Fludrocortison

Concurrent use /of sodium-containing foods or medications/ with fludrocortisone in the treatment of Type IV renal tubular acidosis may result in hypernatremia, edema, and potentially severe increases in blood pressure;adjustment of sodium intake may be required.

In one published case report, lithium antagonized the mineralocorticoid effects of fludrocortisone; increased fludrocortisone dose and dietary sodium supplementation were required during concurrent use.

Risk of severe hypokalemia /when fludrocortisone is used concurrently with hypokalemia-causing medications/; monitoring of serum potassium concentration and cardiac function and potassium supplementation may be required.

Phenytoin and rifampin have been reported to increase 6-beta-hydroxylation of fludrocortisone, via induction of p450 liver enzymes; fludrocortisone dosage increase may be required.

For more Interactions (Complete) data for FLUDROCORTISONE (24 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

Most of the adverse effects of fludrocortisone are related to mineralocorticoid activity. If this drug is used along with glucocorticoid or other related drugs, the adverse effect increases. Some of the more common or significant adverse effects appear in the list below:

/SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS/ Glucocorticoids may cause fetal damage when administered to pregnant women. One retrospective study of 260 women who received pharmacologic dosages of glucocorticoids during pregnancy revealed 2 instances of cleft palate, 8 stillbirths, 1 spontaneous abortion, and 15 premature births. Another study reported 2 cases of cleft palate in 86 births. Occurrence of cleft palate in these studies is higher than in the general population but could have resulted from the underlying diseases as well as from the steroids. Other fetal abnormalities that have been reported following glucocorticoid administration in pregnant women include hydrocephalus and gastroschisis. Women should be instructed to inform their physicians if they become or wish to become pregnant while receiving glucocorticoids. If glucocorticoids must be used during pregnancy or if the patient becomes pregnant while taking one of these drugs, the potential risks should be carefully considered. /Corticosteroids/

/CASE REPORTS/ The ... case of congestive cardiac failure in a child with Addison's disease secondary to fludrocortisone therapy is presented. A renal adaptation to compensate for chronic salt and water deprivation is suggested as a possible mechanism for the development of congestive cardiac failure in this patient.

/CASE REPORTS/ A severe metabolic alkalosis with compensatory respiratory acidosis and hypokalemia were reported in a 71-yr-old female patient following one yr of treatment with fludrocortisone, 0.2 mg/day, for postural hypotension. Following therapy which included diuretic administration, potassium supplementation and administration of spironolactone, the patient's clinical condition improved.

Drug-Induced Liver Injury Severity and Toxicity (DILIst)

fludrocortisone

DILI Negative

Oral

DOI:10.1016/j.drudis.2019.09.022

Glucocorticoids should be used with caution in patients with hypothyroidism or cirrhosis, because such patients often show exaggerated response to the drugs. Glucocorticoids should be used with caution in psychotic patients or patients with hypertension or congestive heart failure. /Corticosteroids/

Because an apparent association has been suggested between use of corticosteroids and left ventricular free-wall rupture after a recent myocardial infarction, corticosteroids should be used with extreme caution in these patients. /Corticosteroids/

Because glucocorticoids increase susceptibility to and mask symptoms of infection, the drugs should not be used, except in life-threatening situations, in patients with viral infections or bacterial infections not controlled by anti-infectives. Manufacturers state that glucocorticoid oral inhalation therapy should be used with caution, if at all, in patients with untreated systemic fungal, bacterial, viral, or parasitic infections. Patients whose susceptibility to infection is high, such as those receiving glucocorticoids as immunosuppressive therapy, are especially likely to develop secondary infections. Patients receiving glucocorticoids who are potentially immunosuppressed should be warned of the risk of exposure to certain infections (e.g., chickenpox, measles) and of the importance of obtaining medical advice if such exposure occurs. Since glucocorticoid therapy can reactivate tuberculosis, treatment of latent tuberculosis infection should be included in the regimen of patients with a history of active tuberculosis undergoing prolonged glucocorticoid therapy. If glucocorticoids are indicated in patients with latent tuberculosis or tuberculin reactivity, close observation is necessary. Use of glucocorticoids in patients with active tuberculosis should be restricted to those with fulminating or disseminated tuberculosis in which glucocorticoids are used in conjunction with appropriate antimycobacterial chemotherapy. Manufacturers state that glucocorticoid oral inhalation therapy should be used with caution, if at all, in patients with clinical or asymptomatic Mycobacterium tuberculosis infections of the respiratory tract. Since glucocorticoids can reactivate latent amebiasis, any patient who has been in the tropics or who has unexplained diarrhea should be evaluated for amebiasis to exclude these patients prior to initiating therapy. In the treatment of acute or disseminated tuberculosis, glucocorticoids should only be used as part of a total antituberculosis regimen. ... /Corticosteroids/

Corticosteroids should be used with caution in patients with active or latent peptic ulcer, diverticulitis, nonspecific ulcerative colitis (if there is a probability of impending perforation, abscess, or other pyogenic infection), and in those with recent intestinal anastomoses. Manifestations of peritoneal irritation following GI perforation may be minimal or absent in patients receiving glucocorticoids. /Corticosteroids/

While data specific to fludrocortisone were not located(SRC, 2007), the literature suggests that some pharmaceutically active compounds originating from human and veterinary therapy are not eliminated completely in municipal sewage treatment plants and are therefore discharged into receiving waters(1). Wastewater treatment processes often were not designed to remove them from the effluent(2). Selected organic waste compounds may be degrading to new and more persistent compounds that may be released instead of or in addition to the parent compound(2). Studies have indicated that several polar pharmaceutically active compounds can leach through soil(1).

/SRP:/ Immediate first aid: Ensure that adequate decontamination has been carried out. If patient is not breathing, start artificial respiration, preferably with a demand valve resuscitator, bag-valve-mask device, or pocket mask, as trained. Perform CPR if necessary. Immediately flush contaminated eyes with gently flowing water. Do not induce vomiting. If vomiting occurs, lean patient forward or place on the left side (head-down position, if possible) to maintain an open airway and prevent aspiration. Keep patient quiet and maintain normal body temperature. Obtain medical attention. /Poisons A and B/

/SRP:/ Basic treatment: Establish a patent airway (oropharyngeal or nasopharyngeal airway, if needed). Suction if necessary. Watch for signs of respiratory insufficiency and assist ventilations if needed. Administer oxygen by nonrebreather mask at 10 to 15 L/min. Monitor for pulmonary edema and treat if necessary ... . Monitor for shock and treat if necessary ... . Anticipate seizures and treat if necessary ... . For eye contamination, flush eyes immediately with water. Irrigate each eye continuously with 0.9% saline (NS) during transport ... . Do not use emetics. For ingestion, rinse mouth and administer 5 mL/kg up to 200 mL of water for dilution if the patient can swallow, has a strong gag reflex, and does not drool ... . Cover skin burns with dry sterile dressings after decontamination ... . /Poisons A and B/

/SRP:/ Advanced treatment: Consider orotracheal or nasotracheal intubation for airway control in the patient who is unconscious, has severe pulmonary edema, or is in severe respiratory distress. Positive-pressure ventilation techniques with a bag valve mask device may be beneficial. Consider drug therapy for pulmonary edema ... . Consider administering a beta agonist such as albuterol for severe bronchospasm ... . Monitor cardiac rhythm and treat arrhythmias as necessary ... . Start IV administration of D5W /SRP: "To keep open", minimal flow rate/. Use 0.9% saline (NS) or lactated Ringer's if signs of hypovolemia are present. For hypotension with signs of hypovolemia, administer fluid cautiously. Watch for signs of fluid overload ... . Treat seizures with diazepam or lorazepam ... . Use proparacaine hydrochloride to assist eye irrigation ... . /Poisons A and B/