44 source-based articles maintained by the HealthRX.com Editorial Team.
Showing 44 of 44 clinical reviews.
A guide to Addison's disease covering primary and secondary adrenal insufficiency, cortisol replacement, fludrocortisone dosing, adrenal crisis recognition, and when to seek emergency care.
Most adrenal adenomas are benign and non-functioning, found incidentally on CT. Learn the hormone workup that decides surveillance vs treatment.
A guide to HPA axis physiology and cortisol management across pregnancy, pediatric populations, long-term steroid users, and athletes with HPA dysfunction. Includes doses, timelines, and evidence-based protocols.
A guide to adrenal cortisol physiology, lab testing, high and low cortisol disorders, and evidence-based treatments with specific drug names, doses, and trial data.
Learn how to recognize adrenal crisis symptoms, distinguish them from steroid withdrawal syndrome, and act fast. Reviewed by board-certified physicians.
A board-reviewed guide to adrenal crisis: what triggers it, how to recognize early warning signs, emergency hydrocortisone dosing, and how to prevent life-threatening adrenal collapse in Addison's disease and secondary adrenal insufficiency.
A clinical overview of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysfunction in athletes, covering overtraining, relative energy deficiency in sport, pregnancy, pediatric cases, and long-term corticosteroid use, with a decision framework for what to check and when to escalate care.
Caffeine raises cortisol 30% or more in naive users and 10-15% in habitual drinkers, peaking 30-60 minutes after intake. See the research and numbers.
A guide to congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH): the enzyme defects behind it, how it differs from Addison's disease and Cushing's syndrome, and the specific glucocorticoid regimens used to treat it.
20mg hydrocortisone (Cortef) equals 5mg prednisone. Compare potency, half-life and dosing to see which suits replacement vs anti-inflammatory use.
Cushing's disease is caused by a pituitary adenoma secreting excess ACTH. Learn how it differs from Cushing's syndrome, Addison's disease, and adrenal crisis, plus current diagnostic criteria and treatment options.
A guide to Cushing's syndrome covering cortisol excess, ACTH-dependent vs independent causes, diagnostic testing, treatment options, and adrenal crisis prevention.
Decadron (dexamethasone) is 25-30x more potent than hydrocortisone, lasts longer, and has minimal mineralocorticoid activity, requiring added fludrocortisone.
A clinical comparison of DHEA supplementation versus no DHEA in Addison's disease, covering trial data, quality-of-life outcomes, dosing protocols, and how DHEA fits alongside hydrocortisone and fludrocortisone regimens.
Adrenal insufficiency vs. Addison's disease explained by the HealthRX.com medical team. Covers cortisol physiology, normal AM cortisol ranges, adrenal fatigue evidence, and Cushing's testing protocols.
Florinef (fludrocortisone) treats adrenal insufficiency and salt-wasting CAH at 0.05-0.2 mg daily. See dosing, side effects, and how it differs from prednisone.
Prednisone treats inflammation with minimal mineralocorticoid effect; fludrocortisone targets sodium retention. Compare potency, doses, and uses here.
A guide to Cushing's syndrome testing, normal AM cortisol ranges, the truth about adrenal fatigue, and what causes low cortisol. Includes specific labs, cutoffs, and next steps.
A detailed breakdown of Cushing's syndrome drug costs, from mifepristone (Korlym) and osilodrostat (Isturisa) to off-label ketoconazole and hydrocortisone replacement therapy.
A step-by-step guide to requesting cortisol testing from your doctor, including which tests to ask for, how to frame your symptoms, and what results actually mean.
A guide to HPA axis dysfunction covering the spectrum from Addison's disease and secondary adrenal insufficiency to Cushing's syndrome and subclinical dysregulation, with diagnostic thresholds and treatment approaches, and where claims still need primary-source verification.
HPA suppression from steroid use can last days to over 12 months. Learn causes, diagnostic tests, tapering steps, and when hydrocortisone is needed.
A guide to hydrocortisone (Cortef) covering FDA-approved uses, physiologic vs. stress dosing, corticosteroid comparisons, side effects, and adrenal insufficiency management protocols.
Generic hydrocortisone runs $8 to $30 a month; brand-name Cortef costs $80 to $200+. Most insured patients pay under $15 with Tier 1 generic coverage.
Evidence-based guide to hydrocortisone replacement dosing for adrenal insufficiency, including stress dose protocols, sick day rules for Addison's disease, and safe prednisone tapering.
A guide to the HPA axis covering normal physiology, Addison's disease, secondary adrenal insufficiency, Cushing's syndrome, and Cushing's disease, with specific doses, trials, and diagnostic thresholds.
Adrenal fatigue is not a recognized medical diagnosis. The real condition behind your symptoms is HPA axis dysregulation, a measurable dysfunction in cortisol signaling. Here is what the science says and what to do about it.
Ketoconazole blocks adrenal cortisol synthesis, normalizing levels in 50-70% of patients; hepatotoxicity risk requires regular liver-function monitoring.
Korlym (mifepristone) blocks cortisol effects to treat hyperglycemia in Cushing's syndrome. Starting dose 300 mg daily; SEISMIC trial showed 60% glucose response.
Evidence-based guide to mitotane (Lysodren) for adrenocortical carcinoma, including current dosing, blood-level monitoring, adrenal replacement, interactions, and safety.
A clinical comparison of modified release hydrocortisone (Plenadren, Chronocort) versus conventional immediate-release hydrocortisone for adrenal insufficiency, including dosing, outcomes, and DHEA replacement evidence.
Long-term corticosteroid use in older adults raises risks of osteoporosis, adrenal suppression, and metabolic harm. Learn evidence-based monitoring, tapering protocols, and protective strategies.
Evidence-based review of osilodrostat (Isturisa) for Cushing's disease: mechanism, dosing, efficacy from LINC 3 and LINC 4 trials, safety, and how it compares to hydrocortisone, prednisone, and other corticosteroids.
A board-reviewed clinical guide to pasireotide (Signifor and Signifor LAR) for Cushing's disease and acromegaly, with direct comparisons to hydrocortisone, prednisone, prednisolone, and dexamethasone across dosing, adrenal suppression, and safety.
Pheochromocytoma causes spells of headache, sweating, and palpitations; diagnosis starts with plasma or urine metanephrines, then imaging and team-based treatment.
A guide to prednisolone covering indications, dosing, side effects, and how it differs from prednisone, hydrocortisone, dexamethasone, and fludrocortisone (Florinef).
Courses under 2 weeks rarely suppress the HPA axis; risk rises after 3+ weeks or doses above 20 mg prednisone/day. See thresholds and taper guidance.
Secondary adrenal insufficiency occurs when the pituitary gland fails to produce enough ACTH, leaving the adrenal glands starved of their main signal. Learn causes, symptoms, diagnosis workup, and hydrocortisone dosing from HealthRX.com's clinical team.
A guide to sick day rules for Addison's disease covering hydrocortisone stress dosing, injectable emergency protocols, and when to go to the ER.
Evidence-based stress dose steroid protocols for adrenal insufficiency, Addison's disease, and surgical patients. Covers hydrocortisone dosing, sick day rules, perioperative coverage, and safe prednisone tapering with cited guidelines.
A complete guide to tapering prednisone safely, including dose reduction schedules, hydrocortisone replacement dosing, stress dose steroid protocols, and sick day rules for adrenal insufficiency.
Low cortisol can result from autoimmune adrenal destruction, pituitary disorders, or long-term steroid withdrawal. Learn the causes, testing, and when to seek treatment.
Missing a dose of hydrocortisone can trigger adrenal crisis in patients with adrenal insufficiency. Learn the risks, symptoms, and emergency steps for skipped cortisol replacement.
Normal morning cortisol ranges from 6 to 18 mcg/dL when drawn between 7 and 9 AM. Learn what cortisol does, what abnormal results mean, and how doctors test for Cushing syndrome and adrenal insufficiency.