Aa
How long for Fludrocortisone to work?
I am wondering how long it takes Fludrocortisone to work. I have been taking 1/2 of a .1 mg tablet twice a day for a couple of weeks. My BP has not gone up at all and I don't feel any better. I have already gained a few pounds quickly and am trying to decide whether to go up on it. My dr. said I could.
My daughter took fludrocortisone for 6mths she also has low salt level. The medication didnt work she has Reflex Syncope. New consultant has changed her medication to Midodrine and its works fine. She has now stopped taking the Fludrocortisone.
Yes, there are situations where an increase in blood pressure can cause a drop in heart rate reaction.
The side effects on midodrine vary from person to person. While the goosebumps/tingling-type sensations EmilyKirsten describes are the most commonly experienced side effects, they aren't as severe for most people as they were for her (so sorry you had it that bad EK!! what a bummer!!) and they also tend to go away after your body adjusts to the medication. Some people never have that side effect at all (I guess I was lucky, because I don't remember having it).
http://www.medhelp.org/drugs/midodrine/show/4698
On the plus side, it's short-acting; so if you do have side-effects you can't tolerate for whatever reason, it won't linger in your system for a long time after you discontinue it (with your doc's permission of course ... have to say that).
Incidentally, I've tried raising my dose of fludrocortisone twice in the past and, like you (though with different symptoms), couldn't tolerate the higher dose. For me, the magic formula seems to be just the 0.1 of fludrocortisone and then midodrine on top of that. Hopefully your doctor will work with you to find a medication (or combo of meds) that works well for you!! I know the trial and error process can be a real pain in the tokhes, but hang in there and hopefully you'll be feeling better soon!!
Keep us all in the loop on how things are going for you!
-heiferly.
The side effects on midodrine vary from person to person. While the goosebumps/tingling-type sensations EmilyKirsten describes are the most commonly experienced side effects, they aren't as severe for most people as they were for her (so sorry you had it that bad EK!! what a bummer!!) and they also tend to go away after your body adjusts to the medication. Some people never have that side effect at all (I guess I was lucky, because I don't remember having it).
http://www.medhelp.org/drugs/midodrine/show/4698
On the plus side, it's short-acting; so if you do have side-effects you can't tolerate for whatever reason, it won't linger in your system for a long time after you discontinue it (with your doc's permission of course ... have to say that).
Incidentally, I've tried raising my dose of fludrocortisone twice in the past and, like you (though with different symptoms), couldn't tolerate the higher dose. For me, the magic formula seems to be just the 0.1 of fludrocortisone and then midodrine on top of that. Hopefully your doctor will work with you to find a medication (or combo of meds) that works well for you!! I know the trial and error process can be a real pain in the tokhes, but hang in there and hopefully you'll be feeling better soon!!
Keep us all in the loop on how things are going for you!
-heiferly.
My doctor said the fludrocort (generic florinef) can take quite a while to work. I believe I read in the information packet that came with it to give it at least a month. Doc actually told me yesterday to double my dosage to .2 mg daily.
As for the side effects of midodrine I had some horrible ones! The worst was the skin/scalp crawling. Worst heebie jeebie feeling in the world! Then I was freezing cold all the time. There was one day I drove a half hour across town in 90-degree weather with the windows up and the AC off and still had goosebumps! That probably had a negative effect on the fluid intake/output... Doc took me off midodrine because I felt it was doing more harm than good.
As for the side effects of midodrine I had some horrible ones! The worst was the skin/scalp crawling. Worst heebie jeebie feeling in the world! Then I was freezing cold all the time. There was one day I drove a half hour across town in 90-degree weather with the windows up and the AC off and still had goosebumps! That probably had a negative effect on the fluid intake/output... Doc took me off midodrine because I felt it was doing more harm than good.
well,
saga of my uppage:)
had my florinef iincrease to .1 x 2x day, which i took for three weeks
The first few days was good... b.p. rose just enoughh and h.r. decreased , which is what i hoped.
ButI have adverse side efferct within a week and half.... edema, my face, lower leg/feet, my mid section becamee very uncomfortable and distended , with a pain inn like my below my sternum. I was feeling haaard to take in breaths , especially to lay down. I gained over 7#.
I really wanted this 'uppage' :) to be my trick.
My doctor is out for vacation, but this dear nurse has been calling each day. I tolld her i never felt in duress or would go to e.r. I have lowered bcak off to .1 a day and ssee doc monday.
I have lost some of wight, my stomach feels much bettter and my face is not so puffy.
But last night aafter two days of back lower, my b.p. (for me) went way high 149/94, and real uncomfortable to breath. ... h.r. 45. It won't go over 55even now standing. This is someone that any time oveer 100/60 was really high,
I sttill am getting somee O.H. (30+ point drops b.p.)
I think this higher b.p. is makin g the bradydardia?
How are side effects for anyone on midodrine?
I am sure this will bee next plan.
just wnat to feel a little better, not asking too be able t o run a marathone or build a pyramid::))
amo
saga of my uppage:)
had my florinef iincrease to .1 x 2x day, which i took for three weeks
The first few days was good... b.p. rose just enoughh and h.r. decreased , which is what i hoped.
ButI have adverse side efferct within a week and half.... edema, my face, lower leg/feet, my mid section becamee very uncomfortable and distended , with a pain inn like my below my sternum. I was feeling haaard to take in breaths , especially to lay down. I gained over 7#.
I really wanted this 'uppage' :) to be my trick.
My doctor is out for vacation, but this dear nurse has been calling each day. I tolld her i never felt in duress or would go to e.r. I have lowered bcak off to .1 a day and ssee doc monday.
I have lost some of wight, my stomach feels much bettter and my face is not so puffy.
But last night aafter two days of back lower, my b.p. (for me) went way high 149/94, and real uncomfortable to breath. ... h.r. 45. It won't go over 55even now standing. This is someone that any time oveer 100/60 was really high,
I sttill am getting somee O.H. (30+ point drops b.p.)
I think this higher b.p. is makin g the bradydardia?
How are side effects for anyone on midodrine?
I am sure this will bee next plan.
just wnat to feel a little better, not asking too be able t o run a marathone or build a pyramid::))
amo
I agree...I am keeping the word "Upage' in my Vocab!!!! :0
So all who read my posts and answers and you see the word Upage or uppage...
It really means...increasing the dose!!..Lol
Ok 'H' We have claim to the word along w/ anyone who wants to use it.
~T
Thanks for everyone's input.
I am not good about measuring my salt and fluid intake but am loading. I am thinking of taking salt tablets. I'm not wearing my compression stockings these days b/c the weather is too warm for me to tolerate them.
Laura
I am not good about measuring my salt and fluid intake but am loading. I am thinking of taking salt tablets. I'm not wearing my compression stockings these days b/c the weather is too warm for me to tolerate them.
Laura
Back to the topic at hand ...
As for the fludrocortisone, one important aspect of it is that it works by helping to maintain the salt and water you are taking in sooooo ... I have to ask: are you salt and fluid loading, and if so, how much? (If you don't actually measure, now might be a good time to track for a few days and see how much you're actually getting. If you do the dose increase, you can measure your salt and fluids to make sure you get an objective comparison of how the different dosages work with the same amount of fluids/salt.)
As with any other med, you may ultimately find that this just isn't the one for you. We dysauto patients are a tricky bunch, and I don't think there are any two of us that are just alike! Tonya is right about the stockings, too ... it's possible that you've got extra volume from the fludro but you're keeping it in your feet! :-p Isn't that where we all keep our blood much of the time?? Sorry, we've got to laugh a little or ... well, I don't know. I'm convinced if I just keep up my sense of humor I'll survive this crud no matter what it throws at me!!!
Hang in there, Laura! Keep us updated on how this goes; we'll be rooting for you!
-Heiferly.
As for the fludrocortisone, one important aspect of it is that it works by helping to maintain the salt and water you are taking in sooooo ... I have to ask: are you salt and fluid loading, and if so, how much? (If you don't actually measure, now might be a good time to track for a few days and see how much you're actually getting. If you do the dose increase, you can measure your salt and fluids to make sure you get an objective comparison of how the different dosages work with the same amount of fluids/salt.)
As with any other med, you may ultimately find that this just isn't the one for you. We dysauto patients are a tricky bunch, and I don't think there are any two of us that are just alike! Tonya is right about the stockings, too ... it's possible that you've got extra volume from the fludro but you're keeping it in your feet! :-p Isn't that where we all keep our blood much of the time?? Sorry, we've got to laugh a little or ... well, I don't know. I'm convinced if I just keep up my sense of humor I'll survive this crud no matter what it throws at me!!!
Hang in there, Laura! Keep us updated on how this goes; we'll be rooting for you!
-Heiferly.
Tonya,
If you're making up words, I'm right in there with you. I thought "upage" was a word, but I thought it was spelled "uppage." However, according to this:
http://www.fao.org/docrep/x5859e/x5859e03.htm
my "uppage" means "the fruit of an evergreen tree in the south Indian state of Karnataka." I thought it meant what you thought it meant. :-/ As it turns out, spelled your way, "upage," (actually UPAGE) is the Union of Power And Gas Employees ... in Singapore.
http://www.upage.org.sg/contact_us.asp
Well, since I doubt either uppage the south Indian fruit or UPAGE the Singapore union is particularly well known in our neck of the woods, I think we should go ahead and coin the term upage/uppage for dosage increases and start putting it into common usage. Who knows? Maybe it will start snowballing in popularity and eventually make it into the dictionary!! Then you can be famous for getting a word in the dictionary! :-D
Errr, pardon my digression ...
If you're making up words, I'm right in there with you. I thought "upage" was a word, but I thought it was spelled "uppage." However, according to this:
http://www.fao.org/docrep/x5859e/x5859e03.htm
my "uppage" means "the fruit of an evergreen tree in the south Indian state of Karnataka." I thought it meant what you thought it meant. :-/ As it turns out, spelled your way, "upage," (actually UPAGE) is the Union of Power And Gas Employees ... in Singapore.
http://www.upage.org.sg/contact_us.asp
Well, since I doubt either uppage the south Indian fruit or UPAGE the Singapore union is particularly well known in our neck of the woods, I think we should go ahead and coin the term upage/uppage for dosage increases and start putting it into common usage. Who knows? Maybe it will start snowballing in popularity and eventually make it into the dictionary!! Then you can be famous for getting a word in the dictionary! :-D
Errr, pardon my digression ...
Well the old saying goes...It can't hurt, mught help! (or is that just one more of MY goofy sayings??..Lol) Are you wearing those ever so fashionable Compression Stockings? And as far as the weight goes.....I would MUCH rather gain a few pounds and have some kind of quality of life as opposed to not trying to at least see if it will work.....It just may be worth those few pounds ;)
now you are not having actual reactions to the meds are you? you are just saying that your B/P has not gone up right?? becasue if you are having any kind of negstive ill affedct from it then you should stop it immediatley (sp)!
Keep us updated.
AMO: You are funny. I actually needed a smile tonight...Thanks :)
I love my word "UPAGE"....Gosh, do I really say that?
I'm guessing that is not even a word except in my little mind........Lol
I think I will claim that word though as I do Like it.....HaHa
~Tonya
hi laura,
i am no expert, but i would think after that time would be seeing some helpp.
i have beben on .1 x 1 daily for year and have oroders to increase it now .1 x 2 daily. I had little improvemnt on .1
Yes, these are medicine youu need closely watched with your doc about changing dose (or upage as tonya says, ha)
aare you having salt and fluids?
take care, amo
i am no expert, but i would think after that time would be seeing some helpp.
i have beben on .1 x 1 daily for year and have oroders to increase it now .1 x 2 daily. I had little improvemnt on .1
Yes, these are medicine youu need closely watched with your doc about changing dose (or upage as tonya says, ha)
aare you having salt and fluids?
take care, amo
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