Adrenal Tumor: Causes, Symptoms, and How Medications Affect Treatment

When an 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 trigger everything from high blood pressure to unexplained weight gain. These glands sit right above your kidneys and make critical hormones like cortisol, adrenaline, and aldosterone. When a tumor forms, it doesn’t always mean cancer—but it almost always means your body’s chemistry is out of balance.

Not all adrenal tumors are the same. Some, like pheochromocytoma, a rare, usually noncancerous tumor that overproduces adrenaline and noradrenaline, cause sudden spikes in blood pressure, sweating, and heart palpitations. Others, like cortisol-secreting tumors, a type of adrenal adenoma that leads to Cushing’s syndrome, make you gain weight around the midsection, develop stretch marks, and feel unusually tired. Then there are tumors that don’t make any hormones at all—called non-functioning tumors—which might never cause symptoms until they grow large enough to press on nearby organs.

What you take as medicine can make a big difference. Steroid medications like dexamethasone, a synthetic corticosteroid used to suppress hormone overproduction and diagnose tumor type, are often part of testing to see if your body is overproducing cortisol. Meanwhile, drugs like alpha-blockers, used to manage dangerously high blood pressure caused by adrenaline-secreting tumors, are critical before surgery. Even common painkillers or cold medicines can interfere with hormone tests or worsen side effects if you have an undiagnosed tumor.

Many people don’t realize adrenal tumors are often found by accident—during a CT scan for back pain or a routine checkup. But once detected, the next steps matter: blood tests, urine collections over 24 hours, imaging, and sometimes genetic screening. Treatment isn’t always surgery. Some tumors are monitored for years. Others need medication to control hormone levels before removing them. And if you’re on long-term steroids for another condition, your doctor should watch for signs your adrenal glands have stopped working normally.

This collection of articles doesn’t just talk about adrenal tumors in isolation. It connects them to real-world medication risks, diagnostic tools, and how drugs like those used for high blood pressure, allergies, or even sleep issues can mask or mimic symptoms. You’ll find guides on reading FDA safety labels, understanding drug interactions with steroids, and how to spot when a side effect isn’t just a side effect—it’s a warning sign. Whether you’re a patient, caregiver, or just trying to understand a recent diagnosis, these posts give you the facts you need without the jargon.