Apologies, if I am posting a lot recently, I have several queries which may help with my issues I am experiencing.
Anyway, I have read that DHEA supplements are good to boost adrenal function and hormonal inbalances. Do people know if they are safe to take with thyroid meds?
Do you mean at the same time of day? If so, then no. You shouldn't take anything at the same time as your hormone.
Be careful with DHEA, it is a hormone even if it is OTC. You should really have your level tested, first. You do not want excess DHEA. Even if it's low, and you take the supplement, it can be tricky because very often it all converts to testosterone, and you'd be covered in acne!
Good lord, no! That Big Food and Big Pharma scaring people for no good reason, again! Salt is essential for life.
Are you on a low/no-salt diet? If so, that's probably one of the reason you're having adrenal problems. If you do a search on here, you'll find plenty of stuff about how necessary salt is.
However, DHEA is often sold in 25-50mcg sizes and these are to big. The size to use is 5mcg max. Very often DHEA is over used and causes the steroid cascade to work against your natural function.
So go small and see how things work out over a good time frame. You really need to see how things go over a 3 month period. Also try and build in a day or two each week where you don't take any DHEA.
It would be useful to see your levels of cortisol and DHEA prior to using DHEA though.
DHEA is commonly low in thyroid patients as the adrenals are often required to do so much more work when the thyroid hormone is lower. This usually means DHEA is ignored in production as cortisol is kept high. It is the balance between DHEA and cortisol which causes poor health very often
If I were to consider DHEA, do you know which ones are the best and most genuine, I have heard that there can be ones which aren't proper DHEA. If you know, I'd be grateful if you could PM me. It is supposed to be good for Lupus as well, as my husband has that, it may be useful for both of us.
There is DHEA blood test that comes with a cortisol test. I got mine from Labrix. NHS don't bother with this. Guessing what might help is a bit risky as it upsets the balance of hormones so knowing what is really needed is more helpful and likely to improve things. It showed that I was 50 (range 110 - 300) - it was helpful for me as this was way under range. I have Adrenal Fatigue and Hypothyroidism, am on NDT and many other supplements.
Many thanks for your reply. A test sounds good apart from costs. I have spent a fortune already on trying different things. I will give a test a go if my new trial of a different NDT doesn't do the trick.
I do, but my DHEA is prescribed as it is illegal in the UK to have DHEA without a prescription (its one of the few things you aren't allowed to import for your own use - it's a Class C drug). Not that it stops some supplement companies sending it.
Dhea was given for low dhea. There are better alternatives- pregnenelone is one( see dr Sarah Myhill.com and search under adrenal gland).
I’d never take either without a cortisol and dhea saliva test. Regenerus or Genova do it. The later you have to go through thyroid uk tho as a doctor has to sign the request off. Circa £100 from memory.
If you keep decent records of your temps with a basal thermometer ( see Dr Rind) you need to be aiming for 36.50. If you take 4 a day and the average is more than 0.40 degrees out then you have an adrenal issue. You could then pay for a test.
It’s always best to have a great diet, optimal vitamins, good absorbtion before finalising your thyroid and adrenal meds.
I used to take ( prescribed) dhea of 25 mg as my dhea was nil. I did feel better, then swapped to pregnenelone. Some sites say 5 but that is a v small dose and insufficient for full adrenal failure.
Dr Westin Childs states that adaptogens are good for AF. Where you get your evidence from? There are too many conflicting statements in health meds/therapies, it's confusing and worrying to be honest.
Observation from reading on forums like this. People taking adaptogens to balance their hormones and finding that their levels dropped. I'm not a fan of Dr Westin Childs.
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