Adrenal Tumor: Causes, Symptoms, and Medications That Help

When your adrenal tumor, an abnormal growth on one or both adrenal glands that can produce excess hormones or remain harmless. Also known as adrenal mass, it can change how your body handles stress, blood pressure, and energy isn’t just a spot on a scan—it’s a signal your body is out of balance. These tumors form on the adrenal glands, small organs perched on top of your kidneys that make critical hormones like cortisol, adrenaline, and aldosterone. Not all adrenal tumors are cancerous. In fact, most are benign and never cause symptoms. But when they do, they can throw your whole system off—leading to weight gain, high blood pressure, mood swings, or even heart problems.

One major type is pheochromocytoma, a rare tumor that overproduces adrenaline and noradrenaline, causing sudden spikes in blood pressure and panic-like symptoms. Another is Cushing’s syndrome, caused by excess cortisol from a tumor, leading to moon face, muscle weakness, and diabetes-like symptoms. Then there’s aldosterone-producing adenoma, a tumor that pushes too much aldosterone into your bloodstream, making you retain salt, lose potassium, and develop stubborn high blood pressure. These aren’t just medical terms—they’re real conditions that change how you feel every day. Treatment often starts with medication to control hormone levels before surgery. Drugs like ketoconazole or metyrapone help block cortisol, while alpha-blockers like phenoxybenzamine calm the spikes from pheochromocytoma. If you’re on long-term corticosteroids for other reasons, your adrenal glands can shrink, making it harder to recover after stopping—this is why doctors don’t just turn them off suddenly.

What you find in the articles below isn’t just theory—it’s what real people deal with when managing these conditions. You’ll see how timing your meds affects hormone swings, how drug interactions can make adrenal issues worse, and how to spot when a supposed side effect is actually a hidden tumor. There’s also guidance on reading safety alerts for hormone drugs, understanding generic alternatives, and working with your pharmacist to avoid dangerous combinations. Whether you’re newly diagnosed, managing long-term symptoms, or just worried about a scan result, this collection gives you the clear, practical info you need—no fluff, no jargon, just what works.