What is an Adrenal Crisis?

An Adrenal Crisis is a life-threatening medical emergency that happens when someone with Adrenal Insufficiency has a sudden, severe drop in cortisol levels. Without immediate treatment, it can cause shock, coma, and death.

What triggers it?

• Illness or infection (even a "simple" stomach bug).
• Surgery or trauma.
• Severe stress.
• Vomiting/diarrhea (cannot absorb oral steroids).
• Forgetting steroid doses.

Symptoms:

• Severe weakness & confusion.
• Severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting.
• Low blood pressure (fainting, shock).
• High potassium, low sodium (on labs).

Emergency Treatment:

Call 911 IMMEDIATELY. Tell them "Adrenal Crisis" and "Patient needs IV Hydrocortisone."

• At Home: If you have an emergency injection kit (Solu-Cortef 100mg IM), give it RIGHT AWAY. Do NOT wait.
• At Hospital: IV Hydrocortisone 100mg stat, IV fluids, and monitoring.

Prevention (Stress Dosing):

During illness, surgery, or stress, you MUST increase your steroid dose:

• Minor illness (cold, fever): Double your dose.
• Moderate illness (flu, vomiting): Triple your dose.
• Severe illness or surgery: IV steroids in the hospital.

Golden Rule: When in doubt, take extra steroids. Too much for a few days is safer than too little.