Posted by nuala on September 24, 2008, at 17:30:09
In reply to Re: Best SSRI for post-steroid HPA axis suppression?, posted by bleauberry on September 24, 2008, at 17:04:39
I had to stop the HC since I was unable to tolerate it. I had heart palps and "surges" of something for a period after the each dose, then a trough of low cortisol WAY before next dosing time. It was unbearable to suffer through.
In combo with the Seroqeul, at night after taking the Seroquel, I would have a low cortisol period and wake up from frightening dreams, where I could not sort out reality from the dream, panic and adrnelaine, rigid body and scared for my life.
The low cortisol periods throughout the day were vicious - crying jags, and real thoughts of suicide.
I even had some manic periods or euphoric times, which were just as scary.
Soo.....had to give that up.
I did taper down 2.5 mg/week, as reccommened by my dr and by internet folk who have had to go off HC.
It has been a downward spiral since August, when I tapered off.
The Seroquel is really throwing me for a loop.
The combo Luvox and Seroquel has NOT been good. Bad side effects. I was thinking of asking the dr if I could try Lexparo, which is what I used to take. I never had any bad effects from this combo.
I will never know if I had bad adrenals to begin with. I only know that I was stable on 25mg Seroqeul (the lowest taper I had gone to) for a year and a half. And once the HC treatment began, the Seroquel sent me into low cortisol periods.
Now, even off the HC, the Seroqeul is removing what little HPA axis function and cortisol I have avaialble while I am supressed.
I suspect that my treatment on thyroid meds during this period may have helped my adrenals, but I don't know what status they are in now.
Ideally, I would like to get off the Seroqeul, and keep with an SSRI like Lexapro to perk me up and maybe get back on the thyroid meds, if my adrenals can tolerate it.
My dr told me that it was likely sometime during my taper of Lexapro while I was on thyroid meds, that sent me into my "intolerance", by reducing my available cortisol ( I was still on 25mg Seroqeul).
I had no idea at the time what I was doing when I was tapering the Lexapro. I was guided by the information concerning SSRIs effects on thyroid hormones and thought it counterproductive to take something that reduced my circulating thyroid hormones, while I was taking thyorid meds!
Oh,well, :_(
Thanks for your suggestions. When I get back in some shape, I am going to work on more alternative therapies and see if I can get the thyroid straightened out.
poster:nuala
thread:853772
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080915/msgs/853842.html