Cushing's disease, also known as Cushing's syndrome or hypercortisolism, is a medical problem in which your body is exposed to high levels of cortisol, a type of hormone. Sometimes this disease stems from using excessive amounts of oral corticosteroid medication. Sometimes your body forms tumors that produce high levels of this hormone. The Mayo Clinic says that Cushing's disease manifestations include weight gain, a round or moon-like face, easy bruising, and depression or anxiety. A wide variety of treatments are available for Cushing's disease.
Medications
Medications and radiation can help manage Cushing's disease symptoms. According to The Merck Manuals, metyrapone and ketoconazole can be prescribed. Your doctor will prescribe 250 mg to 1 g of metyrapone three times a day or 400 mg of ketoconazole once or three times a day to block your adrenal glands from secreting corticosteroid hormones, such as cortisol. Drugs.com says that metyrapone's common side effects include a headache, dizziness, drowsiness, nausea and light-headedness. Ketoconazole's side effects include nausea, vomiting, a headache, impotence and a skin rash.
Radiation and Surgery
The Mayo Clinic says that radiation and surgery are also a means to treat Cushing's disease. Radiation refers to using high levels of X-ray energy to destroy the adrenal gland tumor causing your increased cortisol levels. Typically, you will receive this treatment for a period of six weeks. Your surgeon can also remove the adrenal tumor to resolve your manifestations of Cushing's syndrome. Sometimes your pituitary gland (located in your brain) produces high levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), which serves as a signal for your adrenal glands to make more corticosteroid hormones. High levels of ACTH lead to high levels of cortisol. Your surgeon may perform a surgical procedure called a hypophysectomy (pituitary gland removal) if your pituitary gland is overactive.
Other Treatments
The Mayo Clinic says that simply stopping oral corticosteroid medications can help decrease the manifestations of Cushing's disease.Typically, corticosteroid medications are used to treat such medical conditions as asthma and arthritis. If you tell your physician when you exhibit Cushing's disease symptoms, she can taper down the corticosteroid medication and prescribe you another medication.
