Metopirone

If your healthcare provider has prescribed the single-dose test, you can do this test at a clinic without staying overnight at the hospital. You'll take one dose of Metopirone at midnight with yogurt or milk. The next morning, your provider will draw your blood so that your response can be checked. You'll also receive a dose of cortisone to prevent any serious reactions from the medication. For the multiple-dose test, you'll need to stay at the hospital for 6 days. On day 1, your provider will take a 24-hour urine sample. On day 2, you'll be given a dose of ACTH and another 24-hour urine sample will be taken (this is to make sure the Metopirone dose is safe for you to take). On days 3 and 4, you will have a rest period. And on day 5, Metopirone will be given every 4 hours with food or milk for 6 doses. On day 6, your provider will take another 24-hour urine sample to determine your response.

No, Metopirone isn't a steroid. It works just as well as high-dose steroid tests for diagnosing Cushing Syndrome. So Metopirone might be a good option for those wanting to avoid steroid use.

Your provider will have to send a prescription for Metopirone to a specific pharmacy, which will deliver the medication to your home. You won't be able to find Metopirone at a regular retail pharmacy.

Yes, the single-dose Metopirone test is typically taken at home and you'll go to your provider's office the next morning for a blood test. But if your provider thinks that your adrenal glands don't work normally, you might have to go to a clinic or hospital and take the single-dose test under medical supervision. This is to keep you safe from potentially having a dangerous reaction to the medication. The multiple-dose test is done in a healthcare setting because 24-hour urine samples must be collected on days 1, 2, and 6.