This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Sign in
Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Management of hypoadrenalism

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Management is directed towards rapid elevation of circulating glucocorticoid and replacement of salt and glucose loss.

By the General Practitioner:

  • hydrocortisone 100 mg im - effects last 6 hrs - or 100 mg iv - effects last 4 hrs, blood sample, immediate transfer to hospital

In hospital:

  • hydrocortisone 100 mg im or iv
  • 1 litre normal saline infused over 30-60 mins with 5% dextrose if hypoglycaemic; several litres may needed subsequently
  • continue hydrocortisone 6 hourly until the patient is stable - at this dose, no fludrocortisone is required because high cortisol exerts weak mineralocorticoid action
  • oral replacement may begin after 24 hours and be reduced to maintenance over 3-4 days
  • fludrocortisone may be introduced later

Related pages

Create an account to add page annotations

Create a free account

Add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation, such as a web address or phone number. This information will always be displayed when you visit this page

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.