Adrenaline from starting too low/ slow with cortex?

[Recoen]

Hi, I started the nutrimeds adrenal cortex plus. I took ~1/4 capsule (so ~25mg cortex) in juice sipped on over 4h (waking, ~8am to 12pm). I am usually hypersensitive to supplements, which is why I wanted to start low and slow. My low back soreness has increased and I feel wired/ increased adrenaline. The “Stop the Thyroid Madness” book talks about those starting HC, need to start with at least 25mg because of the adrenaline surges if you start lower. I was wondering if the same applies to adrenal cortex extract?

If anyone has experienced this, did you find taking more at once fixed the issue?

Nutrimeds has 100mg cortex in the cortex plus, do you think taking 1/2 (~50mg cortex) on waking would be more beneficial?

I have the 3 lows then 1 high at night pattern. I’m not on thyroid right now as I caused a bad reaction to T3 only, and have stepped back to work on the cortex first.

[radd]

Recoen,

Welcome to our forum,

I would start low & slow as glandulars can be powerful, but I don’t think you can directly compare adrenal cortex with HC.

Dr Peatfield used to say that glandulars contain all the adrenal hormones & enzymes to make them, so acting synergistically with your own adrenals. He also recommended the lowest possible physiological HC dose that enabled adrenal rest but not totally took over adrenal production.

Cortex doesn’t contain adrenaline so assuming you refer to your own surges which become a compensatory high when cortisol is low. Adrenaline surges will reduce as cortisol levels increase but increase cortisol too rapidly and adrenaline will still surge because it’s responding to a big new stress. Therefore, keep your dose low and build comfortably, and avoid further surges by splitting your glandular dose, taking the largest upon waking to imitate cortisol circadian pattern and the rest before 1pm.

It is usually Levothyroxine mono-therapy that causes the problems via its long half life and possible building RT3 when introducing glandulars to raise cortisol levels. I wouldn’t leave T3 meds off myself because the raise in cortisol will be raising cellular levels of glucose enabling T3 to do its work. Therefore, there is no need to stop T3 which is in itself terribly harsh on the adrenals.

You will need to monitor your pulse & temps am & pm to dose further.

[Recoen in reply to radd]

Hi Radd, thank you so much for your response!

I have tried to do T3 monotherapy, cT3m for example, with disastrous results - adrenaline, aldosterone, etc again pointing to the adrenal reserve insufficiency. On starting low and slow with the cortex, I agree, which is why I took 1/4 of the capsule sipped on in juice over 4h (8am-12pm). Should I try even less?

I found a paper showing cortisol increases norepinephrine conversion to epinephrine via PNMT (and SAMe). And with the receptor density issue, even if my circulating adrenaline increased in the normal, it could be too much for the receptors. The same paper showed vit D reduced the conversion via PNMT. I have reversed many "incurable" health challenges, like recurring rhabdo, with drop dosing B vitamins, creatine, and some minerals. But, my temperatures are still low, and the average oscillates daily. My hand, feet, ears, nose area, and butt are very frequently cold as well.

My plan is to add vit D via Dr. Gominak's approach (latest lab showed 25D = 31.6ng/mL, so low), continue with my other supplements, support COMT and MAOA more. And see if that brings up my temps and normalizes my saliva cortisol. If not, I'll try the cortex and possibly NDT again, hopefully with better results :).

If I may ask, do you see most on this forum need to deal with the low saliva cortisol first then add the thyroid? Or start with thyroid first?