Exogenous adrenal insufficiency

Alternative Names

Drug-induced adrenal insufficiency

Symptoms

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

Signs and tests

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

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Exogenous adrenal insufficiency

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).