What it is
Symptoms often develop slowly and can be mistaken for other things. A sudden worsening, called an adrenal crisis, can be triggered by illness, injury or surgery and is an emergency.
People with Addison's disease are taught to increase their medicine when ill ("sick day rules"), usually carry an emergency injection, and carry a card or bracelet saying they are steroid dependent.
Common signs
- Tiredness and muscle weakness
- Low mood, loss of appetite and weight loss
- Dizziness when standing up
- Craving salty food, darker skin in places
How it is usually diagnosed
- Blood tests for cortisol and ACTH
- A synacthen test, which checks how the adrenal glands respond
- Blood tests for sodium, potassium and adrenal antibodies
Records worth keeping
Keeping these together makes each appointment easier, especially when you see a new doctor:
- Your current steroid doses and sick day rules, in writing
- Your steroid emergency card
- Endocrinology letters and test results
- Records of any adrenal crisis and its treatment
Questions to ask your doctor
- How should I change my doses when I am ill?
- When and how should I use the emergency injection?
- What should I tell other doctors, dentists or surgeons?
When to get help right away
Call 112 or go to the nearest emergency department if you have:
- Vomiting or diarrhoea that stops you keeping your tablets down
- Severe weakness, confusion or fainting
- Severe pain in the belly, back or legs with feeling very unwell
This page is general information. It is not a diagnosis and does not replace a doctor who knows your history. Medfold keeps your records organised; it does not interpret them.