Pregnenolone

[Caze]

I have been advised by a private doctor who I saw last week to take Pregnenolone to treat my adrenals. It would be helpful to hear from anyone who has experience of taking it.

Many thanks.

[Serendipitious]

I would be interested to know more too. I've been recommended to try DHEA by my Endo but I'm reluctant to do so because my adrenals produce too much cortisol and at the moment I can't tolerate T3 as it gives me insomnia.

The thing with upstream hormones is that they can convert to anything. Pregnenalone could end up being progesterone but also turn to cortisol which is called Pregnenalone Steal.

Can I ask why specifically you've been recommended to use Pregnenalone?

[Caze in reply to Serendipitious]

Hi,

I have been self treating with HydroCortisone since 5th Feb (RT3Adrenal site recommended because of my low morning cortisol). Things did not go well - I had episodes of high BP, over 200 on one occasion - v frightening so I decided I shd get some medical input. The doc I saw - private and functional, told me he does not like HC and suggested |Pregnenalone instead.

Is yr endo private or NHS. I googled Preg and it can elevate DHEA and progesterone. Supplementing with DHEA can lower cortisol so maybe that is why yr endo has suggested it. I think there are other ways of lowering cortisol, zinc and holy basil?

Best C

[Serendipitious in reply to Caze]

Gosh a BP of over 200 must have been frightening. I hope you're alright. I woke up with a high pulse the other day after stopping 5mg of T3 a week ago and that frightened me.

I've just learnt that for the first time in many years I have lost weight without even trying and the only thing I change was 5mg of T3 for 9 days. I do think it is water weight though. Its a shame really because I couldn't sleep so I had to stop.

My endo is private yes. However I wish I'd gone to a functional medicine doctor as I think they're better at treating elevated cortisol and treating things from a holistic approach. I'm honestly not sure why he wants me to try DHEA. I only showed him my Adrenal Stress Profile test which I did myself and it showed high cortisol and low DHEA and then he ran a blood test which also showed low DHEA. After my insomnia with T3 I'm not sure I want to try anything else for now.

I've been taking 70mg of Zinc for months but I've not tried Holy Basil yet. Again I'm reluctant to try these things without professional help. Somebody else suggested phosphatidylserine.

I can see why Pregnenalone would help you and with your low cortisol there is no issue with elevating cortisol.

However are you sure DHEA can lower cortisol?

[Caze in reply to Serendipitious]

Hi

The RT3 Adrenal admin told me that increased DHEA can lower cortisol.

The functional doc I saw was Dr Bernard Willis - google him - there is lots of iinfo on his website. Might be worth seeing him fr 2nd opinion. Also Dr R Sharma and Dr Eric Asher all in London recommended to me.

Dr Armine is an American doc who does Skype consultations but does come to UK March and Oct.

Who is the private endo u saw - is he any good?

Best C.

[Serendipitious in reply to Caze]

I thought it might be Dr Bernard Willis. I've heard a few good testimonials about him. I've never heard of the others.

[Caze]

Various members of HU hve used the other docs - by the way Dr Sharma will give u a free short phone consultation.

U did not mention the name of the private endo u see or said whether u thght he was any good?

C.

[Serendipitious in reply to Caze]

I've sent you a private message.

[puncturedbicycle]

I took pregnenolone, testosterone and dhea. I had some heart rate issues but temporary and mild (I think I may have been adjusting to a higher dose of levo as well and was just aware of heart rate). I didn't feel any different so stopped using the sex hormones and carried on taking the dhea until it was gone. I didn't really see much improvement until I added in some t3 to levo, that made a big improvement, but I still suspect I'm dealing w adrenal issues even now. It has been a bit of a firefighting mission so have never really got to the bottom of all the various stuff that isn't working well and now well on my way to menopause I assume, so I'm sure there's more stuff piling up. Hurrah!

Sorry, I hope that doesn't sound negative. Nothing bad happened, I just think I must have needed the extra t3 and without it nothing really worked.

[dina7]

I'm taking holy basil and phosphatidylserine and HPT5 to reduce my cortisol levels, and they have reduced a little. The only side effects I have are rather vivid dreams, which are better than the sleepless nights! I tried DHEA but it didn't seem to do anything and when kinesiologist tested it she said my body didn't want it. We're all different, so it is just (expensive!) trial and error.

[Serendipitious in reply to dina7]

dina7 did you try holy basil and phosphatidylserine on your own initiative or were they recommended by a specialist?

I'm a bit wary of DHEA also because I read that taking it orally can have unwanted side effects. I think Dr Mercola recommends using a cream instead. I read this on Dr Mercola's website:

"But if you swallow steroid hormones you seriously distort their natural metabolism. Swallowed hormones encounter potent stomach acids, and the hormones that survive this assault then move to your liver where they will be further broken down. Your liver screens all molecules that enter your blood stream, passing some onward, modifying or detoxifying others, and rejecting a few."

articles.mercola.com/sites/...

I'm interested in trying Holy Basil and Phosphatidylserine but I'm too afraid to give anything else a go right now.

[dina7 in reply to Serendipitious]

Oh, thanks for that, I had no idea about those side effects. Glad I didn't take the DHEA for long! The holy basil and phosphatidylserine were recommended by people on this forum and they seem to help me sleep and I've had no problems with them.

[Serendipitious in reply to dina7]

That sounds promising if you've managed to see an improvement yourself. What brand of Holy Basil and Phosphatidylserine are you using and what doses? Thanks.

[Juliatom]

How is your saliva test report?. Pregnenolone didn;t help.I have low cortisol throughout and only Nutri adrenal extra works for me.

[Caze in reply to Juliatom]

Always low in the mornings. Done loads of these saliva tests and all low. What does Nutri Adrenal extra contain? I had a problem with Nutri Adrenal possibly because it contained adrenaline. Cd I ask what dose of Pregnenolone did u take and was it prescribed by a medic or did u self medicate?

[Juliatom in reply to Caze]

Nutri adrenal Extra contains Adrenal and B complex which is out of stock.First, I had a consultation with Dr P and then saliva test showed low throughout the day.

I have tried Swanson Pregnenolone-10mg per day on self-medication.What is your dose?.

Since you are prescribed by Dr and only low morning cortisol, may be worth trying.

[Caze]

Doctor is suggesting 25mg per day but when I Googled it another doctor suggested no more than 5mg per day to avoid side effects. How did you find the Swanson product - any benefit at all?