fludrocortisone

was wondering if anyone knows how quickly the affects of fludrocortisone are.  They put my husband on it, as he was passing out, and IT  IS WORKING...no fainting or feeling like he is going to pass out.  BUT PCP says there is no way it could have worked that quickly....and poo pooed everything the endo told us!!  Just wondering if anyone has any comments, or experience with fludrocortisone??  Thanks

[binder58]

Well for some reason, what the pill, fludrocortisone was doing, is not working anymore...yesterday and today he felt like he was going to pass out, granted he did not, but came way too close.  Called endo and neuro.........has anyone had this happen, and maybe a medicine adjustment fixed>

[rumpled]

How much is he on and for what reason (adrenals?).
I take .1 and .1 and a 1/2 every other day (weird, yes) and I also take salt tablets to keep my BP up.

When I first started taking it, I had to "work up" to the dose as in , 1/4 a tab, 1/2 then the whole tab - I thought it was a pretty strong med - so yeah, I think it would work right away.

[binder58]

the endo called back and changed the dose from .1 once a day to twice a day for two days///and he seems to be ok again.  He was put on due to him passing out, and his levels were on the low side, but not out of range...said something about the nervous system being damaged from the epidural injection that caused the spinal fluid leak, and they nervous system is not sending the signal to adrenal gland to control the BP and release chemicals as it normally would. It was prescribed more empirically, than due to the adrenal test being out of range.  His BP would bottom out, and he would pass out, so the fludrocortisone, should keep the BP up by retaining fluid more and salt. And he was SO good for a month, and then he had a blood patch done;;;where they take blood out of your arm and run like an IV to the spinal fluid area and inject the blood in there, to close the LEAKage of spinal fluid, like forming a scab over where it is leaking, so his brain is not resting against the side of his skull, as the CSF acts as a cushion to protect the brain.  Anyway, I think that the trauma of this, as it is painful, and John is very nervous having anything done back there, as that is how this all started, with an injection causing the leak, so what can cure it can also cause the same thing.  But they do it under xray, so it is a little less likely to happen.  But he was in alot of pain during and after this procedure.  So, maybe it stressed the system too much, and causing the dose he was taking not to be enough!!  We were never told about the salt tablets...any drug store would have them???  Cause that is a good idea too.  They told him to eat salty things!!  But maybe that would help, too, to take the tablets!  Thanks!  Michele

[rumpled]

I buy sodium chloride tablets - 1 gram and you can find them from several vendors on line. I have not been able to find "plain" salt tablets locally - except buffered ones that contain less salt and contain potassium as a buffer - which for me (I have no adrenals) is not such a great idea.
I actually buy the 1000 tablet jar but they also come in 100 tablet. I have to take them forever. I carry them and take them when I feel wonky or if I sweat too much.
It is much easier and faster than food and gives you much more salt.
If I need salt and potassium, then I go for v8. If I just need salt, I get cheap ramen - it has a very high salt content or bouillon cubes. Sometimes the salt gets me out of more trouble than my other meds so I keep a lot of that stuff around.