Cortisol levels

[Jukebox55]

Hello everyone,

I have recently finally come off pramipexole after 6 months weaning off and I appear to be one of the lucky ones that the iron oral therapy has significantly helped my restless legs. However, I am still not sleeping well and have dipped into the hormonal debate… I think I have high cortisol levels at the wrong time with low progesterone. I have had a 9am blood test for cortisol and it came back at 521. I know that cortisol levels change throughout the day and it would be better to have the four times a day urine test, which I am going to organise. Does anyone know whether this level is high or low for a 9am test. The GPs just said it was normal… Any help would be much appreciated.

[SueJohnson]

Searching on the internet, that is a normal result. Normal includes up to 690.

[RLSgirl]

I believe your cortisol levels are highest in the AM.

Ive had saliva cortisol testing done. I don't know how that compares to urine testing.

[teakabeagle]

Cortisol levels vary through out the day. There is a cortisol silence around 3 am which awakens a lot of people and they can’t get back to sleep.

Meditation is very useful in lower cortisol levels, I used to have levels above 1000. I started meditation regularly and my hot levels are now half that.

[Jukebox55]

thanks, good to know! I have started taking a plethora of supplements to reduce it eg vit C, B5, radiola, ginseng, l-tyrosine etc… What medication has helped you?

[Hidden]

jukebox, can you please explain your oral iron therapy that has helped you

[Jukebox55]

hi Salem,

I followed all the crucial advice on here. I took six months to come off pramipexole and at the same time took 40mg of gentle iron, on alternate nights on an empty stomach . My ferritin levels gradually increased from lie 20s to almost 100. A long slow process but worth it! Look up all the articles on iron therspy on here. Good luck!

[DesertOasis in reply to Jukebox55]

Hi again. I deleted myself. I have a similar protocol regarding the iron only I have to take every night. It gets rid of the RLS in about one hour for one night. I believe that our night time RLS has less to do with ferritin (stored iron) and more to do with serum iron. Anyways, I’m glad you’re better. Your case rules in favor of “raising ferritin will help your RLS.”

I also find the ferrous bisglycinate sedating. Much more so when I first started. Probably the glycine in it. One night when you can’t sleep you can try popping one. Or else there’s trazodone. I think of it as an Ambien alternative or Benedryl for RLSers. They come in 50mg tabs. Start with 1/2 pill. Maybe talk to doc about it since he will need to prescribe it