4 replies to this topic

[StandingUp]

I'm trying to determine if low copper could be contributing to my low NE levels...

I have kind of a strange story.

I was put on hydrocortisone for a little over a month. After a couple of weeks on it I developed hypotension, actually more accurately autonomic dysfunction. My BP is too high when sitting and drops way too low when standing resulting in fatigue and rapid heart rate. I've been thoroughly examined by multiple doctors including a cardio and they can't find anything wrong with me nor can they explain what might have happened. I've been off of the HC for months now with only maybe a 20% improvement in symptoms. They even trialed Florinef with me which raised both my seated and standing BP higher but did not control the drop upon standing.

Also, for the first time in my life I'm feeling some nonspecific depression.

Finally, a doc suggested my problem could be low norepinephrine. Low NE is associated with autonomic problems as well as depression...sure enough my NE came back in the bottom 10% of the range.

Further testing revealed my ceruloplasmin to be below range and my serum copper was in the bottom 10% of the range. We did a urinary copper test to rule out Wilsons and my copper there was right in the middle of the range so that rules out excess...


So, now to my point...I know that glucocorticoids mobilize copper by increasing ceruloplasmin. I'm wondering if what triggered all this was copper depletion. I don't know why else hydrocortisone would cause low norepinephrine. My research shows that NE needs copper and vitamin C to be created.

Should I start supplementing with copper to see if this improves? What else might cause low NE as related to glucocorticoids?

[rwac]

Maybe you already had some dysautonomia which the HC worsened ?

Another symptom of a copper deficiency would possibly be things like joint problems. Collagen cross linking depends on copper too (Lysyl oxidase).

Trying some copper is definitely worth a shot.

You should go read this thread: http://www.mindandmu...showtopic=42270

[StandingUp]

Very interesting. I definitely did not have any sort of dysautonomia at all...I was very active prior to this. Even if I did though, I can't see by what mechanism a glucocorticoid would worsen it, so far all I've come across is the low copper thing. I just want to be cautious because copper can definitely have some negative effects as well as I know most people here know.

[KimberCT]

Could you post a list of prescriptions and supplements you are currently taking?

[M D Zayaa]

It's highly possible that low NE is the consequence of low Cu. There are a quite number of mice experiments showing precisely that. While dopamine levels remains unchanged in the presence of copper deficiency, NE on the other hand not. It decreases and a long term lack of adequate levels of NE may even cause neurological problems in the brain too.