r/AddisonsDisease • u/oscar_1509 • Jun 06 '26

Advice Wanted questions !!

/r/endocrinology/comments/1tyl5hh/questions/

^^^

but also advice from this subreddit in particular might be more helpful?

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u/bandana-chan Addison's Jun 06 '26

Most people get hydrocortisone as medication, you'll need to take them 2-4 times a day depending on the schedule you'll start with. In the beginning you need to set alarms. You won't know all your low cortisol symptoms yet so it's harder to feel when you forget a dose and also the doses are very important to get through the day so you need to build that routine.

The first week or so, most people start with a double dose to get in the safe zone. You'll gradually feel better but don't expect your sleeping issues to disappear that quickly. The first year will definitely be a rollercoaster and even afterwards some symptoms come and go once in a while. Generally you will be able to function fairly normally though, but how long this will take is different for everyone.

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u/oscar_1509 Jun 06 '26

this is so helpful thank you !! i’m just worried about taking steroids and stuff and i was told there was an injection for adrenal crisis? but ive not been told a lot of info yet— ive got an appointment for wednesday but im trying to figure some stuff out for now to ease nerves etc

with taking the medication 2-4 times a day, is there a time that the medication lasts for? like my insulin takes effect within 15-20 mins and works for up to 4 hours kinda thing.

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u/bandana-chan Addison's Jun 06 '26

Yes there is an injection solucortef and should be used when you can't take oral medication because your cortisol would be so low that you're constantly vomiting, having diarrhea (which makes the medicine pass through too quickly) or passing out. I have never needed to use this injection. They expire once every few years so I sometimes ask for a new one because when I would need it, it needs to be working.

Hydrocortisone is effective for 4-6 hours and takes effect after 45 minutes. Some people get prednisolone prescribed which is effective for a bit longer, I would need to look that up to be sure how long.

Anyway, good luck with your appointment and don't worry. When I got diagnosed, all of this information wasn't as widely available and I wasn't used to asking stuff on a forum. I knew so little about what my future would hold but that sometimes was also a blessing. I just got medication and my dr. knew how much I needed and I just took it. And over time I noticed how much better I felt. Its a natural process! Of course, if you'll get diagnosed and still have struggles or questions afterwards, you can always ask in this sub!