What is addison disease and how do you treat it

Normally, the adrenal glands produce two to three times the usual amount of cortisol in response to physical stress. With adrenal insufficiency, the inability to increase cortisol production with stress can lead to an addisonian crisis. An addisonian crisis is a life-threatening situation that results in low blood pressure, low blood levels of sugar and high blood levels of potassium.

You will need immediate medical care. Addison's disease can't be prevented, but there are steps you can take to avoid an addisonian crisis:. Some people with Addison's disease worry about serious side effects from hydrocortisone or prednisone because they know these occur in people who take these steroids for other reasons.

However, if you have Addison's disease, the adverse effects of high-dose glucocorticoids should not occur, since the dose you are prescribed is replacing the amount that is missing. Make sure to follow up with your doctor on a regular basis to make sure your dose is not too high. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission.

This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Addison's disease, also called adrenal insufficiency, is an uncommon disorder that occurs when your body doesn't produce enough of certain hormones.

More Information Salt craving: A symptom of Addison's disease? Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Adrenal glands Open pop-up dialog box Close. Adrenal glands Perched atop each of your kidneys, your adrenal glands produce hormones that help regulate your metabolism, immune system, blood pressure and other essential functions. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Symptoms of Addison's disease The symptoms of Addison's disease can include any or all of the following: loss of appetite and weight nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea muscle weakness chronic, worsening fatigue low blood pressure salt cravings dehydration hypoglycaemia — low blood sugar levels especially in children increased pigmentation of the skin, particularly around scars and bony areas irregular or no menstrual periods in women mood swings, mental confusion or loss of consciousness.

The hormone cortisol Cortisol is produced by the outer layer of your adrenal gland, called the adrenal cortex. Cortisol plays many vital roles and is essential to many body functions because it: works with adrenaline to help your body manage physical and emotional stress increases and influences your blood sugar levels works with the hormone insulin to maintain constant blood sugar levels reduces inflammation helps your body maintain a constant blood pressure helps the workings of your immune system.

The hormone aldosterone Aldosterone is a mineralocorticoid, produced by the adrenal cortex. Causes of Addison's disease Around seven out of 10 cases of Addison's disease are caused by an autoimmune response, where the body's own immune cells attack and destroy the adrenal glands. Other conditions related to primary adrenal deficiency are: adrenomyeloneuropathy AMN — which can occur in some adults.

It affects the spine and is degenerative over time adrenoleukodystrophy ALD — occurs in one in , children, especially males. It can cause brain damage and can be fatal. Survivors often develop AMN. Causes of secondary adrenal insufficiency may include: glucocorticoid medications — inflammatory disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and asthma are often treated with prolonged or high-dose steroids glucocorticoid replacements.

If the dose is suddenly stopped, or not reduced by appropriate tapering measures, the pituitary gland may respond by failing to produce enough ACTH. This situation can sometimes be reversed Cushing's disease — a benign ACTH-producing tumour of the pituitary gland. This results in too much cortisol being produced.

Treatment requires surgical removal of the tumour. The pituitary gland may take months to begin production of ACTH once the tumour has been removed other causes — infections, reduced blood flow, radiotherapy and some neurosurgery can damage the pituitary gland or hypothalamus, and decrease the ability to produce ACTH. Treatment for secondary Addison's disease is with glucocorticoid cortisol replacement only. It may be caused by: illness — especially fever or gastroenteritis surgery interruption of adrenal hormone replacement medications.

The symptoms of Addisonian crisis include: nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea dizziness when standing palpitations the feeling of having a fast-beating, fluttering or pounding heart pain in the abdomen, back and legs mental confusion and loss of consciousness. Treatment of Addison's disease Treatment aims to correct the levels of hormones that your body is not producing. Give feedback about this page. Was this page helpful? Yes No. View all immune system. Related information.

The same is true if you have a serious health condition such as suddenly passing out or being in a coma. Often, you must get these stress doses intravenously. Once you recover, your doctor will adjust your dose back to regular, pre-injury level. However, if nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy make it hard to take medicine by mouth, your doctor may need to give you corticosteroid shots. You may undergo some of the following tests:. Insulin-induced hypoglycemia test.

You may be given this test if doctors think you may have adrenal insufficiency as a result of pituitary disease secondary adrenal insufficiency. The test involves checking your blood sugar blood glucose and cortisol levels after an injection of insulin. In healthy people, glucose levels fall and cortisol levels increase. In certain situations doctors may do alternative tests for secondary adrenal insufficiency, such as a low-dose ACTH stimulation test, prolonged ACTH stimulation test or glucagon stimulation test.

All treatment for Addison's disease involves medication. You will be given hormone replacement therapy to correct the levels of steroid hormones your body isn't producing. Some options for treatment include oral corticosteroids such as:. You will need to get plenty of salt sodium in your diet, especially during heavy exercise, when the weather is hot or if you have gastrointestinal upsets, such as diarrhea.

Your doctor will also suggest a temporary increase in your medication dosage if your body is stressed, such as from an operation, an infection or a minor illness. If you're ill with vomiting and can't keep down oral medications, you may need injections of corticosteroids.

Treatment for an addisonian crisis, which is a medical emergency, typically includes intravenous injections of:. Researchers are working to develop delayed-release corticosteroids, which act more like the human body. They are also working on pumps implanted under the skin that can deliver steroids in more-accurate doses.

Future treatment may eventually involve using adrenocortical stem cells combined with immunomodulatory treatment — modifying the immune response or the immune system — as well as gene therapy.