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Fludrocortisone and headaches

paul80

Senior Member
Messages
298
Been getting lots of headaches and migraines since taking fludrocortisone but i've been checking my blood pressure and it hasn't been high. So not sure if it's just M.E symptoms getting worse or the drugs.

Anyone else got migraines on this drug without high blood pressure?
 
Messages
19
Been getting lots of headaches and migraines since taking fludrocortisone but i've been checking my blood pressure and it hasn't been high. So not sure if it's just M.E symptoms getting worse or the drugs.

Anyone else got migraines on this drug without high blood pressure?
Fludrocortisone is a volume enhancer and it has some vasoconstrictive action also.It can also enhance sympathetic activity.
I think it increases intracranial tention in few patients.May cause headache .That will not show up as raised BP.
 
Messages
10
Seems like headaches are a normal side effect to taking fludrocortisone. And it might raise intracranial pressure, as Alisha12 mentioned

http://pubmedcentralcanada.ca/pmcc/articles/PMC3390096/

"Fludrocortisone increases plasma volume in patients with POTS[31],[34]due to salt and water retention and also sensitizes the blood vessels to constriction.[35]Some physicians combine salt tablets with fludrocortisone in order to ensure its effectiveness, although this must depend on salt intake.[36]Patients on fludrocortisone should be given magnesium and potassium supplements due to their concurrent depletion. Also, fludrocortisone has the potential to raise intracranial pressure, therefore it cannot be used in some cases, which involve the brain. Like beta-blockers, fludrocortisone reduces renin levels and may be counterproductive for POTS patients with low renin levels.[30]Some patients suffer severe side effects, particularly severe headache.[36]"
 
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Messages
19
Ok thanks. hopefully it is these pills that are causing it then.
If you are taking fludrocortisone for POTS or OI, are you using beta blockers too ?This will sometimes reduce the headache.But still it is lots of trial and error.
 

paul80

Senior Member
Messages
298
No i'm not, but i think my cardiologist said he wants to try midodrine if the fludrocortisone didn't work.