HRT and salivary cortisol test: Do I need to stop... - Thyroid UK

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HRT and salivary cortisol test

hose1975 profile image
9 Replies

Do I need to stop my HRT before undertaking a salivary cortisol and DHEA test? I can't find anything which says to but I have read that HRT and OCP should be stopped for six weeks prior to a short syntacthen test. 

I know I should stop my nasal steroids for a couple of weeks before, and ditch the zinc supplements, but is there anything else? I want as true a picture as possible. Lower salt intake?

Thanks

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hose1975
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SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering

To be on the safe side I'd ask Genova. I've always found them to be very helpful.

hose1975 profile image
hose1975 in reply to SeasideSusie

I did. They told me "Genova are not allowed to advise any patient to stop taking any medication. Please refer to your referring practitioner for advice regarding this matter." (I did ask directly whether I should stop taking my HRT.) :(

Have now emailed again with reformulated question of which medications are known to affect the result enough to give false readings. But may have burnt that particular bridge already!

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply to hose1975

Oh wow! But I suppose it's understandable as we are supposed to go through a 'practioner' for these tests. My query wasn't anything like yours so the reply I got was helpful. Sorry they can't help you. Hopefully someone else will come along with the answer.

radd profile image
radd

hose,

You don't need to stop thyroid meds to do a saliva stress test.

Below is a link detailing all sups and other meds that might affect the cortisol result.

stopthethyroidmadness.com/s...

hose1975 profile image
hose1975 in reply to radd

Thanks. Wasn't thinking of stopping thyroid meds, just wanted to know if HRT was a thing.

radd profile image
radd in reply to hose1975

ooh yeh... sorry hose. I don't know but haven't read that you should.

My HRT includes DHEA and Genova said they couldn't process sex hormone results as the results would be wrong (they also didn't charge). I got a weird DHEA result, but the cortisol results were about what I expected. No way could I stand to stop the meds - I'd feel appalling. I once cut the dose down by 50% for three days and I really noticed the difference.

hose1975 profile image
hose1975 in reply to Angel_of_the_North

Thanks. Mine doesn't (Evorel Conti) but I'll take the patch off for a couple of days just to be on the safe side. Which HRT are you on, out of interest?

Angel_of_the_North profile image
Angel_of_the_North in reply to hose1975

Bioidentical made up specifically for me. So not a brand.

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