Addison's disease is most common during middle age. Stopping steroid medications suddenly and without medical supervision can produce a life-threatening Addisonian crisis. Common symptoms may include weakness and dizziness caused by low blood pressure, vomiting, diarrhea, anemia, loss of weight, and a brownish color of the skin and the membranes lining the mouth. It is difficult to diagnose the condition because it is slow to develop and because there may be occasional, temporary improvements in the patient. Tests can reveal the low amount of adrenal hormones in the blood and a disturbance in the balance of salts in the body fluids.
Treatment following a correct, early diagnosis can be highly effective.
The missing hormones are replaced and recovery is generally speedy.