Health Dictionary
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Fludrocortisone
Introduction
Fludrocortisone is a synthetic corticosteroid with moderate glucocorticoid potency and much greater mineralocorticoid potency. It is used primarily to replace the missing hormone aldosterone in various forms of adrenal insufficiency such as Addison’s disease and the classic salt wasting (21-hydroxylase deficiency) form of congenital adrenal hyperplasia. It is occasionally used to treat orthostatic hypotension as well.
The brand name in the U.S. is Florinef. It is available in 0.1 mg tablets. Typical daily doses for mineralocorticoid replacement are between 0.05 mg – 0.2 mg. Renin plasma, sodium, and potassium is checked through blood tests in order to verify that the correct dosage is reached.
Chemically, its structure is identical to cortisone except for the substitution of F in place of one hydrogen. F is a good bioisostere for hydrogen because it is similar in size. The major difference is in its electronegativity.
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