Posted by Nuala on August 4, 2008, at 19:09:22
In reply to Re: Low Cortisol, Seroquel, Anxiety » Nuala, posted by Maximus on August 3, 2008, at 13:48:06
Hi Max:
Thanks for the reference to that article. While I was on that dose of sSeroqeul (300mg) at one time, I think, as my doctor explains it, that the SSRI Lexapro raised (?) cortisol, so perhaps they cancelled each other out to some extent.
But, that was a few years ago, and I am not sure if the Seroquel has adversely affected my HPA axis after all this time. As well, I am off the Lexapro, so just on 25 mg of Seroqeul at the moment.
My plan is to finish taperong off the Seroqeul. I have been on 25 mg for over a year, and have been fairly stable. Not good, stable. I think that my year on the thyroid medication helped the adrenal situaton somwehat - otherwise I would be back where I was when I was fist put on teh psych meds....Bad, bad, place.
As I mentioned in my earler post, if goimng off the seroquel does not enable me to go back on thyroid meds, and I can't find a way to deal with steroid treatment for the adrenal insufficiency, I will have little choice but to try another antipsychotic for the anxiety etc.
I have researched a few of them and found only one that rasies cortisol - Fluphenazine (Permitil, Prolixin). It seems to have some possibility of signifiacnt side -effects, but I am not sure. Are you familiar with it?
Funny you should mention that Seroquel is well-known to have this effect. Not one dr, nor one psychiatrist has understod what is going on with me and just looks blankly at me when I say Seroqeul is decreasing my HPA function and lowering my cortisol to my detriment. I am really convinced that many drs have no concept of what they are doing, and only know the pharmacy advertsied actions of medications, as pertains disease states or neurotransimitters only. Beyond this, they seem clueless.
> Hi Nuala,
>
> It is a well known fact that atypical antipsychotics, especially Seroquel and Zyprexa, lower cortisol level. So it can be a real pain with someone who has already a problem with its adrenals.
>
> You can have a look here:
>
> "http://www.docguide.com/news/content.nsf/news/852571020057CCF6852572E4004AAFBC"
>
> Also, you might consider to lower your dose of Seroquel or switch to another AP.
>
> Good luck! Max.
>
>
poster:Nuala
thread:843806
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080727/msgs/844183.html