Sign in

or Register now

MyAsthmaCentral.com

See all of our health sites at www.HealthCentral.com
Monday, November 23, 2009
  • Font size
  • Bookmark
  • Save
Are you an asthma suffer?  Manage your asthma or COPD with great ideas from people like you.Start here.

Exogenous adrenal insufficiency

Endocrine glands
Endocrine glands
Definition

Exogenous adrenal insufficiency is a condition in which the adrenal glands release too little of the hormone cortisol, but there is no problem with the glands themselves.

See also: Addison's disease


Alternative Names

Drug-induced adrenal insufficiency


Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Steroid medications called glucocorticoids (such as prednisone, hydrocortisone, and dexamethasone) are similar to the natural hormone, cortisol, which is produced by the adrenal glands. They are used to treat a variety of conditions, including many inflammatory diseases such as asthma and some forms of arthritis.

Glucocorticoids can slow down the production of adrenal hormones by acting on the pituitary gland, the master gland that controls the adrenal glands.

If glucocorticoids are stopped or decreased too quickly, the adrenal glands may not begin making cortisol again fast enough to meet the body's needs. Adrenal insufficiency may result. This condition usually occurs when glucocorticoid drugs are given by pill or injection, rather than on the skin or inhaled. Higher doses and longer treatments increase the risk of adrenal insufficiency.

Quickly stopping treatment with glucocorticoids is the most common cause of exogenous adrenal insufficiency.

Other drugs that may cause adrenal insufficiency include:

  • Aminoglutethimide
  • Fludrocortisone
  • Ketoconazole
  • Megestrol
  • Metyrapone
  • Mitotane

These drugs have direct effects on the adrenal glands. They decrease glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid hormone production.



Review Date: 08/09/2008
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Deborah Wexler, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Endocrinologist, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).
  • Font size
  • Bookmark
  • Was this helpful? Yes
  • Save

Ask a Question

Get answers from our experts and community members.

View all questions (690) >
Free Newsletter
Get weekly updates, news alerts and more on Asthma and related health conditions.