Fludrocortisone Oral Tablet

• Salt retention warning: Fludrocortisone can make you retain lots of salt (sodium) in your body. High amounts of salt in your body can lead to:
• high blood pressure
• water retention (swelling)
• weight gain
• low potassium levels, which may cause muscle aches or weakness, and abnormal heartbeat
• Infection warning: Fludrocortisone can weaken your immune system. This may make it easier for you to get an infection and harder for your body to fight off an infection. Tell your doctor about recent infections you’ve had or if you develop any symptoms of an infection. Symptoms may include fever, chills, and body aches. While taking this drug, avoid being near people who are sick or have recently been sick, especially with the chicken pox or measles. If you’re exposed to chickenpox or measles while taking this drug, be sure to tell your doctor.
• Vaccine warning: Don’t receive any vaccines while you’re taking fludrocortisone. Doing so could cause brain, spinal cord, and nerve problems. Also, your body may not be able to respond to the vaccine properly. This could make the vaccine unable to protect you from disease.

Fludrocortisone is a prescription drug. It comes as an oral tablet.

Fludrocortisone is only available in a generic version. Generic drugs usually cost less than brand-name drugs.

This drug may be used as part of a combination therapy. That means you may need to take it with other drugs.

Why it's used

This medication is used to treat Addison’s disease and salt-losing adrenogenital syndrome (also known as congenital adrenal hyperplasia).

How it works

Fludrocortisone is a steroid drug. It belongs to a class of drugs called corticosteroids. If your body isn’t producing enough of a certain steroid hormone, this drug will help to replace the shortage. This may help your body to perform necessary functions, such as retaining enough salt to function well.

Fludrocortisone oral tablet can interact with other medications, vitamins, or herbs you may be taking. An interaction is when a substance changes the way a drug works. This can be harmful or prevent the drug from working well.

To help avoid interactions, your doctor should manage all of your medications carefully. Be sure to tell your doctor about all medications, vitamins, or herbs you’re taking. To find out how this drug might interact with something else you’re taking, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Examples of drugs that can cause interactions with fludrocortisone are listed below.

Fungal infection drug

Combining amphotericin B with fludrocortisone can increase your body’s loss of potassium. Symptoms may include muscle pain and weakness, or an abnormal heartbeat.

Diuretic (water pill)

Combining furosemide with fludrocortisone can increase your body’s loss of potassium. Symptoms may include muscle pain and weakness, or an abnormal heartbeat.

Heart drug

Combining digoxin with fludrocortisone can increase your risk of irregular heartbeat. Fludrocortisone may also increase your risk of digoxin side effects by lowering your potassium levels.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

Combining an NSAID with fludrocortisone may cause the NSAID not to work as well. It may also increase your risk of stomach and intestinal side effects. Examples of NSAIDs include:

• aspirin
• ibuprofen
• naproxen
• celecoxib

Anticoagulant, blood thinner

Combining warfarin with fludrocortisone may increase or decrease the blood-thinning effects of warfarin. Your dosage of warfarin may need to be adjusted by your doctor.

Diabetes drugs

If you take these certain diabetes drugs with fludrocortisone, they may not work as well. Your dosage may need to be increased by your doctor. These diabetes drugs include oral drugs and insulin. Examples are:

• metformin
• glipizide
• glimepiride
• pioglitazone
• linagliptin
• sitagliptin
• saxagliptin

Barbiturate, sedative

Taking phenobarbital with fludrocortisone may decrease levels of fludrocortisone in your blood, causing it not to work as well. Your doctor may need to increase your fludrocortisone dosage.

Antibiotic

Taking rifampin with fludrocortisone may decrease levels of fludrocortisone in your blood, causing it not to work as well. Your doctor may need to increase your fludrocortisone dosage.

Seizure drug

Taking phenytoin with fludrocortisone may decrease levels of fludrocortisone in your blood, causing it not to work as well. Your doctor may need to increase your fludrocortisone dosage.

Male hormones (anabolic steroids)

Taking these hormones with fludrocortisone can increase your risk of swelling. Use caution in taking these drugs together, especially if you have heart or liver disease.

Female hormones (estrogens)

Taking these hormones with fludrocortisone can increase the amount of fludrocortisone in your blood. Your doctor may need to decrease your fludrocortisone dosage.

Vaccines

Don’t receive any vaccines while taking fludrocortisone. Having a vaccine could lead to brain, spinal cord, and nerve problems. Also, your body won’t be able to respond to the vaccine properly. This makes the vaccine unable to protect you from the disease it’s designed to prevent.

Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. However, because drugs interact differently in each person, we can not guarantee that this information includes all possible interactions. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always speak with your healthcare provider about possible interactions with all prescription drugs, vitamins, herbs and supplements, and over-the-counter drugs that you are taking.

All possible dosages and forms may not be included here. Your dose, form, and how often you take it will depend on:

• your age
• the condition being treated
• how severe your condition is
• other medical conditions you have
• how you react to the first dose

Drug forms and strengths

Generic: Fludrocortisone

• Form: oral tablet
• Strength: 0.1 mg

Dosage for Addison’s disease

Adult dosage (ages 18 years and older)

• The usual dosage is 0.1 mg per day.
• Fludrocortisone is recommended in combination with cortisone (10–37.5 mg per day in divided doses) or hydrocortisone (10–30 mg per day in divided doses).

Child dosage (ages 0-17 years)

Dosage for people younger than 18 years hasn’t been established.

Dosage for salt-losing adrenogenital syndrome

Adult dosage (ages 18 years and older)

The usual dosage is 0.1–0.2 mg per day.

Child dosage (ages 0-17 years)

Dosage for people younger than 18 years hasn’t been established.

Special dosage warnings

• Fludrocortisone should be used at the lowest effective dose.
• You may need additional doses in times of stress (such as trauma, surgery, or severe illness) to avoid further adrenal insufficiency caused by this drug.

Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. However, because drugs affect each person differently, we can not guarantee that this list includes all possible dosages. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always to speak with your doctor or pharmacist about dosages that are right for you.

There are other drugs available to treat your condition. Some may be more suitable for you than others. Talk to your doctor about possible alternatives.

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up-to-date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or other healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained here in is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.