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Anyone gone on hydrocortisone?

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Posted 3/6/2019 10:12 PM (GMT -5)
My doctor prescribed it because he thinks my adrenals are tanked, especially because I keep having to raise my thyroid dose. I'm worried about the weight gain that seems to come with it though. He says as long as it's below 20mg it won't cause weight gain because it doesn't have glucocorticoid effects but I'm still concerned...does anyone else have any anecdotes about it? I'm only starting with 5mg in the morning and I'm pretty sure I'm not going to go over 10 a day.
Posted 3/6/2019 10:31 PM (GMT -5)
Was your cortisol tested?

I know of a few people who started even lower - like 2 1/2 mg taken once a day in the morning.
Posted 3/6/2019 11:17 PM (GMT -5)
I did 5mg once a day for awhile then 5mg twice a day but didn’t notice much of a benefit. Did your doctor say what symptoms come along with low cortisol? I was put on it because of my fatigue.
Posted 3/6/2019 11:54 PM (GMT -5)
My main symptom was having trouble sleeping. I usually take 20mg before bed.
Posted 3/7/2019 3:15 PM (GMT -5)
My last test was last year and it was low in AM and noon. Weird low cortisol keeps you from sleeping. I haven't noticed anything from 5mg today in fact I'm a bit tired after waking up. I don't want to go up to 10 because I've already put on weight sad I'm hesitant to keep taking it. I figure 5mg can't do much damage but I am worried, it doesn't seem to be working and he made it sound like it should start working immediately.
Posted 3/7/2019 3:15 PM (GMT -5)
Girlie did they notice any positive changes at that dose? Did it take a while?
Posted 3/7/2019 3:17 PM (GMT -5)
Sorry - I don’t recall.

Edit - I just remembered - Heather’sDad (forum member) - talked about Heather needing low dose hydrocortisone - and I believe it was 2.5 mg she took.
Posted 3/7/2019 11:33 PM (GMT -5)
I was on it for many years, between 20-40 mg. Dr M was the one who said the 20mg max thing is B.S. and to take it up as meeded, depending on my exertion levels. I never had any problems with it and I'm really sensitive to stuff
Posted 3/8/2019 9:19 PM (GMT -5)
How do you know how much you need?
Posted 3/9/2019 4:15 AM (GMT -5)
I was having trouble falling asleep. I started with 5mg. That wasn't effective, so I increased to 10 or 20 mg.

Usually 20 mg was enough, however when taking drugs that increase CYP3A4, eg rifampin, I sometimes needed surprisingly high doses.
Posted 3/9/2019 10:35 PM (GMT -5)
I take 10mg first thing in the morning and then 5mg around lunch. My adrenals are shot from years of prednisone use. Minimal weight gain with that dose. My Dr. said not to take it late in the afternoon because it would keep you from sleeping at night. I don't notice when I take it or miss a dose. If I stop taking it for a few weeks then I get stomach/back pains.

Post Edited (trekkar) : 3/9/2019 8:39:08 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 3/10/2019 9:20 PM (GMT -5)
Oh alright. I think I have to stick to 2.5mg because more makes me hungrier. But I wake up around 11 so it kinda negates the effects of taking it in the morning and at noon....well, it'd be nice if I could get a saliva panel done soon so I could see if I even need it. Is the weight gain from increased appetite do you think? Or water retention? I know lots of people get big bellies and a moon face from it lol.
Posted 3/11/2019 2:19 AM (GMT -5)
The physical side effects are with higher doses of cortisone.
Posted 3/11/2019 9:16 PM (GMT -5)
Yes I would imagine, as with most things
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