how quickly does hydrocortisone leave the body? I stopped the oral hydrocortisone 24 hours prior to a morning test.. it was 13.8 mcg/dl . I’m 80 years old. Can I start tapering?
tapering off hydrocortisone: how quickly does... - Thyroid UK
tapering off hydrocortisone
What's the range? And, how do you feel?
Thanks for your quick response!! The range is 4 to 22. My tests were in the 13 to 15 range prior to removal of the pituitary tumor, but the numbers went down to 1 to 3 right after the surgery so they put me on hydrocortisone.
Are you sure you're going to be able to come off it? How much do you take, and when? What's your TSH like?
I take 15 mg in the AM and 10 mg in the afternoon. I didn’t take it the afternoon before the test or the morning of the test and the test was normal. I’m curious how long hydrocortisone ( oral) stays in the body. Do you know? I don’t know if I will need to take it for life.
I'm afraid I don't know, no. But, I do know that HC is more effective if we take it all before 1 pm. It's in the morning that you need it most. So, one dose as soon as we get up, and another dose a couple of hours later. The adrenals should then be left to their own devices, to see if they work more efficiently after that initial 'helping hand'.
Thank you very much; experiences I've heard here have had a lot of variation from it leaves the body fairly quickly to "it takes days". I will see my endocrinologist soon and let you all know what she decides to do. thanks again.
I take 15 mg in the AM and 10 mg in the afternoon. I didn’t take it the afternoon before the test or the morning of the test and the test was normal. I’m curious how long hydrocortisone ( oral) stays in the body. Do you know? I don’t know if I will need to take it for life.
Hi I'm Dar . Hypopopituitarism. First op under nose 1995. 6 wks radio therapy. 2 nd op through skull 1997. Hydrocortisone is as I was told essential for life. Since 1995 . Hydrocortisone 15 mg am. 10mg 1pm.5mg 5pm.
I take hydrocortisone, and the knowledge ive gained says you can't test cortisol whilst taking it. only if you went days without and that would be very dangerous, to cut off that quickly.
its all based on how you feel, not testing. If you are not feeling well on it, then it is likely that you are not taking enough or you need to adjust the times you take it.
Hydrocortisone is out of the body within 6 hours. That is why those of us with Adrenal Insufficiency/Addisons disease have to take it every 4 -6 hours. If you have a fast metabolism as I do, then it will be used up even quicker. I have to take a small dose every 3 hours.
Thank you very much; experiences I've heard here have had a lot of variation from it leaves the body fairly quickly to "it takes days". I will keep my fingers crossed that you are correct; that way I can see if my adrenal grands are starting to pick up their job so I can get off the medication. thanks again.