Pharmacy Services

Floranex (Lactobacillus) and Florinef (fludrocortisone) Name Confusion

January 2, 2007

Health care providers are concerned that Florinef (fludrocortisone) and Floranex (Lactobacillus) could be dispensed incorrectly. Florinef from Monarch is used for mineralocorticoid replacement therapy in patients with mineralocorticoid insufficiency states. Each tablet contains fludrocortisone acetate 0.1 mg. Floranex chewable tablets from Rising are used to restore normal intestinal flora. Each chewable tablet contains 1 million colony-forming units of Lactobacillus acidophilus and L. bulgaricus. The usual dose range is identical for both products, 1 – 2 tablets daily.

Recommendations for preventing medication administration errors include the following:

  • Encourage staff to read drug labels prior to administering either drug.
  • Store the medications in separate areas of the pharmacy.

Updated
January 2, 2007; University of Utah, Drug Information Service. Copyright 2009, Drug Information Service, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT.