Posted by bleauberry on August 3, 2008, at 20:06:05
In reply to Low Cortisol, Seroquel, Anxiety, posted by Nuala on August 2, 2008, at 20:02:28
I can relate to your story bigtime. Sounds like me. It was zyprexa with me, but hey, there is no way to know if it was med related or not.
I've spent a great deal of time at other forums involving mercury chelation, adrenal, and thyroid issues. Honestly, the best way to reset the faulty HPA axis and get the adrenals healed is...Cortef, or hydrocortisone, in doses ranging from 1.25mg to 20mg per day. The physiological replacement dose is up to 30mg. The body will not heal as long as cortisol is too low. People who do this usually are not on it for life. The time period is more in the range of 1 year, sometimes 2.
The adrenals and thyroid are closely intertwined, so you'll have to keep an eye on both.
Some people do fine with Isocort or Adrenal Cortex Extract, but when those aren't enough, cortisone is the only option and is medically approved for cases like yours. The herbs, such as Siberian ginseng, Ashwaghanda, and Astragulus, and helpful also.
Mine is now in its 3rd year without much progress. Herbs and extracts made me feel worse. I tolerated hydrocortisone ok, but am waiting to see my doctor again to evaluate where to go from here. The primary benefit I noticed with daytime HC was it stopped the nightime peak which had caused racing anxiety at waking, so I know it was doing something to even things out.
Keep in mind that no matter what therapy works for you, it will take minimum 6 months to work, likely a year, and it is uncommon to feel any benefits before 1 to 3 months.
I agree with you...this is a highly under-researched syndrome/disease. I believe, as does my doctor, that it is closely tied into bipolar, anxiety, and depression, not to mention fatigue. All the focus is on the neurotransmitters. But meanwhile, the master controllers of those neuros, such as cortisol and thyroid, go ignored.
poster:bleauberry
thread:843806
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080727/msgs/843993.html