Proper
Addison's disease treatment can help control the condition, but there is currently no cure. Treating the disorder consists of counteracting the adrenal gland malfunction by replacing (or substituting) the hormones that the adrenal glands are not producing.
If only cortisol is lacking, treatment for Addison's disease is generally administered with oral hydrocortisone tablets. If aldosterone is also deficient, treatment can be carried out through oral doses of fludrocortisone acetate.
Treatment during an
addisonian crisis is much more extreme because symptoms, such as low
blood pressure or high levels of potassium, can be life-threatening. Treating a crisis involves intravenous injections of hydrocortisone, saline (salt water), and dextrose (sugar).
(Click Addison's Disease Treatment for a more in-depth look at the various methods of treating this condition, a detailed explanation of how cortisol and aldosterone can be replaced or substituted, and other tips and suggestions for treating Addison's.)
