Drug-induced adrenal insufficiency

Symptoms may include:

• Decreased ability to respond to emotional or physical stress
• Fatigue
• Joint pains (arthralgias)
• Low blood pressure (hypotension), which may cause light-headedness or fainting when you stand after sitting or lying down
• Muscle pains (myalgias)
• Nausea and vomiting
• Shock
• Weakness

Someone who has been taking corticosteroids and has developed this condition will have signs similar to those of a person with Cushing syndrome:

• Obesity around the waist
• Round face
• Streaks on the stomach area

The person will also have signs of adrenal insufficiency.

Tests will look for:

• Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
• Low cortisol level
• Low sodium
• Lower-than-normal response to ACTH

Images

Endocrine glands

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Exogenous adrenal insufficiency Overview

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Exogenous adrenal insufficiency Treatment

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)