Q: Is there anything an Addison’s patient can do to help or prevent fluid retention, A group member was prescribed BENDROFLUAZIDE but has since read it is not to be given to Addison patients. Have you any recommendations for someone taking bydrecortisone, fludrocortisone and thyroxine.

A: Patients with Addison's Disease who are properly replaced with careful physiological control should not get fluid retention any more than anyone else. Of course a lot of normal people get fluid retention and patients with Addisons are not precluded from this but the fluid retention will not be due to the Addison's if they are property monitored and their therapy is adjusted, generally it is not a good idea for patients with Addison's to take bendrofluazide or other diuretics although occasionally it is necessary if they have hypertension for example. Each case must be judged on its own merits.