What can be done to prevent the condition?

A person who has taken steroid medicine within the last year and is now off the medicine should notify the doctor if he or she is facing a high level of stress. An extra dose of steroids may be needed when a person is going through a time of major stress. For instance, if a person needs surgery, steroids may be given before and after the surgery to prevent problems.

This condition can be brought on by stopping steroid pills too suddenly. If steroids are to be stopped, the doctor will always prescribe what is called a tapering schedule. This means that the person will slowly decrease the amount of steroids taken each day over a period of several days or a week. This tapering continues until the person is no longer taking any medicine.

Here is an example of a steroid-tapering schedule:

NOTE: The schedule listed above is simply an example. Anyone taking steroids will need to get exact instructions from their doctor for a safe tapering schedule.

Other causes of sudden adrenal crisis are much harder to prevent. Early treatment of certain infections, such as tuberculosis, may prevent some cases.

What are the long-term effects of the condition?

If untreated, an acute adrenal crisis can cause shock, coma, and even death. All of these can usually be avoided with proper treatment.

What are the risks to others?

Acute adrenal crisis is not catching and does not pose a risk to others.