This seems like a very knowledgeable group about hydrocortisone. I have been taking 30mg per day in divided doses (10, 10, 5, 5mg) for adrenal insufficiency that wasn't this time responding to 20mg without dizziness still. I've been on this for 10 months and it seems clear I don't need this because I'm gaining weight around my stomach and face. I'd like to ask if a reduction of 2.5-5mg every two weeks is reasonable? For the past 3 days I've taken the second 10mg dose down to 7.5, and I feel fine.
Any advice would be gratefully received.
Written by
Ldoc80
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Well, it rather depends if your adrenals are capable of producing sufficient cortisol. And it's my understanding that if you have adrenal insufficiency, they're never likely to be capable again. Plus, as you have been taking it throughout the day, they may have shut down altogether, in which case they won't start working again.
With adrenal fatigue, which is what I had, you only take HC in the morning, and then you can eventually wean off the HC. But Adrenal Insufficiency is not like that. And 10 months is only a very short time to be taking it. Would your adrenals be sufficiently recovered - if they can recover - to do without the HC?
So, the only thing you can do is try it and see how well you go. Do you get frequent blood tests for your cortisol levels? It does need careful monitoring.
Thank you very much! I think my language is off. I was treating according to symptoms. I wasn't receiving care or blood tests. But I am going to get an appointment. I have only reduced by 2.5mg, and I am doing fine. But I guess the crunch is going 20-25mg to see whether mine are still going to do their job. Thanks again.
OK, but I don't think you can do that with adrenals/Hydrocortisone. It's not like thyroid and levo. Taking HC thoughout the day as you have been doing tends to shut the adrenals down, and once they've shut down they rarely start working again. If one hopes to be able to wean off it one day it should never be taken after 1 pm. The adrenals need to be left to do some of the work. HC just takes some of the load off them in the morning, their busiest time. HC is not something to be self-treating with.
I am waiting to see if my cortisol improves on my current dose but it’s been low for a long while now (203) and I don’t have Addisons as I’ve been tested so maybe my next step in the future is speaking to endo about HC.
I stopped taking it years ago when my cortisol levels improved.
Be very careful if you want your endo to prescribe HC. They tend to think that it needs to be taken all day to mimic the action of the adrenals. If you take it throughout the whole day then your adrenals will shut down, and if they shut down they won't start working again. According to the doctor that prescribed it for me, if you don't have Addison's you don't need to take it all day, just early morning when the cortisol is supposed to be at its highest, just to lend a helping hand to struggling adrenals and give them a rest. Possibly another dose before lunch if necessary. But never after 1 pm. The adrenals need to be left to work for themselves for some part of the day.
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