A 52-year-old member asked:
How do you treat adrenal insufficiency?
2 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in

Dr. Quang Nguyenanswered
Specializes in Endocrinology
Meds: It depends on where the problem is. If the adrenal insufficiency is caused by a pituitary dysfunction, then the treatment is steroid (hydrocortisone, prednisone...) if the problem is at the adrenals, then you will need both steroids and a mineralcorticoid (florinef).
6.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Ruth Spectoranswered
Critical Care 36 years experience
Steroid replacements: The adrenal gland produces more than one type of steroid . In adrenal crisis, the patient needs intravenous fluids, intravenous steroids and rest-true crisis to be treated in a hospital setting. With cortisol deficiency, cortisol replacement is needed.-accomplished with hydrocortisone, Prednisone etc..A deficiency of adrenal mineralcorticoid production or aldosterone, Fludrocortisone is treatment.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Similar questions
A 40-year-old member asked:
What is the most common way to treat adrenal insufficiency?
3 doctor answers • 10 doctors weighed in

Dr. Giuseppe Barbesinoanswered
Internal Medicine 34 years experience
Adrenal hormones: Adrenal hormones of two types are usually used:
1) glucorticoids such as hydrocortisone, prednisone, dexamethasone: these regulate blood pressure, glucose levels, the immune system among other things
2) mineralocorticoids such as florinef: they regulate salt balance and blood pressure.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
What is one way to treat an adrenal insufficiency?
1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in

Dr. Philip Kernanswered
Endocrinology 44 years experience
Steroids: If your adrenals have failed (called addison's disease) you need to be on adrenal replacement. This is usually hydrocortisone, maybe with Fludrocortisone too. Be careful, however. There are people treating "adrenal fatigue" with inadequate testing when in fact there is nothing wrong with the adrenals. One cannot rely on symptoms alone. An acth (cortrosyn) stim test is usually done for diagnosis.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Ed Friedlander commented
Pathology 45 years experience
Dr. Kern is right. "Adrenal insufficiency" is a pop fad diagnosis that is given to people who have been abused, are sad, or are having trouble with living situations / living skills. It keeps them coming back instead of getting real life-help that they need. Real adrenal insufficiency / Addison's is rare but is fatal if missed. I hope you have an accurate diagnosis.
Dec 26, 2012
CA
A 33-year-old member asked:
What is adrenal insufficiency?
2 doctor answers • 8 doctors weighed in

Dr. Susan Wingoanswered
Endocrinology 34 years experience
Low adrenal function: The adrenal glands make a number of different hormones, most importantly cortisol. When a person's adrenals cannot make normal amounts of cortisol, they are diagnosed with adrenal insufficiency, or failure. This can be due to a problem in the adrenals (infection, tumor, bleeding, auto-immune destruction) or in the pituitary or parts of the brain that control the adrenals.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Nov 28, 2017
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