2 replies to this topic

[John250]

I’m having trouble figuring out how prednisone and corticosteroids can be used to improve impaired adrenal function when the main side effect of them is a depleted adrenal system?
From years of amphetamine use I’m sure my adrenals are taxed and I was interested in possibly using a low-dose prednisone to help boost them back up but I’m not sure what a good protocol would be? Back when I had tonsillitis I was given decadron. Nothing gave me a better feeling and boost of energy than that. That is what leads me to think maybe my adrenals are impaired. Would you recommend prednisones to restore adrenal function and if so how would I go about the protocol? Thanks

[Jesuisfort]

Prednisone is just a synthetic cortisol , you have to be very careful with this drug

Don't use it more than 1 month 

 

Did you do a salivary  cortisol test to be sure that you have impaired adrenal function  ?

[John250]

I did the 4 part saliva panel years ago and my levels were in range but I believe morning cortisol should have been higher in the range and I was a bit lower and then one other time of the day was flip-flopped as well. But then again that was a few years ago so I’m sure it’s gotten worse. My theory is regardless of my cortisol panel why would the injection of Decadron make me feel so good? Usually when my amphetamines were off I feel like crap I’m tired I’m lethargic I have flu like symptoms, etc. and that one shot of Decadron literally took all that away and gave me almost better energy than Adderall for a couple hours.

What I’m interested in is if there is a possible microdose corticosteroid protocol that will restore adrenal function? I’ve heard several endocrinologists tell patients with adrenal dysfunction that they may have them use corticosteroids for a short timeframe to restore adrenal function. I never looked in depth of how that process would work. What confuses me is if corticosteroids are a synthetic hormone then the only way they would work is to permanently take them like all other synthetic hormones. If you take synthetic testosterone it will increase testosterone but when you stop your natural testosterone will be hindered . Same thing with synthetic thyroid medication. But is it only some hormones that are negatively impacted from cessation of the same synthetic hormone replacement therapy(ie testosterone and Thyroid) or do some hormones benefit from their synthetic version? For example melatonin is a hormone and using synthetic melatonin does not shut down your natural melatonin production. Then let’s look at DHEA. You can use synthetic DHEA for a very long time and there are not many cases of natural DHEA levels being shut off or hindered and if so they seem to rebound quickly. Same with progesterone and pregnenolone. But one single injection of testosterone can permanently shut down natural testosterone levels in some people. This is why I’m wondering if the shutdown process of natural hormones from there synthetic version applies only to some hormones yet may be beneficial to other hormones (ie cortisol)

Edited by John250, 25 June 2018 - 03:49 PM.