Ways to lower cortisol at night

[jodyel]

Hi All,

Do any of you have high cortisol at night? And have you found a way to lower it so you can sleep? I am still struggling with this and have tried a few things but nothing successful yet.

Thanks,

jodyel

[shaws Administrator]

I have read that taking Vitamin C helps cortisol levels.

psychologytoday.com/article...

drdavidwilliams.com/how-to-...

[jodyel in reply to shaws]

Thank you. Someone else recommended Holy Basil. Have you tried that?

[jodyel in reply to shaws]

Normally it takes something as strong as a Xanax to knock me out but I'd rather not resort to using that again.

[shaws Administrator in reply to jodyel]

I only tried NAX but it made me feel worse so I think things settled down itself.

[jodyel in reply to shaws]

They wreak havoc with my mental health condition but not so badly when I am on my medication. But I don't want to take them very long. I usually have a few on hand just in case I have to get up in the morning and be somewhere but that is not often, thank goodness.

[Itsjakefromstatefarm in reply to shaws]

Wow didn't know this. Great news

[jodyel in reply to Itsjakefromstatefarm]

Xanax is wreaking havoc all right but not with my mental health. Turns out it is wreaking havoc with my adrenal glands. The adrenals are our stress/fight or flight hormone and without it we will die. Xanax lowers my cortisol even more, so it is no wonder I go into a downward tail spin when I take the stuff. I am making a bad situation so much worse when I do that. I am so happy I finally realized why I couldn't get any relief using it and others could. Others are not in the final stage of adrenal fatigue. Taking thyroid meds has the same effect on the adrenals. I'm surprised I'm still here to tell the story after all this. Ha!

I knew all this originally, except for the Xanax connection, but in my hurry to get well I neglected my adrenals and jumped right into thyroid meds. I'd treated my adrenals previously but deep down I knew they weren't ready to take on the task of supporting my thyroid or anything else.

And when I found this list at the link below, wheels began turning. I still wasn't fully convinced, but a post at a thyroid group on Facebook confirmed what I was already thinking. The woman said she went thru all the same symptoms I was having and was also taking mental health meds to keep some of them under control. Once she found the root cause (fried adrenals) and began treating them all her other symptoms resolved. Her thyroid kicked in and started doing its job and she had no more anxiety or depression hence no more need for medication to treat them. Eureka!!

So I have decided to do the same. I am going to start increasing cortisol while tapering off all the T3 and the Zoloft and Effexor. As it happens, I am not able to get my Zoloft this month and it seemed a sign telling me that I may not need it, or the Effexor, after all. Time will tell.

Btw, here is the link to the adrenal symptoms:

stopthethyroidmadness.com/a...

[humanbean]

Some things that I've tried to lower cortisol, or have heard of from others :

Phosphatidyl serine (available on Amazon and at various supplement sites)

Phosphorylated serine (this is sold with the brand name Seriphos - made by a US company called Interplexus - not so easy to get hold of, but often cheaper than the suggestion above)

Holy Basil

Rhodiola Rosea

draxe.com/7-adaptogen-herbs...

moodcure.com/pdfs/Townsend-...

I struggled to lower my cortisol, and I'm not convinced that anything worked brilliantly. However I do think my levels have improved anyway. I really need to do another saliva test to find out for sure. I definitely sleep much better than I used to.

One thing I've often read on thyroid forums is we should take vitamin and mineral supplements to "support the adrenals". I never understood what that meant exactly, it was just a string of words that explained nothing to me personally..

But now I've come up with an explanation that makes sense to me.

When people think of stress they generally think of psychological stress e.g. grief, depression, anxiety, being bullied, going through divorce... I can't say anything or do anything that will help people get over that kind of stress, and I can't fix it in my own life either.

But I'm convinced that being less than optimal with vitamin and mineral levels causes physical and physiological stress to the body. And if we can reduce those types of stress then the body will lower cortisol levels. So I would suggest your cortisol levels will reduce if you can lower your physical and physiological stress because you have at least some control over those. Obviously this isn't a simple solution and it could take a fair while, but at least it makes sense (to me, anyway).

Other comments - thinking more about sleeping than cortisol, and these may not all lower cortisol. However, sleeping better is another thing that will reduce stress, and hopefully cortisol too. :

I take 5-HTP at night for depression and because it increases the melatonin in my body. Melatonin is the substance the body produces at night to persuade it to go to sleep. Note that anti-depressants can't be mixed, so if you already take an anti-d you can't take 5-HTP as well.

Melatonin - can be bought as a supplement in its own right, but in the UK it can only be bought online, it isn't available in the shops.

Herbal sleep supplements e.g. Herbal Nytol, work for some people.

Sleep supplements that include anti-histamines of the drowsy type - not good for people long-term. I would avoid.

I actually find a tiny dose of T3 last thing at night, just before I turn the light out, helps me sleep.

[jodyel in reply to humanbean]

Thanks humanbean! How much of a tiny dose of the T3?

I have tried melatonin. Can't take the 5-HTP because I already take Effexor and Zoloft. Normally I use an antihistamine called Chlor-trimeton. None work very well.

I have also been very shaky today and the only thing I can trace it to is the iodine I have been putting on my keloid on my leg. I used one drop last night, just one, and all day long today I have been terribly shaky. Could my adrenals be that depleted? Kind of amazes me.

[humanbean in reply to jodyel]

Regarding using anti-histamines and getting to sleep, the drowsy kind have been linked to an increased risk of dementia :

medicalnewstoday.com/articl...

bbc.co.uk/news/health-30988643

I don't take a lot of T3, so a tiny dose for me is just 1/4 of a tablet. But for someone on a higher dose it might well be more.

I'm afraid I don't know anything about iodine in relation to the adrenal glands (or in relation to anything else for that matter).

[jodyel in reply to humanbean]

Thank you. I have noticed my mental faculties are not that sharp anymore. I had an excellent memory but now I sometimes struggle with that.

Okay, 1/4 is good to know. I wonder how that works in helping you get to sleep.

No worries on the adrenals but thank you for everything else!

[jodyel in reply to humanbean]

I think I have been going in the wrong direction all this time and already had such low cortisol I was almost dead. See my latest post nearer the top of the page.

And to make it doubly confusing, high or low cortisol cause the same symptoms. If I'd done the saliva test, I probably would not have wasted all this time. So am going back to the drawing board with my adrenals and will taper, and eventually stop, the other medication completely.

If all my symptoms improve on just the cortisol, then I've got my answer.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Have you had vitamin D levels checked? 

Have you considered adding magnesium supplement (especially if already taking vitamin D supplements) 

[jodyel in reply to SlowDragon]

No, I have not SlowDragon. But I will look into it now.

Others have mentioned magnesium so will look into that too.

I have just purchased so many supplements that have not worked that I tend to bypass any suggestions of more.

Thanks!

[jodyel]

I just ordered these products.

Absorbable Calcium 1200 mg with Vitamin D 1000 IU 

Holy Basil Extract 450 mg

Magnesium (glycinate)

So will see how they help me sleep.

[jodyel in reply to jodyel]

Okay, have only used the above supplements a couple of times so really not enough time to say.

The Magnesium has only helped my digestion if you get my drift.

Holy basil.....meh...but will keep trying and see.

Calcium and Vitamin D....no idea but will keep taking.

I have started to take 5mg of cortisol before sleeping and that seems to help. I find it easier to sleep with nothing except that bit of cortisol and sometimes a tiny bit of T3.

Now the tough part seems to be getting going when I wake up. Doesn't feel like a restful sleep. This morning I resorted to a caffeine tablet and whoa....I was alert and awake. But also very shaky. So not ideal.

[Justiina in reply to jodyel]

Caffeine in any form does not agree with high or low cortisol.

Caffeine makes your blood sugar drop which pushes your adrenal glands to produce cortisol to signal liver to release glucose. So it is never ending circle.

Either way high or low cortisol the protocol is the same with avoiding caffeine, chocolate, sugar, just protein , alcohol, nicotine and any stimulant for example computer, TV, smart phone, arguing etc.

[humanbean in reply to jodyel]

The title of this thread is "Ways to lower cortisol at night "

so I'm a bit puzzled - why are you taking cortisol at night?

[jodyel in reply to humanbean]

I've read that taking a tiny bit at night helps....go figure. If I find the article again, I will post. I was skeptical myself but seems to work. What a merry go round this is. Not logical at all.

[jodyel in reply to humanbean]

Also, I have "assumed" my cortisol was high at night and that was what was keeping me awake but since I do not know that for sure (no saliva test taken), could it be that is not the culprit? How taking it at night helps I don't know but sure seems to.

[humanbean in reply to jodyel]

It's never a good idea to make assumptions about cortisol levels.

stopthethyroidmadness.com/a...

[jodyel in reply to humanbean]

I really don't have any choice. Doing this on my own as no money for doctors.

[jodyel]

Good article, but I don't know anyone who could afford to eat like he says. I could always usually sleep if I ate a bowl of cereal before I went to bed so guilty of that. In fact, I can't sleep on an empty stomach. I have a few on that list he mentions too. I'd love to be able to go to someone like this for help but not possible. Just have to read everything I can online.

jackkruse.com/primal-cortis...

[mountaingoat83]

Hi Jodyel,

I go through phases of struggling to get to sleep, it doesn't matter how tired I am I just can't drop off. I think magnesium and calcium together help a bit, but as soon as I'm back to sleeping again I stop it because I think too much magnesium gives me a weird hangover feeling! Valerian helps a bit too, it's in the herbal Nytol or you can get it in liquid form, but it takes a few nights to build up.

I do quite a lot of exercise, and if I overdo the high intensity stuff like running, that can result in me not being able to sleep. It also seems to be worse around periods, but mine are very irregular so I know my female hormones aren't quite right. Both of these things are a type of 'stress' on the body, not sure if either apply to you?

When did you last have your thyroid levels checked? Just wondering if your dose is right for you. I'm still faffing about with mine trying to find what works, sometimes I'm fine and other times I just crash.

Anyway, you have my full sympathy and I hope you find something that works x

[jodyel in reply to mountaingoat83]

I've never had them checked mountaingoat. No money although what I have spent on supplements alone could probably have paid for doctors and tests a few times over. What I posted below seems to be working for now so will keep with it and see how it goes.

I have never exercised because I was always too tired. Hopefully that will change in the future.

Faffing is the perfect word for this process. Tons of faffing going on. I am up to 25mcg in levo and 25mcg in T3. I started from scratch when I found the post below and am now going to work my way up and see what the perfect dose is for me.

Thanks for your post!

[jennygrigg]

Hi there,

I couldn't see where you have had a saliva cortisol test, I know it can be costly but it is really the only way to truly see what is going on. Quite often high cortisol at night is a sign of struggling adrenals, meaning low cortisol is actually the issue. Cortisol should follow a diurnal curve of highest in the morning to lowest at bedtime. Struggling adrenals will struggle all day to make the cortisol we need to function and thus produce higher levels at night causing insomnia and many other symptoms - including blood sugar dysregulation, exercise intolerance and anxiety to name a few. Using supplements and adaptogens to lower night time cortisol will exacerbate the problem. I do hope you can have a test truly know what's going on. Good luck and best wishes to you

[jodyel in reply to jennygrigg]

I think I've come to the conclusion that I must be low all the time and not have high cortisol at night like I thought. Not sure I will ever have the test but seems like what I posted below is helping so will keep with it for now.

Thanks jennygrigg!

[jodyel]

Hi all, Well I have discovered that the magnesium will help one sleep if you take enough of it. I had been taking just 1 120mg capsule and it was not enough. So a few nights ago I took four with my other meds and finally fell asleep and got 12 hours. Was up for one hour, laid back down and slept 4 more. So that night the 4 did not work as well since I'd just had so much sleep. Took at 8pm and was still awake at 3:30am. Took two more and slept till 1pm.

So it does work and I will just have to work out how to get on a regular night schedule with it.

I also found a comment when I was up at 1am googling whether or not taking T3 at night would help me sleep. I was going to post here bit don't see a way to attach a screenshot of it. So am going to copy and paste here.

I have started taking all my thyroid meds at night now and I take the Vitamin D and magnesium at night also. I save the cortisol for the daytime along with the NAC (N-acetyl-L-cysteine).

So far so good. Not having near the sleep issues I was.

jodyel

Found here: druglib.com/ratingsreviews/...

Cytomel review by 35 year old female patient

Rating

Overall rating: 10 stars

Effectiveness: Highly Effective

Side effects: No Side Effects

Treatment Info

Condition / reason: hypothyroidism

Dosage & duration: 25 mcg (dosage frequency: daily) for the period of 40 days

Other conditions: fibromyalgia

Other drugs taken: Synthroid 50 mcg, daily

Reported Results

Benefits: I am now wide awake--for the first time in YEARS!!! My body aches have lessened greatly. I am alert. I can keep up with the housework. I have a better memory, concentration, and overall mood. I have regained my creativity. My appetite/desire to overeat has decreased, though I still have an appetite. I just eat like a normal person, now. I don't suffer from emotional or boredom eating. I am steadily losing weight--8 lbs. so far. I also have the energy and desire to exercise, something that I couldn't do before. I feel like someone handed me my life back!

Side effects: It took time to figure out when to take the medicine. From everything I've read, I am supposed to take it in the morning. But, that made me wide awake, even at night, and it interfered with my meal schedule. So, now I take it around 11 P.M. I still sleep well, something new for me, and can easily wake up, feeling alert throughout the day. I've NEVER felt this way before. It's awesome!

Comments: Synthroid--50 mcg. + Liothyronine--25 mcg., both daily, around 11 P.M. + magnesium--400 mg. + Vitamin D3 (alternating between 2000 mg. and 4000 mg.), daily (My body's not absorbing the Vit. D3 very well--will get rechecked in a week.) Have these levels checked by your doctor. 90% of people are deficient in Vitamin D and low in magnesium. These are essential to your body's wellness.

[jodyel in reply to jodyel]

Why has this been flagged as inappropriate?

[jodyel]

Just an update. So far so good keeping to the schedule that I outlined above from that one comment I found. Now I'm hoping I'll start losing some weight like they did but nothing so far. Anyone know how long it takes to see some weight loss taking NDT and T3?