skin, ear, and eye (Wycort ). 

Cortisone exhibits good systemic anti-inflammatory activity and low-to-moderate salt-retention activity after its due in vivo conversion to hydrocortisone acetate. Importantly, this conversion is duly mediated by ll 3-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. It exerts a host of therapeutic usages viz., collagen diseases, Addison s disease, allergic reactions, acute shock, and several other indications. 

Cortisone has a plasma half-life ranging between 1.5 to 3.0 hours. 

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