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Hypopituitarism

Hypopituitarismus · Hypopituitarismus

What it is

The pituitary makes too little of one or more hormones — after a tumour, surgery, radiation, head injury or bleeding — so thyroid, adrenal, sex and growth hormones fail.

Symptoms & signs

  • Tiredness and weakness
  • feeling cold and weight gain
  • loss of periods or libido
  • low blood pressure and dizziness
  • pale skin
  • a child not growing

🚩 Get help if…

  • call 112 / 911 now Vomiting, faintness or collapse (adrenal crisis)
  • call 112 / 911 now Sudden severe headache with vision loss
  • see a doctor soon Illness with fever while taking steroid replacement — double the dose and seek help
  • see a doctor soon Very thirsty and passing large amounts of urine

Where it strikes

Medical treatment

  • Morning hormone and stimulation tests; MRI
  • replace cortisol first, then thyroxine
  • sex hormones
  • growth hormone
  • steroid sick-day rules
  • weekly growth hormone (somapacitan and others) — approved (FDA, EMA)
  • modified-release hydrocortisone (Plenadren) — EU-approved for adrenal insufficiency

Natural & lifestyle

  • Carry a steroid card
  • regular follow-up

Emerging & experimental

  • Pituitary organoid transplants (animal studies)

Alternative, off-label & anecdotal

Approaches used outside the guidelines, with what their supporters report and what testing has found so far.

  • Adaptogenic herbs — cannot replace missing hormones anecdotal / traditional
  • 'Adrenal fatigue' supplements — some contain hidden steroids not confirmed in trials
  • Vitamin D and bone care — standard support early / small studies

ICD codes