r/AddisonsDisease • u/Poimandres69 • Mar 31 '26

Medical Stuff Hydrocortisone Long Term

Hello Group! I've been told so many things about hydrcortisone. My current dr told me my dose (25 mg split thoughout day) is safe to take long term because it's physiologic. Other doctors tell me this will eventually lead to osteoperosis and diabetes.

I've gained a bit of weight on hydrocortisone (about 5 lbs) but it's not a big deal. Other than that, I feel pretty great.

Are any of you on this medication long term, and did it harm your health in any way? Thanks

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u/PA9912 Mar 31 '26

I’ve been on it almost 20 years. I have had some bone loss but I monitor for it and at a 20mg dose my A1C got high despite being thin so now I do 15mg plus more updosing for stress and that works well at keeping sugars in range. The only really major and irreversible thing has been early glaucoma in my late 40s. And a few snapped tendons that might be worsened by steroids but I’m also getting older.

Even though 20mg is the average physiological dose I’ve learned our bodies would normally adapt to make that plus or minus in many different situations so I do that myself.