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Signs & Symptoms of Adrenal Suppression

A number of things can contribute to adrenal suppression in the body, including glucocorticoid deficiency, sudden ceasing of steroid asthma inhaler use, autoimmune disease, tuberculosis, infection, cancer and even adrenal gland bleeding. In addition, adrenal suppression can also be caused due to a diseased pituitary gland. The causes of adrenal suppression dictate the signs and symptoms; therefore, they can range from something as simple as craving salt to loss of consciousness.

  1. Primary Adrenal Suppression

    • This is the most serious type of adrenal suppression and results due to damage to the adrenal cortex. Damage to the adrenal cortex inhibits its ability to produce needed hormones. This damage is due to autoimmune disease, which causes the body to attack itself, mistakenly thinking the adrenals are a foreign invader.

    Signs and Symptoms of Primary Adrenal Suppression

    • Weight loss, hyperpigmentation (the darkening of the skin) and vomiting are some signs of primary adrenal suppression that others may notice about you. Irritability, depression, eventual dehydration, hypotension (low blood pressure), muscle fatigue and weakness are some symptoms of this type of adrenal suppression, as well as muscle or joint pain and diarrhea.

    Secondary Adrenal Suppression

    • This type of suppression can occur when an asthmatic person has been using a steroid inhaler but suddenly ceases use for some reason. In addition, another cause of this type of suppression is the result of the pituitary gland being diseased and unable to make the adrenocortiocotropic hormone (ACTH), which is responsible for stimulating the adrenals and their hormone production.

    Differences between Primary and Secondary Signs and Symptoms

    • Both the primary and the secondary adrenal suppressions share signs and symptoms, with the only variance generally being that the secondary type does not have hyperpigmentation. In addition, the dehydration as well as hypotension is less prominent in this type.

    Sudden and Severe Onset Symptoms

    • If adrenal suppression comes on suddenly without prior warning of its presence, the symptoms can include loss of consciousness, low blood pressure, low blood sugar levels, severe diarrhea and vomiting (resulting in dehydration), hyperkalemia (high potassium levels due to adrenal failure) and pain in the legs, back and abdomen.

    Warning

    • Immediate medical attention is needed if the sudden and severe symptoms mentioned above occur, as this is referred to as Addisonian crisis and can be life-threatening. Medical help will typically consist of injections of one or more of the following in these situations: dextrose (sugar), saline solution and hydrocortisone.

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