Project Peach
Plashet Pharmacy Logo
We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience. By clicking 'I Understand and Accept', you consent to our use of cookies.
I understand and accept
No, I don't want to use cookies
My Account
Control Panel
An example toast message
hello@plashetpharmacy.co.uk
0208 472 4560
Login
en
en
Plashet Pharmacy Logo
Menu
en
en
Change Language
Login
My Account
Control Panel
Order Prescription
Book Consultation
Services
Our Pharmacy
Our App
Health & Advice
Log Out
Order Prescription
Book Consultation
Login
Login
en
en
hello@plashetpharmacy.co.uk
0208 472 4560
Login
en
en
Plashet Pharmacy Logo
Menu
en
en
Change Language
Login
My Account
Control Panel
Order Prescription
Book Consultation
Services
Our Pharmacy
Our App
Health & Advice
Log Out
Order Prescription
Book Consultation
Login
Login
en
en
Acromegaly
Symptoms of acromegaly

Symptoms of acromegaly can develop slowly. They may include:

  • swollen hands and feet
  • tiredness or difficulty sleeping
  • sleep apnoea
  • sweating
  • numbness and weakness in your hands
  • abnormal height growth in children and teenagers (gigantism)
  • body growth – feet, fingers, head, tongue and neck may increase in size
  • headaches
  • joint pain
  • thicker, more oily skin
  • a deeper voice
  • irregular periods
  • erection problems

You usually get acromegaly between the ages of 30 and 50 years old, but you can get symptoms at any age.

See a GP if:

  • you think you may have acromegaly

Early diagnosis and treatment can stop symptoms getting worse.

Causes of acromegaly

Acromegaly is usually caused by an adenoma (a non-cancerous tumour) in the pituitary gland. This is a pea-sized gland at the back of your brain. An adenoma can cause you to produce too much growth hormone.

Acromegaly is not usually passed on from your parents (inherited).

What happens at your appointment

Acromegaly may take time to be diagnosed.

If the GP thinks you have it, they may ask to see photographs of you from the past couple of years to check any changes.

They may also refer you to a specialist for tests, including:

  • blood tests
  • an MRI scan of your brain to see if you have a tumour
Treatments for acromegaly

Treatments for acromegaly can include:

  • surgery to remove the tumour
  • radiotherapy to target the tumour and reduce growth hormone levels
  • injections or tablets to reduce growth hormone levels

Treatment usually stops your body producing too much growth hormone and usually improves your symptoms.

After treatment, you'll continue to have appointments with a specialist. They can monitor how well your pituitary gland is working and check that your treatment is right for you.

Complications of acromegaly

Acromegaly can increase your risk of:

You'll have regular health checks to monitor these conditions, including colonoscopy screenings to check for bowel polyps.

Recording information about you and your condition

If you have acromegaly, your care team will pass information on to the National Congenital Anomaly and Rare Disease Registration Service (NCARDRS).

This helps scientists find better ways to treat and prevent this condition. You can opt out of the register at any time.

Last Reviewed
20 February 2025
NHS websiteNHS website
Plashet Pharmacy Logo
Download the Plashet Pharmacy App
Download on the App Store
Contact Us
Pharmacy Services
Order Prescriptions
Patient Account Deletion 
Health A-Z
Healthy Living Zone
Download Our App
Do Something
Do Something
Pay securely with
Amex Logo
Apple Pay Logo
Diners Logo
Discover Logo
JCB Logo
Mastercard Logo
Visa Logo
Privacy Policy
Cookies Policy
Terms & Conditions
Plashet Pharmacy © 2025