What to do in an emergency -Addisonian crisis

By:  Katherine White  Wednesday, 28. July 2004

In an emergency, anyone with Addison’s disease can experience symptoms of extreme weakness, a serious drop in blood pressure and mental confusion.  This means they need extra steroid medication immediately, and may need an emergency injection. 

As a general rule, an Addisonian should give themselves an emergency injection of 100mg hydrocortisone sodium (Efcortesol or Solu-Cortef) if they vomit more than once.

The causes of an Addisonian crisis

• Severe physical shock, e.g. a car accident

• Severe infection, e.g. flu with a high temperature

• Severe dehydration, e.g. stomach bug with vomiting

The symptoms of an Addisonian crisis

• Extreme weakness

• Mental confusion

• Extreme drowsiness, in advanced cases slipping towards a coma

• Pronounced dizziness

• Nausea and/or vomiting

• Severe headache

• Abnormal heart rate – either too fast or too slow

• Abnormally low blood pressure

• Feeling extremely cold        

• Possibly a fever

• Possibly abdominal tenderness

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