What causes salt cravings? - Addison's Disease Message Board

Joan123 · 03-17-2007, 03:03 PM

My son was diagnosed with secondary AI most likely due to previous steroid use for crohn's disease. He started steroid therapy with 5 mg. Pred and 5 mg. Cortef in the morning and 10 mg. Cortef in the evening. He recently weaned to 5 mg. Cortef at night. He has salt cravings which appear to be happening more often. The good news is is that when he eats salt, his headaches go away. Can anyone explain why there are salt cravings? I thought only primary AI people got salt cravings. I asked the endocrinologist and he said something about changes from the metabolizing of sterioids. I didn't get it all as we were interupted in the middle of the conversation and he did not finish explaining it.

k_c_lady · 03-20-2007, 09:32 PM

i still get those cravings. I have been on meds for over a year & a half and still have found little thats helps. Good luck! Kc

orion · 03-20-2007, 10:36 PM

Low DHEA is associated with Crohn's and adrenal insufficiency causes low DHEA. Perhaps you should have your son's DHEAS checked.

Have you tried taking bacteria pills from the health food store. If your son has taken many antibiotics he may have eliminated many of the good intestinal bacteria and the pills can add those back in. Some people find that once the bacteria is properly balanced again, their symptoms are helped significantly.

Joan123 · 03-21-2007, 05:19 AM

I just started him on probiotics yesterday. He said he feels a little better from them but I would have never thought to use them for the salt craving problem. We did it for his IBD.