Symptoms of AI include fatigue, muscle weakness, decreased appetite, and weight loss. Some people experience lightheadedness, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Other symptoms include: Pain in the muscles and joints.
Primary adrenal insufficiency is most often caused when your immune system attacks your healthy adrenal glands by mistake. Other causes may include: Cancer. Fungal infections.
The primary type is known as Addison disease. It's rare. It's when the adrenal glands don't make enough of the hormones cortisol and aldosterone. The secondary type occurs when the pituitary gland doesn't make enough of the hormone ACTH.
A medicine called hydrocortisone is usually used to replace the cortisol. Other possible medicines are prednisolone or dexamethasone, although these are less commonly used. Aldosterone is replaced with a medicine called fludrocortisone.
Primary adrenal insufficiency — Treatment of adrenal insufficiency requires a daily dose of a glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid pills, usually for life. Androgen replacement may be recommended for women. The goal of treatment is to stabilize hormone levels and relieve symptoms.
As an adrenal cancer grows, it presses on nearby organs and tissues. This may cause pain near the tumor, a feeling of fullness in the abdomen, or trouble eating because of a feeling of filling up easily.
If Addison's disease is left untreated, the levels of hormones produced by the adrenal gland gradually decrease in the body. This causes your symptoms to get progressively worse and eventually lead to a life-threatening situation called an adrenal or Addisonian crisis.
Addison's disease can develop if your immune system attacks your adrenal glands and severely damages your adrenal cortex. When 90% of the adrenal cortex is destroyed, your adrenal glands will not be able to produce enough of the steroid hormones cortisol and aldosterone.
Although there's no cure, primary adrenal insufficiency can be managed effectively by taking cortisol and aldosterone replacement hormones, with the goal of stabilizing hormone levels and relieving signs and symptoms.
ACTH Stimulation Test This is the most specific test for diagnosing adrenal insufficiency. Blood cortisol levels are measured before and after a synthetic form of adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), a hormone secreted from the anterior pituitary, is given by injection.
Typically, the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis recovers after cessation of glucocorticoids, but the timing of recovery can be variable and can take anywhere from 6–12 months.
Treatment is tailored to the underlying cause and, in most cases, lifelong treatment is necessary. With appropriate treatment and a few added precautions, people with adrenal insufficiency can lead active lives and have a normal life expectancy.
Once Addison's disease is diagnosed and treated, life expectancy has been considered normal. However, fatal adrenal crises are encountered in clinical practice; the incidence of such causes of deaths is not known.
Symptoms said to be due to adrenal fatigue include tiredness, trouble falling asleep at night or waking up in the morning, salt and sugar craving, and needing stimulants like caffeine to get through the day. These symptoms are common and non-specific, meaning they can be found in many diseases.
When the Adrenal Glands are under stress the nerves that innervate them are affected as well. An upset nerve will affect the surrounding musculo-skeletal system, in particular the 3rd lumbar vertebra. High levels of stress can create tension in the muscles causing them to stiffen or lock up resulting in back pain.
A small gland that makes steroid hormones, adrenaline, and noradrenaline. These hormones help control heart rate, blood pressure, and other important body functions. There are two adrenal glands, one on top of each kidney.
Men and women of all ages are equally affected by adrenal insufficiency, which may be permanent or temporary and can be treated with medications.
Long-term glucocorticoids must be withdrawn slowly to avoid withdrawal reactions, particularly adrenal insufficiency and crisis.
Class Summary. These agents are primarily used to correct glucocorticoid deficiencies. The drugs of choice are hydrocortisone, cortisone, and prednisone.