Cosyntropin Reference

Plain English

What it is

Cosyntropin (brand name Cortrosyn) is a lab-made copy of part of a natural body hormone called ACTH, which signals the adrenal glands. It is an FDA-approved prescription medicine used as a diagnostic test, not as a treatment.

What people use it for

Doctors use it in a clinic to check whether a person's adrenal glands are working. After an injection given by the care team, blood is drawn at set times to see if the body makes enough of the stress hormone cortisol. This helps diagnose adrenal insufficiency, which is when the adrenal glands do not make enough cortisol.

What the science shows

This testing role is its established, label-approved job, and clinicians describe it as the standard way to check adrenal gland function. There is no community or self-use evidence base here because it is a one-time clinic test, not something taken on an ongoing basis.

The catch

It is for diagnosis only and is not a treatment, and it is meant to be given and read by a medical team, not used on your own. Allergic reactions, including rare severe ones (anaphylaxis), can happen. It is not a performance, energy, or fat-loss aid.

Reference summary

Cosyntropin is a label-verified synthetic ACTH 1-24 used in the standard ACTH stimulation test. pepSmart surfaces label-reference content only.

Regulatory and posture

Categories

Hormonal

Aliases

Cortrosyn, Synthetic ACTH 1-24, Tetracosactide

Evidence posture

human

Regulatory status

FDA-approved prescription medication (Cortrosyn). Indicated as a diagnostic for adrenal insufficiency. Clinician-administered.

Content review status

label verified