[[Adrenal insufficiency]] can also occur when the [[hypothalamus]] or the [[pituitary gland]] does not make adequate amounts of the hormones that assist in regulating adrenal function.

This is called [[secondary adrenal insufficiency]] or tertiary adrenal insufficiency and is caused by lack of production of [[ACTH]] in the pituitary or lack of [[CRH]] in the hypothalamus, respectively.