When your body doesn’t make enough natural steroids, fludrocortisone, a synthetic mineralocorticoid used to replace aldosterone and help regulate sodium and potassium levels. Also known as Florinef, it’s not a painkiller or a mood stabilizer—it’s a life-supporting hormone replacement for people with damaged or underactive adrenal glands. Unlike cortisol, which handles stress and metabolism, fludrocortisone focuses on one thing: keeping your salt and water balance right. Without it, your kidneys flush out too much sodium, your blood pressure drops, and you feel weak, dizzy, or even pass out when standing up.
This drug is most often prescribed for Addison’s disease, a condition where the adrenal glands fail to produce enough cortisol and aldosterone, and sometimes for orthostatic hypotension, a drop in blood pressure when standing that causes lightheadedness or fainting. It’s not for everyone. If you have heart failure, kidney disease, or high blood pressure, your doctor will be extra careful. It doesn’t work alone—people with Addison’s usually take it with hydrocortisone or prednisone to cover both mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid needs. You can’t just start taking it because you feel tired. It’s a precise tool, not a quick fix.
People on fludrocortisone often need to watch their sodium intake. Some need extra salt in their diet, others need to limit fluids. It affects potassium levels too—too much fludrocortisone can drop potassium dangerously low, leading to muscle cramps or irregular heartbeat. That’s why regular blood tests are part of the routine. It’s not a drug you take and forget. You need to track how you feel, your weight, and your blood pressure. Many users report feeling better within days, but the real win is avoiding the crashes that come with low aldosterone—sudden fatigue, nausea, or emergency room visits.
The posts below cover related topics you might not expect. You’ll find guides on how diuretics mess with electrolytes, how INR levels matter for people on blood thinners, and how other hormone-based treatments stack up against each other. There’s no fluff here—just real-world insights from people managing chronic conditions, comparing meds, and learning what actually works. Whether you’re on fludrocortisone now, considering it, or just trying to understand why your doctor ordered it, these articles give you the clarity you need to make smart choices.
Learn how fludrocortisone can affect your eyes, signs to watch for, and steps to protect vision while treating adrenal insufficiency.
