Side effects

Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

Difficulty in sleeping (insomnia)

Fatigue

Muscle weakness

Partial loss of vision due to opacity in the lens of the eye (cataracts)

Irregular menstrual cycle

Low blood potassium level (hypokalaemia)

Increased risk of fractures of the bones

Increased hair growth (hirsutism)

High blood pressure (hypertension)

Sodium and water retention

Increased risk of infection

Increased pressure in the skull (intracranial pressure)

Increased sweating

Distrubances of the gut such as indigestion (dyspepsia), distention of the abdomen and ulceration (peptic ulcer)

An extreme allergic reaction (anaphylaxis)

The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer. For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.

How can this medicine affect other medicines?

Live vaccines should not be administered to people taking fludrocortisone, as their normal immune response is reduced by this medicine and giving a live vaccine may therefore result in infection rather than the production of antibodies. Individuals taking fludrocortisone and anticoagulants such as warfarin, should be monitored for the possibility of an increase in the effect of the anticoagulant. As fludrocortisone may increase blood sugar, it can oppose the blood sugar lowering effects of antidiabetic medicines. When taken with carbenoxolone, acetazolamide, amphotericin or diuretics e.g. frusemide and bendrofluazide there is an increased risk of low blood potassium levels (hypokalaemia). When taken with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) e.g. ibuprofen, there is an increased risk of adverse effects on the gut, such as stomach ulceration and bleeding. Fludrocortisone may oppose the treatment of high blood pressure and heart failure, as it may cause retention of salt and water. The blood levels of salicylates e.g. aspirin, are decreased by corticosteroids and abrupt withdrawal of fludrocortisone may result in excessive levels of the salicylate. The following medicines may increase the removal of fludrocortisone from the body, thus reducing its effects:- - antiepileptics e.g. carbamazepine, phenytoin and primidone - barbituates e.g. phenobarbitone - rifampicin - aminoglutethimide

Other medicines containing the same active ingredients

Florinef

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