Can adding NDT cause low cortisol symptoms?

[Ratkinson]

I am panhypopituitary and on all hormone replacements for the last 20 years , including hydrocortisone and levothyroxine.

3 months ago I started NDT I ve now gone up to 2 grains split over the day , I’ve found I’ve been getting low steroid symptoms and need to up my steroids. Is this normal ? Lots of muscle pain , headaches etc- or could theses be hypothyroid symptoms. Upping my HC does help.

Both Free T3 and free T4 were at the bottom of the normal range on 1 1/2 grains, assuming they have gone up now I’m on 2.

Thanks

[humanbean]

There is a relationship between cortisol levels and T3 levels. And iron comes into the equation as well.

This link :

rt3-adrenals.org/Iron_test_...

Suggests :

• minimum saturation of 30% required to successfully treat with T3

• Low, beginning doses of T3 can be started with saturation at 25%

...

People with low T3 will sometimes discover they have low cortisol as well. By improving their T3 levels they improve their cortisol levels. But if your own production of cortisol is poor or non-existent then adding T3 might increase your demand for cortisol that your body can't deal with, so you need more to be supplied in tablet form.

The member who wrote the following post didn't increase NDT she increased T3 and she got symptoms suggestive of low cortisol :

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

The same member (McPammy) wrote an interesting reply about the effect of T3 on her very low cortisol levels in this thread :

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Everyone needs good levels of T3 to feel well. The fact that it raises your demand for cortisol isn't a good reason to stop the T3 it is a good reason to increase your cortisol (in my totally untrained) opinion.

[Ratkinson in reply to humanbean]

Thank you , really helpful .

[Hidden]

Most doctors don´t know anything about the adrenal-thyroid connection, but functional doctors test for adrenal fatigue and treat adrenal glands before adding T3. The reason is that T3 puts more of a strain on tired adrenals than T4. Of course, even if you were already on hydrocortisone, adding T3 could have increased your need for cortisol.It´s a shame so few doctors are aware of the thyroid-cortisol relationship. Adrenal fatigue is not a recognised medical condition so few conventional doctors will diagnose or treat it. At least you are lucky enough to already be on hydrocortisone, so I imagine you could easily just increase your dose slightly?

[Ratkinson in reply to Hidden]

Thanks

[Hidden]

If you are on Facebook then join the UK Addison's & AI info & support group, there are people on there who have either hypopituitarism or Adrenal Insufficiency who are also on NDT as well as Hydrocortisone who will be able to advise you.

[Ratkinson in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Pauline I’m already on UK Addisons - just didn’t think to post there as I’ve never seen NDT mentioned. I shall give it a go.