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Fludrocortisone

  • Generic Name: fludrocortisone
  • Brand Name: Fludrocortisone Tablets

Fludrocortisone Tablets (Fludrocortisone) side effects drug center

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  • Fludrocortisone Side Effects Center

    What Is Fludrocortisone?

    Fludrocortisone acetate tablets are an adrenocortical steroid indicated as partial replacement therapy for primary and secondary adrenocortical insufficiency in Addison's disease and for the treatment of salt-losing adrenogenital syndrome. Fludrocortisone is available in generic form.

    What Are Side Effects of Fludrocortisone?

    Common side effects of fludrocortisone include:

    Dosage for Fludrocortisone

    Dosage of fludrocortisone depends on the severity of the disease and the response of the patient. The usual dose is 0.1 mg of fludrocortisone acetate daily.

    What Drugs, Substances, or Supplements Interact with Fludrocortisone?

    Fludrocortisone may interact with amphotericin B, potassium-depleting diuretics, digitalis glycosides, oral anticoagulants, antidiabetic drugs (oral agents and insulin), aspirin, barbiturates, phenytoin, rifampin, anabolic steroids, vaccines, and estrogen. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.

    Fludrocortisone During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

    Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant before using fludrocortisone; it is unknown if it will harm a fetus. Corticosteroids such as fludrocortisone pass into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

    Additional Information

    Our Fludrocortisone Acetate Tablets Side Effects Drug Center provides a comprehensive view of available drug information on the potential side effects when taking this medication.

    Fludrocortisone Consumer Information

    Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

    Call your doctor at once if you have:

    • swelling of feet or lower legs, rapid weight gain;
    • muscle weakness, loss of muscle mass;
    • blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain, or seeing halos around lights;
    • bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood;
    • unusual changes in mood or behavior;
    • a seizure;
    • increased pressure inside the skull--severe headaches, ringing in your ears, dizziness, nausea, vision problems, pain behind your eyes;
    • low potassium level--leg cramps, constipation, irregular heartbeats, fluttering in your chest, increased thirst or urination, numbness or tingling, muscle weakness or limp feeling;
    • pancreatitis--severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, nausea and vomiting; or
    • increased adrenal gland hormones--weight gain in your face and shoulders, slow wound healing, skin discoloration, thinning skin, increased body hair, tiredness, mood changes, menstrual changes, sexual changes.

    Common side effects may include:

    • increased blood pressure;
    • stomach pain, bloating;
    • facial redness;
    • acne, increased sweating;
    • sleep problems (insomnia);
    • pitting, scars, or bumps under your skin;
    • stretch marks; or
    • increased hair growth of body hair.

    This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

    Read the entire detailed patient monograph for Fludrocortisone (Fludrocortisone)

    Fludrocortisone Professional Information

    SIDE EFFECTS

    Most adverse reactions are caused by the drug's mineralocorticoid activity (retention of sodium and water) and include hypertension, edema, cardiac enlargement, congestive heart failure, potassium loss, and hypokalemic alkalosis.

    When fludrocortisone is used in the small dosages recommended, the glucocorticoid side effects often seen with cortisone and its derivatives are not usually a problem; however the following untoward effects should be kept in mind, particularly when fludrocortisone is used over a prolonged period of time or in conjunction with cortisone or a similar glucocorticoid.

    Musculoskeletal

    Muscle weakness, steroid myopathy, loss of muscle mass, osteoporosis, vertebral compression fractures, aseptic necrosis of femoral and humeral heads, pathologic fracture of long bones, and spontaneous fractures.

    Gastrointestinal

    Peptic ulcer with possible perforation and hemorrhage, pancreatitis, abdominal distention, and ulcerative esophagitis.

    Dermatologic

    Impaired wound healing, thin fragile skin, bruising, petechiae and ecchymoses, facial erythema, increased sweating, subcutaneous fat atrophy, purpura, striae, hyperpigmentation of the skin and nails, hirsutism, acneiform eruptions, and hives; reactions to skin tests may be suppressed.

    Neurological

    Convulsions, increased intracranial pressure with papilledema (pseudotumor cerebri) usually after treatment, vertigo, headache, and severe mental disturbances.

    Endocrine

    Menstrual irregularities, development of the cushingoid state; suppression of growth in children; secondary adrenocortical and pituitary unresponsiveness, particularly in times of stress (e.g., trauma, surgery, or illness); decreased carbohydrate tolerance; manifestations of latent diabetes mellitus; and increased requirements for insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents in diabetics.

    Ophthalmic

    Posterior subcapsular cataracts, increased intraocular pressure, glaucoma, and exophthalmos.

    Metabolic

    Hyperglycemia, glycosuria, and negative nitrogen balance due to protein catabolism.

    Allergic Reactions

    Allergic skin rash, maculopapular rash, and urticaria.

    Other adverse reactions that may occur following the administration of a corticosteroid are necrotizing angiitis, thrombophlebitis, aggravation or masking of infections, insomnia, syncopal episodes, and anaphylactoid reactions.

    Read the entire FDA prescribing information for Fludrocortisone (Fludrocortisone)

    © Fludrocortisone Patient Information is supplied by Cerner Multum, Inc. and Fludrocortisone Consumer information is supplied by First Databank, Inc., used under license and subject to their respective copyrights.