Fludrocortisone

Fludrocortisone
Clinical data
Pronunciation/ˌfludrəˈkɔːrtəzn/ floo-drə-KOR-tih-zone
Trade namesFlorinef, Astonin, others
Other namesStC-1400; 9α-Fluorohydrocortisone; 9α-Fluorocortisol; 9α-Fluoro-17α-hydroxycorticosterone; 9α-Fluoro-11β,17α,21-trihydroxypregn-4-ene-3,20-dione
AHFS/Drugs.comMonograph
Routes of
administration
By mouth
Drug classCorticosteroid; glucocorticoid; mineralocorticoid
ATC code
Legal status
Legal status
Pharmacokinetic data
Protein bindingHigh
MetabolismLiver
Elimination half-life3.5 hours
Identifiers
  • (8S,9R,10S,11S,13S,14S,17R)-9-fluoro-11,17-dihydroxy-17-(2-hydroxyacetyl)-10,13-dimethyl-1,2,6,7,8,11,12,14,15,16-decahydrocyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-one
CAS Number
PubChem CID
PubChem SID
IUPHAR/BPS
DrugBank
ChemSpider
UNII
KEGG
ChEBI
ChEMBL
PDB ligand
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
ECHA InfoCard100.004.395
Chemical and physical data
FormulaC21H29FO5
Molar mass380.456 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)
  • O=C(CO)[C@]3(O)[C@]2(C[C@H](O)[C@]4(F)[C@@]1(/C(=C\C(=O)CC1)CC[C@H]4[C@@H]2CC3)C)C
  • InChI=1S/C21H29FO5/c1-18-7-5-13(24)9-12(18)3-4-15-14-6-8-20(27,17(26)11-23)19(14,2)10-16(25)21(15,18)22/h9,14-16,23,25,27H,3-8,10-11H2,1-2H3/t14-,15-,16-,18-,19-,20-,21-/m0/s1 Y
  • Key:AAXVEMMRQDVLJB-BULBTXNYSA-N Y
 NY (what is this?)  (verify)
Fludrocortisone acetate
Clinical data
Trade namesCortineff, Florinef, Florinefe, Fludrocortison, others
Other namesFluorohydrocortisone acetate; 9α-Fluorohydrocortisone 21-acetate; 9α-Fluoro-17α-hydroxycorticosterone 21-acetate; 9α-Fluoro-11β,17α,21-trihydroxypregn-4-ene-3,20-dione 21-acetate
Routes of
administration
By mouth
Drug classCorticosteroid; glucocorticoid; mineralocorticoid
Pharmacokinetic data
MetabolismLiver
Identifiers
  • [2-[(8S,9R,10S,11S,13S,14S,17R)-9-fluoro-11,17-dihydroxy-10,13-dimethyl-3-oxo-1,2,6,7,8,11,12,14,15,16-decahydrocyclopenta[a]phenanthren-17-yl]-2-oxoethyl] acetate
CAS Number
PubChem CID
ChemSpider
UNII
KEGG
ChEBI
ChEMBL
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
ECHA InfoCard100.004.395
Chemical and physical data
FormulaC23H31FO6
Molar mass422.493 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)
Melting point260 to 262 °C (500 to 504 °F) (dec.)
  • CC(=O)OCC(=O)[C@]1(CC[C@@H]2[C@@]1(C[C@@H]([C@]3([C@H]2CCC4=CC(=O)CC[C@@]43C)F)O)C)O
  • InChI=1S/C23H31FO6/c1-13(25)30-12-19(28)22(29)9-7-16-17-5-4-14-10-15(26)6-8-20(14,2)23(17,24)18(27)11-21(16,22)3/h10,16-18,27,29H,4-9,11-12H2,1-3H3/t16-,17-,18-,20-,21-,22-,23-/m0/s1
  • Key:SYWHXTATXSMDSB-GSLJADNHSA-N

Fludrocortisone, sold under the brand name Florinef among others, is a corticosteroid used to treat congenital adrenal hyperplasia, postural hypotension, and adrenal insufficiency. In adrenal insufficiency, it is generally taken together with hydrocortisone. Fludrocortisone is taken by mouth and is most commonly used in its acetate form.

Common side effects of fludrocortisone include high blood pressure, swelling, heart failure, and low blood potassium. Other serious side effects can include low immune-system function, cataracts, muscle weakness, and mood changes. Whether use of fludrocortisone during pregnancy is safe for the fetus is unknown. Fludrocortisone is mostly a mineralocorticoid, but it also has glucocorticoid effects.

Fludrocortisone was patented in 1953. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.