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What Are the Symptoms?

Over time, Addison's disease leads to these symptoms:

• Chronic fatigue and muscle weakness.
• Loss of appetite, inability to digest food, and weight loss.
• Low blood pressure (hypotension) that falls further when standing. This makes a person dizzy, sometimes to the point of fainting.
• Blotchy, dark tanning and freckling of the skin. This is most noticeable on parts of the body exposed to the sun, but also occurs in unexposed areas. Darkened skin is particularly likely to occur on the forehead, knees, and elbows or along scars, skin folds, and creases (such as on the palms).
• Blood sugar abnormalities, including dangerously low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).
• Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
• Inability to cope with stress.
• Moodiness, irritability, and depression
• Intolerance to heat or cold.
• Craving of salty foods.

Some of these symptoms may indicate conditions other than Addison's disease. If you experience any of the symptoms, talk with your doctor about whether Addison's disease or another condition may be the cause.

Because symptoms of Addison's disease progress slowly, they may go unrecognized until a physically stressful event, such as another illness, surgery, or an accident. All of a sudden, the symptoms may get much worse. When this happens, it's called an Addisonian crisis. For one in four people with Addison's disease, this is the first time they realize they are ill. An Addisonian crisis is considered a medical emergency because it can be fatal.

Symptoms of an Addisonian crisis include:

• Sudden penetrating pain in the lower back, abdomen, or legs.
• Severe vomiting and diarrhea, followed by dehydration.
• Low blood pressure.
• Loss of consciousness.