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What Is The Difference Between Addisons And Cushings Syndrome?
Question: I have stopped years of prednisone use, now I feel lousy ,tired, no appetite,sweating all the time who should I see ? whatis the difference between addisons and cushings syndrome?
Brief Answer:
Prednisone
Detailed Answer:
Sorry to note how you have been feeling lately.
After having taken prednisone for a number of years and then stopping it, the body may develop a condition called 'Secondary adrenal insufficiency'. It simply means there is a deficiency of 'cortisol' like hormones in the body. Not having enough of this in the body can explain the symptoms you are experiencing. If this condition is undiagnosed and untreated it can be life threatening too.
A good test to start with to see if you truly have this problem, is to check your 'Serum Cortisol levels' at sharp 8 am in the morning. Fasting is not necessary for this lab test. If the levels are below 6.5 then it is quite likely you have this condition. If they are between 6.5 and 15 then it will require expert assessment by a qualified Endocrinologist to determine if further testing is required to confirm or rule out the diagnosis.
Addisons is a traditional eponymous medical term used to describe an acute medical emergency from severe deficiency of cortisol type hormones in the body.
Cushings on the other hand is the excess of cortisol type hormones in the body. The 24 hour urine test you are undergoing for cortisol will help to diagnose Cushings , and not Addisons
Prednisone
Detailed Answer:
Sorry to note how you have been feeling lately.
After having taken prednisone for a number of years and then stopping it, the body may develop a condition called 'Secondary adrenal insufficiency'. It simply means there is a deficiency of 'cortisol' like hormones in the body. Not having enough of this in the body can explain the symptoms you are experiencing. If this condition is undiagnosed and untreated it can be life threatening too.
A good test to start with to see if you truly have this problem, is to check your 'Serum Cortisol levels' at sharp 8 am in the morning. Fasting is not necessary for this lab test. If the levels are below 6.5 then it is quite likely you have this condition. If they are between 6.5 and 15 then it will require expert assessment by a qualified Endocrinologist to determine if further testing is required to confirm or rule out the diagnosis.
Addisons is a traditional eponymous medical term used to describe an acute medical emergency from severe deficiency of cortisol type hormones in the body.
Cushings on the other hand is the excess of cortisol type hormones in the body. The 24 hour urine test you are undergoing for cortisol will help to diagnose Cushings , and not Addisons
Note: For more information on hormonal imbalance symptoms or unmanaged diabetes with other comorbid conditions, get back to us & Consult with an Endocrinologist. Click here to book an appointment.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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