Has anyone had adrenal suppression as... - Lung Conditions C...
Has anyone had adrenal suppression as side effect of symbicort? I have so 10mg of hydrocortisone for life and still take the symbicort.
Yes I have it too and like you have to take steroids every day for the rest of my life. I have been on and off them for years then was put on them permanently for a year to try to give me a spell of time without infection combined with anti biotics 3 times a week. I came off the abs after the winter had finished wich worked well for me but was told I could not come of steroids until I had been into hospital for a short synathecan test to see if long use of steroids had affected my Adrenal Glands. The results came back that they had and as a result my immune system was not working right. I now take 5mg a day but if I get any infection wether its lung related or not i have to take between 30 0r40 a day for a week tapering off 1 a day until i am back to 1 daily. I did not know that taking steroids could stop the adrenal glands working at the time of agreeing to take them for a year however it seemed the best option at the time and at least the problem has been picked up and being sorted I am lucky to have an excellent consultant, I do wonder how many people out there may have the same problem but are not aware of it because their consultant or GP are not aware of it especially those that only see a GP. I do hate having to take steroids daily but realise i have no choice now.Ironic that the very drug that stopped them working is also the one used to treat them Best wishes
Hi Lovemelovemydogs, I was interested in what you and Stanjory had to say . I`d had numerous episodes of taking pred for asthma and COPD but was on steroids for over 12 months for Polymyalgia and haven`t been well since. What is the synathecan test ? Also Stanjory said he was on hydrocortisone. Once when I was in hospital they injected me with hydrocortisone at first before going on to Pred. Does anyone know why they don`t use hydrocortisone for us instead of prednisolone ?
Best wishes, Sheila
Thank you so much for your reply. I'm new to the site and you are the 1st person I've come across who has the same condition as me. It was only through a series of standard checks under my consultant that threw up that I had adrenal suppression and then I got referred to an endocrinologist who did the synathecan tests. I had it done twice but then they confirmed the damage was permanent. The only good thing was it got me free presrcitpions! You are so right as many of the GPs I've seen over the past 6 years have not come across it at all. And yes I too appreciate the irony! That's why I satyed on the symbicort as they said the damage was already done and that it was the best inhaler for me. After I read the leaflet again I saw it was a pssible side effect. I did once consider suing them but life's too short 
Thanks again.
Welcome to the site I have not been on it long either. I also take symbicort. and spiriva and i have bronciciecatasis and copd . I lost my Dad to copd last year to. My husband has been really unwell since Christmas and is going through tests for Lung cancer and copd at the moment I find the site is really helpful and the people lovely we are very lucky to have such a lovely bunch of people it makes you feel less isolated i think as well as being helpful. Best wishes
So sorry to hear of all your problems. I lost both parents to COPD so you have my sympathies. I hope your husbands diagnosis is soon forthcoming and you can deal with it as best you can.
Take good care and thanks again for your warm welcome.
Hi MSKPJB. A short synathecan test is basically a blood test then chemicals injected into the body and then another blood test they then compare the results of the 2 blood tests to see how well the adrenal glands are working . The test is done as a day patient in hospital (only took couple of hours) mainly because there is a chance of side effects from the chemical. If you have been on permanant prednislone for over 6 months it can cause the glands to stop working or slow right down this is because they mimic the job of the glands while you are on them and in some cases this causes them to stop working completley, resulting in a week immune system and inability to fight any infection at all. Unfortunatley
the only treatment is to take extra prednislone every time you are unwell to boost the glands.I hate having to do it because of the side effects. I would think if you have been on long term steroids and are always tired and weak it would be a good idea to get your doctor to test you for this alot of Doctors do not seem to be aware of it i am lucky to have a very good consultant , but I do worry that a lot of people have this problem and are not aware of it. I hope this helps you Best wishes
