Posted by Larry Hoover on April 3, 2003, at 12:33:14
In reply to Re: thanks! ...one more question..... » Larry Hoover, posted by Ritch on April 2, 2003, at 22:36:34
> Wow, thanks a lot Larry! Adrenal peripheral benzodiazepine receptors-that's interesting.
>
> Got one more question. Months before I had all of my thyroid troubles I was on lithium and got hypercalcemia (idiopathic). This was found out after I started getting hives on the bottom of my feet and I had to go to ER for prednisone treatment. I was referred back to my GP and got some electrolyte workup, etc. that found the hypercalcemia. Anyhow I was prescribed several different antihistamines to treat the hives and they weren't very effective. I was waiting on seeing an immunologist to find out what was causing it in the meantime. Anyhow, I found that NSAID's (especially ketaprofen) were VERY effective in alleviating the itching and stopping the hives, whereas several antihistamines were relatively useless (Claritin, Allegra, Benadryl, etc.) I was under a lot of stress (cortisol connection?) during all of this time. Question is: IF I responded to NSAID's instead of antihistamines-does that "tell" anything about my HPA axis/cortisol "picture" that is noteworthy or remarkable in any way? I know that NSAID's act on prostaglandins. Are prostaglandins and cortisol linked? Thanks again for any info-your posts are very informative!I don't feel qualified to give you a definitive answer, as the interactions between the various products of cyclooxygenase enzymes are exceedingly complex. In general, COX inhibitors suppress ACTH (adreno-corticotropin hormone) and cortisol release. So, a non-specific COX inhibitor like ketoprofen will suppress stress responses. This will suppress, in turn, inflammatory cytokines like TNF-alpha. TNF-alpha can induce release of the inflammatory and urticaritic (hive-producing) prostaglandin D2. So, COX inhibitors can have direct and indirect effects suppressing inflammation, including hives.
What was found to be the cause of the hypercalcemia? It can directly cause release of TNF-alpha.
poster:Larry Hoover
thread:215138
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030402/msgs/215802.html