posted
My llmd ordered prescription Cortif 30 mgs extended release and DHEA 25mgs each once a day. My counts were very low on my adrenals and both he and my GP feel they need support for severe stress.
Had anyone used these drugs before to up their adrenal function. I hear that you need to wean off of cortif when you stop taking it?
-------------------- Diagnosed with chronic neuro lyme 12/10 after 30 years of vertigo.2 tick bites in 3 yrs from upstate NY. Was on omincef for nine mths..zith and rifampin stopped.Remission~ All the pain and symptoms are back and I am not treating now with biaxin. Posts: 788 | From New york..queens | Registered: Nov 2010
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-------------------- Diagnosed with chronic neuro lyme 12/10 after 30 years of vertigo.2 tick bites in 3 yrs from upstate NY. Was on omincef for nine mths..zith and rifampin stopped.Remission~ All the pain and symptoms are back and I am not treating now with biaxin. Posts: 788 | From New york..queens | Registered: Nov 2010
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posted
Cant believe no one on here has low adrenal issues with lyme
This is what they prescribed for me and I am afraid to take them without some feedback..HELP
-------------------- Diagnosed with chronic neuro lyme 12/10 after 30 years of vertigo.2 tick bites in 3 yrs from upstate NY. Was on omincef for nine mths..zith and rifampin stopped.Remission~ All the pain and symptoms are back and I am not treating now with biaxin. Posts: 788 | From New york..queens | Registered: Nov 2010
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posted
Sent your pm mookie...thank you so much for answering me. I cannot believe that no one else on here has been given these meds for their adrenls.
-------------------- Diagnosed with chronic neuro lyme 12/10 after 30 years of vertigo.2 tick bites in 3 yrs from upstate NY. Was on omincef for nine mths..zith and rifampin stopped.Remission~ All the pain and symptoms are back and I am not treating now with biaxin. Posts: 788 | From New york..queens | Registered: Nov 2010
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posted
Hi annier--I just started Cortef a month and half or so ago.. I haven't noticed a lot, but my starting dose is pretty low I think (5 mg in a.m.) I might have to increase it in the near future. I've never tried the other med you mentioned. Sorry, but I don't have much more input than that for now.
-------------------- "The simple things can get you through the hardest times." Posts: 628 | From Connecticut | Registered: Sep 2010
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posted
Hi annier, I thought that taking Cortef was not a good idea for lymies. It is the same as hydrocortisone, a steroid.
Steroid medications are contraindicated in lyme disease because they can drive the lyme bacteria further into the tissues. Steroids can also suppress the immune system.
It's a tough call for those of us who are plagued by adrenal fatigue or adrenal exhaustion. We need to function.
Recently, under care of my wholistic, lyme-friendly, PCP, I started using licorice and tyrosine, taking 500 mg. of licorice root extract (with Glycyrrhizin) and 500 mg. of tyrosine. Dose is now at 1 of each, 3 times per day: dose 1 is 30 minutes before breakfast, dose 2 mid-morning, dose 3, before 2 pm. The licorice root extract I take is from Douglas Laboratories (hard to find same product in a different manufacturer).
My doctor says that I can build up to take 4/day.
Also, for adrenals, taking Adrenal Stress End by Enzymatic Therapies. Dose: 2 with breakfast, 1 with lunch.
Also, for energy, just added D-Ribose powder. Dose: 5 mg (1 scoop) with water, 3 times per day with meals.
I'm finding that this is helping improve my energy and stamina. I say "improve", not fully there yet. I think that when adrenals are depleted, it's going to take some time to rebuild them.
Also helpful is diet: no sugar, more fiber, no caffiene. Eat frequent small meals, include protein and healthy fats.
And then there's destressing. Things like yoga, meditation, walking, etc.
Wishing you good health.
Posts: 873 | From WA | Registered: Dec 2005
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posted
Thanks hopeful for the information. My LLMD prescribed the cortef for me and the DHEA from a compound pharmacy. He said that the dosage is nothing that it would affect the lyme. It is only 30 mgs a day time released.
I hope Dr R knows what he is talking about. I am glad they finally figured out why I feel so down and stressed all the time. I finally got my thyroid function back to normal with armour thyroid from Dr R too. Now the adrenals and cortisol have to come up. Reaching menopause has made it crash also.
What does licorice do? I see that it is in a destressing tea that I bougth at wholefoods? I only wish I could do yoga or walk. I have permanent vertigo from a botched ear surgery over 31 years ago so I cannot walk without falling over. That in itself caused a lot of stress.
-------------------- Diagnosed with chronic neuro lyme 12/10 after 30 years of vertigo.2 tick bites in 3 yrs from upstate NY. Was on omincef for nine mths..zith and rifampin stopped.Remission~ All the pain and symptoms are back and I am not treating now with biaxin. Posts: 788 | From New york..queens | Registered: Nov 2010
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Abxnomore
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18936
posted
Annier,
I agree with hopeful. There are many ways to address adrenal fatigue which most of us have without cortef. It's a steroid and some LLMD's use it in low doses but you will get stuck on it and I think it has negative effects on the body when one has lyme even in low doses.
There are many supplements that address this but you need a good ND or integrative doctor. There are plenty of them in NYC and frankly I'm surprised at your LLMD. He knows what they are. I think he slacking off and has been practicing for too long.
Licorice is good but I believe you have high blood pressure, so in your case it is not. It can raise your blood pressure. Only the Deglycerized Licorice does not raise blood pressure but it's not good for adrenal issues but for GI issues.
There are products such as Adrecor, Isocort....there was a recent post about Isocort lately, Rhodiola, siberian ginseng which are all good for adrenal issues but you need to be under a doctor's care. You can't do it alone.
The DHEA is OK. It helps support the adrenal glands.
Posts: 5191 | From Lyme Zone | Registered: Jan 2009
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Abxnomore
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18936
posted
Annier there has been a ton of stuff posted on this already. Search cortef and adrenal fatigue.
Posts: 5191 | From Lyme Zone | Registered: Jan 2009
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posted
I cannot get that search to work. Have tried since day one. I think I am illterate now?
Why would Dr R call in the medication for me. He read my blood results showing my cortisol so low and agreed with my GP that it was needed. I researched cortef and lyme and it said as long as it was under 40 mgs there was no harmful affect. Do you think that is not true? You know I am afraid of medication, but all this natural stuff I am taking is doing nothing but making my stomach sick.
The both feel that menopause is causing much of my problems now and arenal issues. My thyroid is finally up to a good level since DR R put me on medication for it.
Why do you have to wean off cortef. Is it like a benzo too???? Does it give you bad withdrawal symptoms or something. I thought it was something that helps your adrenals and then you stop taking it?
-------------------- Diagnosed with chronic neuro lyme 12/10 after 30 years of vertigo.2 tick bites in 3 yrs from upstate NY. Was on omincef for nine mths..zith and rifampin stopped.Remission~ All the pain and symptoms are back and I am not treating now with biaxin. Posts: 788 | From New york..queens | Registered: Nov 2010
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posted
abx..i figured out that search thing..I put in cortef and all the forums said they take it and it was prescribed by there LLMDs and it is a natural steroid..not like prednisone.
Only a few said that they didnt feel well on it, all the others said it did great for them. Once again..do I , or dont I take it?
-------------------- Diagnosed with chronic neuro lyme 12/10 after 30 years of vertigo.2 tick bites in 3 yrs from upstate NY. Was on omincef for nine mths..zith and rifampin stopped.Remission~ All the pain and symptoms are back and I am not treating now with biaxin. Posts: 788 | From New york..queens | Registered: Nov 2010
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Abxnomore
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18936
posted
Annier, It's only a decision you can make. I think when there are many very good alternative supplements that help, it was my opinion that I did not want cortef, nor did my LLMD ever recommend it. I always went the alternative route as he was an alternative LLMD.
I did say that many take it but one's body becomes dependent on it and you do have to wean off it if you want to stop taking it.
I have never taken it, so I am not the to right one to ask questions about cortef. I just know that there are many suitable alternatives.
Hopefully others will chime in.
Glad that you figured out the search tool. Plug in adrenal fatigue and see what others are doing.
Ask your doc why he thinks cortef is better than going the natural way. He may give you an answer that makes sense to you. You can also plug in the search box the supplements I mentioned and read about them, too, and talk to your doctor about them and why they would not be a good alternative for you.
Posts: 5191 | From Lyme Zone | Registered: Jan 2009
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Abxnomore
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18936
posted
Licorce helps raise cortisol levels in supplement form and I am assuming your levels are low, not high. But you can't take it if you have high blood pressure as I mentioned in my post above.
Posts: 5191 | From Lyme Zone | Registered: Jan 2009
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Abxnomore
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18936
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