Information

There are a range of causes for pituitary conditions, the most common being a non-cancerous tumour. Other causes include traumatic brain injury.

There are a number of endocrine glands across the body which work together to secrete hormones. There are also several organs that contain endocrine tissue.

Hormones are chemicals which circulate in the blood stream and spread around the body to carry messages or signals to different parts of the body.

The pituitary gland secretes hormones which carry messages around the body via the bloodstream. It controls several hormone glands in the body, including the thyroid, adrenals, ovaries and testes, so is often described as the master gland.

Acromegaly is a hormonal disorder that results from too much Growth Hormone in the body. It can cause parts of the body to grow abnormally.

Cushing's disease is a condition caused by having too much of a hormone called cortisol in your body. It can be serious if it's not treated. Symptoms usually develop gradually and so the diagnosis may not be clear for some time.

Arginine Vasopressin Deficiency (AVP-D), formerly known as Cranial Diabetes insipidus (DI), is caused by a problem with either the production, or action, of the hormone vasopressin (AVP). If you have DI your kidneys are unable to retain water.

There are several symptoms associated with pituitary conditions. These can relate to different pituitary conditions and people will not display all of these symptoms, only the ones relevant to their particular condition.

Cushing's disease is a condition caused by having too much of a hormone called cortisol in your body. Due to the range of symptoms that occur over a long time period it can be difficult to diagnose Cushing’s.

As pituitary conditions are considered rare; your GP may not have come across another person impacted by a pituitary condition. They may investigate more common conditions before considering pituitary. The suggestions given below could be helpful for you when approaching your GP.

Some people affected by pituitary conditions may need surgery to remove the tumour. 

If your pituitary gland isn't functioning properly, you may not produce hormones that are essential for your wellbeing and vital bodily functions. You may need to take hormone replacements which will be prescribed to you by your doctor.

If your child has a pituitary condition, you need to know how to live with giving them additional care day to day. Here is some information and resources to help.

Some adults may need additional support from someone they live with. We can provide support for people caring for others with a pituitary condition.

Being faced with a pituitary condition, with possible life-long implications can be puzzling. We provide support to help you navigate this.

Having a long-term conditions may impact your ability to work, however employers should be able to provide relative adjustments to support you.

Living with a pituitary condition can sometimes be challenging with regard to going to school, homework, exams and going on outings.

We are here to work with you to help support anyone affected by a pituitary condition. We have a range of support services and information for your patients.

If you have a patient with a pituitary condition then we are here to offer additional support and guidance.

As a pharmacist you are on the front line of healthcare and may come into contact with a pituitary patient who is dependent on hydrocortisone (HC). Hospital pharmacists might also be involved in hydrocortisone prescribing, for a patient on a ward or a newly diagnosed patient through the Endocrinology Department.