Cortisol question

[Quaver]

I'm taking ACE (adrenal cortex extract) for low cortisol. When I do another saliva test, if it has improved- do we stop the ACE or is it a lifelong supplement like thyroid meds which I'm on

Thanks all

[greygoose]

I think you should be able to stop it. I took HydroCortisone for a couple of years, but was able to wean off that.

[Quaver in reply to greygoose]

Thanks - the less things the better eventually I hope ! 😁

[humanbean]

stopthethyroidmadness.com/s...

According to the above link :

9. We also try to be off supplementation or meds which can affect cortisol, and be off “up to” two weeks…if possible. Why? We are trying to see what our cortisol levels are naturally and without influence, and treat that. BUT…some people need what they are on, such as anti-depressants etc. Perhaps talk to your doctor to see if you can be off for a few days?

These two links are helpful too :

stopthethyroidmadness.com/s...

rt3-adrenals.org/does_it_af...

Note that the lists above contain things which lower cortisol and some which raise cortisol and people have to disentangle with their own research which is which. For example, 5-HTP raises cortisol, Holy Basil lowers it.

Adrenal glandulars are not intended to be taken for ever. The whole idea of taking them is to allow your body to function while your adrenal glands heal. Something that can happen is that the adrenals bounce back too far and people end up with high cortisol. The last thing someone with high cortisol wants is to take adrenal glandulars. I think I remember SeasideSusie had low cortisol, took adrenal supplements, and ended up with high cortisol.

I take some supplements and prescribed meds that affect cortisol, but I can't stop them all for my own safety. I have to accept that any saliva test results can never be an absolutely perfect reflection of my own cortisol, and I just have to do the best I can.

When the adrenals start to mis-fire the usual effect on cortisol is that it goes high first then it starts to reduce and reduce until it is low. So high cortisol is unpleasant and definitely not something to be ignored, but probably isn't as bad in the long run as low cortisol - but I couldn't tell you whether this is true from personal experience - mine has only ever been high when I've tested myself. I am not talking about adrenal problems like Addison's Disease or Cushing's Disease - they are outside the scope of any kind of self-help and need the help of an endocrinologist.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to humanbean]

I think I remember SeasideSusie had low cortisol, took adrenal supplements, and ended up with high cortisol.

It was actually the other way round HB

A practioner I was consulting with put me on adaptogens to lower my high in range cortisol (not over range except for one sample slightly over, just high in range). Now I know more about it I realise it wasn't necessarily the disaster she made out, but I followed her advice and took the adaptogens but she never suggested retesting and after stopping the consultations it never crossed my mind to do so until a couple of years later. By that time my cortisol level were rock bottom right across the board. I'm now using adrenal glandulars and my levels are slowly improving.

[humanbean in reply to SeasideSusie]

Wow, I bet you were cross with that practitioner! I certainly would have been.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to humanbean]

I'd "sacked" her long before I discovered that my cortisol had bombed, very disillusioned with her about other aspects of her "care". But it has been a long, hard slog to try and get adrenals back into range, waking level still very low at 11% through range, noon needs to be a bit higher, evening and night levels now perfect!

[Quaver in reply to SeasideSusie]

Well done for the improvements- I have sacked my GP!

[Plumpudding in reply to SeasideSusie]

Seaside Susie can I ask which ones you took and how you dosed please x

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Plumpudding]

For what - the high cortisol or the low cortisol?

[Plumpudding in reply to SeasideSusie]

The low please

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Plumpudding]

You don't have low cortisol do you? According to your post of a couple of weeks ago you have normal to high cortisol

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[Plumpudding in reply to SeasideSusie]

Yes I was just wondering incase it ever gets low again. To be armed so to speak. I'm currently going into menopause trying not to take hrt but I've read it can put strain on your adrenals, as they take up the slack of the ovaries not producing the hormones if that makes sense. I read menopause can be a tough time if your adrenals are not in great condition. Hense the reason some women struggle and others don't xx

[Angel_of_the_North]

In theory, yes, in practice, ????? I found that if I stop my adrenal cortex, my cortisol drops through the floor again in a week or so, and I start getting mild POTS after a couple of days.