What is Addison's disease?

Addison's disease, a primary hypofunction syndrome, is an insidious, usually progressive hypofunctioning of the adrenal cortex. It is characterized by hypotension (low blood pressure), weight loss, anorexia, weakness, and sometimes a bronze-like melanotic hyperpigmentation of the skin.

How do members experience Addison's disease?

Top 5 symptoms reported by people with Addison's disease*

*Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.

Top treatments taken by people for Addison's disease*

*Data from patients with Addison's disease, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.

Compare treatments taken by people with Addison's disease*

Treatment
Perceived effectiveness
Side effects
Total evaluations
Tried for
Treatment

(Cortef)
Perceived effectiveness
for Addison's disease (1 evaluation)
Side effects
Total evaluations
1
Tried for
Addison's disease (5)

*Data from patients with Addison's disease, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.

Who has Addison's disease on PatientsLikeMe?

Age

Age Proportion # of patients
<20 3
20s 23
30s 35
40s 96
50s 124
60s 119
70+ 39

Distribution of sex

Sex

Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 77
Female 362