Secondary Adrenal Insufficiency

[bowler]

I was diagnosed with Secondary Adrenal insufficiency a few year ago due to long term use of Prednisolone. I am at present taking 5mgs of Pred. but as my recent cortisol level was 117 which is low , my Endo want's me to take Hydrocortisone 3 time a day 10mgs 5mgs and 5mgs. but to stay on the 5mgs of Prednisolone until I have a Short Syancthen test in 6 months time . I find taking Prednisolone once a day easy, so not looking forward to taking Hydrocortisone 3 times a day,.

I know we are all different to how we react to medication change, but my question is has anyone changed from Prednisolone to Hydrocortisone, and did you have any side effects.

Thank you

[Emyloulou]

I have adrenal insufficiency and started out on prednisolone 5mg but split over 3 doses. I know take 20mg hydrocortisone over 5 doses, 10mg in the morning and 4 doses of 2.5mg 4 hours apart. I’ve been fine on both but everyone is different and you won’t know unless you try. Some people are better on prednisolone, others hydrocortisone.

The problem with prednisolone once a day is that although it works from an anti-inflammatory point it only last as a cortisol replacement for approx 6-8 hours. Hydrocortisone is also closer to the bodies own cortisol.

[bowler in reply to Emyloulou]

Thank you very much for your reply which is encouraging, did you have to wean off the Prednisolone or just switch over to the hydrocortisone , I will have to ask my Endo why I still have to stay on the Pred until my next test, maybe it's because I have been on Pred for over 20years, [ for other health problems so need to taper off slowly ] so thinking about it my body may prefer the Pred, after being on it for so long, however I will do as the Endo says and try the hydrocortisone

[Emyloulou in reply to bowler]

I just changed straight to hydrocortisone. I’m not sure why he wants you to stay on it but surely if you still need the pred for whatever reason you where taking it for you’d be better just to stay on it??

Just make sure you have an emergency hydrocortisone injection kit if you are diagnosed with adrenal insufficiency x

[bowler in reply to Emyloulou]

Yes I do have the emergency kit, I dread the thought of having to use it.

I was on Pred, for giant cell arteritis , and Polymyalgia, and unfortunately was left on a high dose for far too long, hence the adrenals packing up, but I haven't had those health issues for many years now.

I don't start the Hydrocortisone till next week when I collect the prescription as I only had the telephone appointment with the the Endo a few days ago, I can't go to the hospital as I'm shielding, as I also have heart disease,

[dimdims37]

Hi there, I hope you are doing okay.Please can I ask what your symptoms were with the secondary fatigue, what prompted GP/endocrine test for it?

[bowler in reply to dimdims37]

My story is a complicated one, I actually wasn't fatigued , as I was taking steroids at the time which masked the symptoms.

I had to see a Gastro Dr at the hospital due to another problem, he happened to ask why I was still on steroids as 20 years is a long time, he said that I needed my adrenals checked as some people with adrenal insufficiency can have stomach/bowel problem, which I was having,

I saw an Endo who did some tests and my results came back as very low cortisol so I had to stay on steroids but gradually reduced to 5mgs, once I reached 5mgs that's when the fatigue set in, which meant 5mgs wasn't enough, so I am m now going on to hydrocortisone 3 times a day.

I hope that wasn't too much information to confuse you.

[dimdims37 in reply to bowler]

Oh my gosh, you’ve been through the mill!! I really hope you feel much better very soon!