How to swap Hydrocortisone for adrenavive II/III?

[Ruoveden]

Hello,

I am currently on 10 mcg Hydrocortisone for adrenal support and also on 62,5 mcg of levo, both daily.

I wish to swap hydro for adrenavive II or III. Can anybody help with How to mapdosage between hydro and adrenavive?

Many thanks

[greygoose]

You do realise that HC is a hormone, and adrenavive contains no hormone, don't you? I doubt they will 'support' to the same extent.

[Ruoveden in reply to greygoose]

Hello,

Thanks for the reply.

In fact, in dealing with my condition, my endo does not pay attention to my cortisol levels which are very low. I have posted here a while back my values explaining that my endo had put me under levothyroxine since February (im now taking 62.5 mcg daily) but I am still feeling not great and when I up my dose, I feel "too much".

He also said that as my cortisol is low and I practice a lot of sports (running), I should aid myself with Hydrocortisone 10mg for each séance, which he prescribed. However, my low cortisol values have never been discussed with regards to my overall state despite my underscoring it.

Since taking levo, I have noticed that my T4 have increased to the top of the range while my T3 which were already in the lower part of the range, have decreased a notch.

A long time ago on this Forum, I came across an article from Dr Peatfield which explained that low adrenal reserve will impede the efficacy of thyroid medication and therefore, a support of the adrenals was necessary. The article explained also how to build up adrenal support in 6-8 weeks with Hydrocortisone in dosage that should not be dreaded. Since I have hydro which were prescribed to me for sports, I have decided to give it a try. However, I have been reading many testimonies on this Forum in the same condition as mine saying that Dr Peatfield suggested they take adrenavive II or III to build up adrenal reserve.

Hence my question about swapping.

Any help would be welcome because I am now enterin my 3rd year of feeling this tired and without any drive.

[greygoose in reply to Ruoveden]

It really all depends on just how low your cortisol is. You don't give any test results. I think it's misguided of your endo to give you HC regardless of your levels, just because you want to run. If I were your endo - and I'm not any sort of doctor - I'd tell you to stop running until you get your FT3 levels up! You could be doing harm to your body/muscles.

Hydrocortisone 10mg for each séance

You mean you are taking HC just when you run? Not every day? That sounds all wrong to me. I've never heard of anyone one doing that before. And, I really don't think you should be doing it. diogenes ? helvella ? What do you think of this?

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to greygoose]

Afraid I am woefully ignorant of what to do about adrenals. I'd rather not make what would be wild guesses.

There is plenty out there saying about increasing dose of HC when under stress, but erratic dosing does seem a bit odd.

[diogenes Remembering in reply to greygoose]

Precautions on taking hydrocortisone include thyroid dysfunction, so I think you ought to have expert advice to justify or not what you are doing

[Ruoveden in reply to greygoose]

Thanks very much.

Yes, I am supposed to take 10mcg hydro when I run so that it would "absorb the physical stress and not deplete my natural reserves" said the endo.

In honesty, I take "only" 2.5 mcg for each of the 10km I run 4 times a week because I am afraid of hydro like many.

This is what I have posted not so long ago which prompted reactions on this Forum that my cortisol levels are very low

----------------

I am a new comer to this great website.

I have been suffering of extreme fatigue since April 2016. I had always put that down to extensive working hours and having 3 kids.

In February this year, I was referred to an endocrinologist who put me on levothyroxine increasing my dose gradually so that I am under 62,5mcg for 5 weeks now.

However, I still feel fatigued, and flu-like most of the time. My mouth and eyes are also dry. I noticed that my fingernails are getting “bad”, and tinnitus has established itself in my right ear 5 weeks ago. My endocrinologist doesn’t seem to know how he can help me and seems lost.

My values are as follows:

Feb 2018 (right before starting Levothyroxine medication)

Tsh 1.88 Range [0.3 4.5]mU/L

FT4 18.42 Range [9.03 23.22]pmol/L

FT3 4.91 Range [3.23 6.47]pmol/L

Vit D 106.5 Range [50 150]mcg/L

Vit B12 625 Range [210 1000]ng/L

Free cortisol (8h) 5.2 Range [10 30]mcg/L

Cortisol (8h) 10.9 Range [7 25]mcg/L

April 2018 (3 weeks into 50 mcg of Levothyroxine)

Tsh 0.81 Range [0.3 4.5]mU/L

FT4 17.12 Range [9.03 23.22]pmol/L

FT3 4.53 Range [3.23 6.47]pmol/L

Folate 9.9 Range [2 12]ng/L

Vit E 10.4 Range [10 19]ng/L

July 2018 (3 weeks into 62.5 mcg of Levothyroxine)

Tsh 1.00. Range [0.3 4.5]mU/L

FT4 20.26. Range [9.03 23.22]pmol/L

FT3 4.41 Range [3.23 6.47]pmol/L

Vit D 38.9 Range [50 150]mcg/L (I had stopped taking supplements since the February results)

Folate 12.6 Range [2 12]ng/L

Vit E 12.5 Range [10 19]ng/L

Free cortisol (8h) 5.2 Range [10 30]mcg/L

Cortisol (8h) 11.7 Range [7 25]mcg/L

[greygoose in reply to Ruoveden]

Yes, I am supposed to take 10mcg hydro when I run so that it would "absorb the physical stress and not deplete my natural reserves" said the endo.

Well, that sounds like hogwash, for a start. I don't think people have reserves of cortisol - it's not T4. Cortisol is made by the adrenals in a diurnal rythme. Highest first thing in the morning, and gradually tapering down to very at night.

Feb 2018 (right before starting Levothyroxine medication)

Tsh 1.88 Range [0.3 4.5]mU/L

FT4 18.42 Range [9.03 23.22]pmol/L

FT3 4.91 Range [3.23 6.47]pmol/L

I cannot imagine why your endo thought you needed levo with those results. They are euthyroid. Even your FT3 is slightly over-range.

But, your cortisol was so low at that point that he should have tested for Addison's. And, even if you didn't have Addison's, he should have put you on HC every day - without the levo.

[Angel_of_the_North]

I would be very wary of doing that as you might make yourself very, very ill. If you have a prescription for HC, you need it, and Adrenavive is unlikely to do the job (as well as being more expensive than a prescription).

[Ruoveden in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

Hello,

Thanks for the reply.

In fact, in dealing with my condition, my endo does not pay attention to my cortisol levels which are very low. I have posted here a while back my values explaining that my endo had put me under levothyroxine since February (im now taking 62.5 mcg daily) but I am still feeling not great and when I up my dose, I feel "too much".

He also said that as my cortisol is low and I practice a lot of sports (running), I should aid myself with Hydrocortisone 10mg for each séance, which he prescribed. However, my low cortisol values have never been discussed with regards to my overall state despite my underscoring it.

Since taking levo, I have noticed that my T4 have increased to the top of the range while my T3 which were already in the lower part of the range, have decreased a notch.

A long time ago on this Forum, I came across an article from Dr Peatfield which explained that low adrenal reserve will impede the efficacy of thyroid medication and therefore, a support of the adrenals was necessary. The article explained also how to build up adrenal support in 6-8 weeks with Hydrocortisone in dosage that should not be dreaded. Since I have hydro which were prescribed to me for sports, I have decided to give it a try. However, I have been reading many testimonies on this Forum in the same condition as mine saying that Dr Peatfield suggested they take adrenavive II or III to build up adrenal reserve.

Hence my question about swapping.

Any help would be welcome because I am now enterin my 3rd year of feeling this tired and without any drive.

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to Ruoveden]

Dr Peatfield and other naturopaths advise people to take Adrenavive or similar as they cannot legally prescribe HC or any other prescription drug. That doesn't mean that the OTC glandulars are better, just that there is no alternative. If you are bad enough to get a prescription for HC, you need it (as doctors hate giving it anyone without levels low enough for Addisons) and it will probably be more effective and cheaper than Adrenavive. It's usual to increase dose of HC when increasing physical or mental stress, but usually you take at least some every day.

[Howard39]

Hi

If you do swap you must monitor your temps with a basal thermometer and ensure the readings are circa 36.50. Hopefully your steroids are working so if you do 4 readings per day now there should be very little variation if you take the average.

I do agree that you have a prescription so I’d say nothing at this stage but swap and monitor your temps / variations so you’ve something to compare with.

I don’t know your cortisol or dhea results which would help me make further suggestions.( if your dhea was say high I’d advise v slow and steady)

There are hormones in adrenavive only top specialists are informed otherwise the powers that be would stop it.

If you’ve been told you’ll be on the steroids for life then there will be side effects and sadly adrenals issues are one of the main ones. So it’s a cycle!

You’ve not said why you want to swap but personally i see no harm in trying as long as you monitor yourself now and during the swap.

Every time you alter meds you need 8 readings per day for 4 days then back to 4.

If you need any help please ask (and yes I have swapped to it. I found it stronger than I anticipated!!)

Good luck

[Ruoveden in reply to Howard39]

Hello,

Thanks for the reply.

In fact, in dealing with my condition, my endo does not pay attention to my cortisol levels which are very low. I have posted here a while back my values explaining that my endo had put me under levothyroxine since February (im now taking 62.5 mcg daily) but I am still feeling not great and when I up my dose, I feel "too much".

He also said that as my cortisol is low and I practice a lot of sports (running), I should aid myself with Hydrocortisone 10mg for each séance, which he prescribed. However, my low cortisol values have never been discussed with regards to my overall state despite my underscoring it.

Since taking levo, I have noticed that my T4 have increased to the top of the range while my T3 which were already in the lower part of the range, have decreased a notch.

A long time ago on this Forum, I came across an article from Dr Peatfield which explained that low adrenal reserve will impede the efficacy of thyroid medication and therefore, a support of the adrenals was necessary. The article explained also how to build up adrenal support in 6-8 weeks with Hydrocortisone in dosage that should not be dreaded. Since I have hydro which were prescribed to me for sports, I have decided to give it a try. However, I have been reading many testimonies on this Forum in the same condition as mine saying that Dr Peatfield suggested they take adrenavive II or III to build up adrenal reserve.

Hence my question about swapping.

Any help would be welcome because I am now enterin my 3rd year of feeling this tired and without any drive.

[Howard39]

Hi

The best article I’ve read is by Sarah Myhill.

If you google on her name and search under orchestra it sets out the best way to obtain good health overall.

Diet

Vitamins

Absorbtion

Then adrenals and thyroid.

The building blocks have to be in place first before you address the last two.

I read about many people who struggle as they have v high carb diets insufficient vitamins and personally I’d never exercise until my t3 levels were optimal. Perhaps some t3 and less t4 may be a consideration?

[Ruoveden in reply to Howard39]

Thanks Howard39.

I have to say that in 2 years of this condition, I have stopped practicing sports 3 months in a row in 2017 and 3 months in a row just now. No improvement of my F T3.

This is what I have posted not so long ago which prompted reactions on this Forum that my cortisol levels ate very low

----------------

I am a new comer to this great website.

I have been suffering of extreme fatigue since April 2016. I had always put that down to extensive working hours and having 3 kids.

In February this year, I was referred to an endocrinologist who put me on levothyroxine increasing my dose gradually so that I am under 62,5mcg for 5 weeks now.

However, I still feel fatigued, and flu-like most of the time. My mouth and eyes are also dry. I noticed that my fingernails are getting “bad”, and tinnitus has established itself in my right ear 5 weeks ago. My endocrinologist doesn’t seem to know how he can help me and seems lost.

My values are as follows:

Feb 2018 (right before starting Levothyroxine medication)

Tsh 1.88 Range [0.3 4.5]mU/L

FT4 18.42 Range [9.03 23.22]pmol/L

FT3 4.91 Range [3.23 6.47]pmol/L

Vit D 106.5 Range [50 150]mcg/L

Vit B12 625 Range [210 1000]ng/L

Free cortisol (8h) 5.2 Range [10 30]mcg/L

Cortisol (8h) 10.9 Range [7 25]mcg/L

April 2018 (3 weeks into 50 mcg of Levothyroxine)

Tsh 0.81 Range [0.3 4.5]mU/L

FT4 17.12 Range [9.03 23.22]pmol/L

FT3 4.53 Range [3.23 6.47]pmol/L

Folate 9.9 Range [2 12]ng/L

Vit E 10.4 Range [10 19]ng/L

July 2018 (3 weeks into 62.5 mcg of Levothyroxine)

Tsh 1.00. Range [0.3 4.5]mU/L

FT4 20.26. Range [9.03 23.22]pmol/L

FT3 4.41 Range [3.23 6.47]pmol/L

Vit D 38.9 Range [50 150]mcg/L (I had stopped taking supplements since the February results)

Folate 12.6 Range [2 12]ng/L

Vit E 12.5 Range [10 19]ng/L

Free cortisol (8h) 5.2 Range [10 30]mcg/L

Cortisol (8h) 11.7 Range [7 25]mcg/L

[Howard39]

Hi

You aren’t converting well hence you need to add in t3.

Plus what are they doing re your cortisol- it’s under range and the second low in range. You need to have dhea results too as this makes up the other half of your adrenals.

It’s no wonder you are tired.

Also will you be restarting your Vit D3 and k2 mk7?

Well your endo and yourself have two options - steroids or adrenavive for low cortisol. The later also helps low dhea. But you need to know. High dhea stops you sleeping and is treated with melatonin.

I think he needs a prompt from you

Good luck and ask if you need anything