What are real signs of adrenal insufficiency?

Reviewed by Yoshinori Abe, MD

Internal Medicine

Adrenal insufficiency is a condition in which the adrenal glands do not produce enough essential hormones, leading to a range of noticeable symptoms. Common signs include persistent fatigue, muscle weakness, unexplained weight loss, low blood pressure (which may cause dizziness), and hyperpigmentation, or darkening of the skin. Because these symptoms overlap with many other conditions, they are often overlooked or misdiagnosed.

If you're experiencing any combination of these symptoms, it's important to investigate further—untreated adrenal insufficiency can become serious. Take a free, instant, online symptom check to better understand what may be going on and confidently navigate your next steps.

Reviewed for medical accuracy: 07/15/2026

Important Next Steps

Learn if adrenal insufficiency could explain symptoms Discover serious signs of adrenal insufficiency today Find out what adrenal insufficiency feels like See OTC options for symptom relief Find an endocrinologist for adrenal issues Understand medically proven home remedies for symptoms Check if symptoms need urgent care now

Not seeing your question? No worries.

Submit your own Question

Explanation

Adrenal insufficiency happens when the adrenal glands do not make enough of certain hormones. This can lead to several symptoms.

Common Signs:

Tiredness and Weakness: People often feel very tired and weak because their body is not getting the hormones it needs.
Weight Loss: Without enough hormones, the body may lose weight even if the person is eating normally.
Low Blood Pressure: This can make a person feel dizzy or lightheaded, especially when standing up quickly.
Skin Changes: The skin might become darker, especially in areas like scars or skin folds.

These symptoms happen because the adrenal glands are not working well. If you're experiencing any of these symptoms, try our free AI symptom checker to better understand what might be happening, then talk to a doctor who can provide a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.

(References)

Martin-Grace J, Dineen R, Sherlock M, & Thompson CJ. (2020). Adrenal insufficiency: Physiology, clinical presentation and .... Clinica chimica acta; international journal of clinical chemistry, 32035851.
Husebye ES, Pearce SH, Krone NP, & Kämpe O. (2021). Adrenal insufficiency. Lancet (London, England), 33484633.
Hahner S, Ross RJ, Arlt W, Bancos I, Burger-Stritt S, Torpy DJ, et al. (2021). Adrenal insufficiency. Nature reviews. Disease primers, 33707469.

Thinking about asking ChatGPT?Ask me instead

Tell your friends about us.

We would love to help them too.

For First Time Users

What is Ubie’s Doctor’s Note?

We provide a database of explanations from real doctors on a range of medical topics. Get started by exploring our library of questions and topics you want to learn more about.

Was this page helpful?

Purpose and positioning of servicesUbie Doctor's Note is a service for informational purposes. The provision of information by physicians, medical professionals, etc. is not a medical treatment. If medical treatment is required, please consult your doctor or medical institution. We strive to provide reliable and accurate information, but we do not guarantee the completeness of the content. If you find any errors in the information, please contact us.