- Presence of medical condition that contraindicates the administration of cortisol, including (but not necessarily limited to) peptic ulcers, Cushing's disease, hypothyroidism, current alcoholism or cirrhosis, hepatitis, diverticulitis, nonspecific ulcerative colitis, myasthenia gravis, seizure disorders, renal insufficiency, disorders of immunosuppression, current viral or bacterial infection, diabetes mellitus, history of myocardial infarction, or recipient of solid organ or bone marrow transplant.