It’s very important that doctors spend enough time gathering your history details and performing tests before diagnosing the problem and beginning treatment. Patients may also have various underlying illnesses, making a thorough workup with your primary care team a vital part of your care plan. Often, it turns out that patients misdiagnosed with adrenal fatigue actually have postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), a surprisingly common condition. But patients experience no benefits from taking these medications - and in fact, taking prednisone can result in negative side effects and could ultimately even suppress your body’s own ability to produce cortisol.
Sometimes, patients who have been misdiagnosed with adrenal fatigue are prescribed prednisone (a type of steroid) or advised to purchase expensive adrenal supplements to replace the cortisol that is presumed to be missing. Even more concerning: A diagnosis of adrenal fatigue can potentially mask something else going on in your body - something that should be further explored with your care team.
Q: Why is an accurate diagnosis so important?Ī: Unfortunately, adrenal fatigue doesn’t truly explain what’s going on in your body, which can lead to misdiagnosis, mistreatment and unpleasant side effects. The term “adrenal fatigue” is based on the assumption that your adrenal gland has the capacity to fatigue - but certain organs in your body are not so easily subverted. They work constantly and have a huge functional capacity - just like your heart or lungs. They’re responsible for producing, secreting and regulating specific hormones in your body, including cortisol. Q: Is it possible for your adrenal glands to be truly fatigued?Ī: The adrenal glands have a big job. Policyīut the problem with the term “adrenal fatigue,” which is not an officially recognized diagnosis, is that it has been used to describe a group of symptoms when nothing else can be used to explain it.Įndocrinologist Shirisha Avadhanula, MD, discusses the truth about adrenal fatigue and how a proper diagnosis and multidisciplinary care can lead to symptom relief. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center.
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