Q&A Hydrocortisone side effects and how to improve adrenal function

Q&A Hydrocortisone side effects and how to improve adrenal function drchristian.com/blog
Dr. Alan Christianson here. This is going to be a very tactical podcast about improving your cortisol metabolism. In my new book, THE ADRENAL RESET DIET, I call this being “crashed.” I talk about different levels of adrenal distress, and “crashed” is the lowest level. At this level, people can be horribly fatigued, depressed, have aches and pains and just not be functioning well. It can also badly affect sleep, weaken the immune system and probably create a long-term risk. It’s a big deal and very important to correct.
My patient’s previous doctors felt it would be helpful for her cortisol to be higher, so they gave her hydrocortisone pills. Ironically, taking cortisol was not a path back to health. Hydrocortisone is very similar to the cortisol your body makes, so it increased her cortisol levels. The problem was she put on 20 pounds in the first few weeks. This had never happened to her. Her weight had fluctuated no more than four pounds all of her adult life. She was in her mid-40's, and her weight had remained the same since high school-until she took the hydrocortisone. Besides the weight gain, she had severe acne, fluid retention, thinning hair and severe anxiety.
So, why didn't it help to take the cortisol? Well, here is what is going on: When you have an adrenal disease, the adrenal glands cannot do what the body wants them to do. The biggest adrenal disease is Addison's disease, which is an autoimmunity of the adrenals. The immune system attacks the adrenals and breaks them down to where they cannot produce enough hormone for your needs. There is a signal from the pituitary gland to the adrenals, telling them to make hormones. This signal is a hormone the pituitary gland releases called ACTH or adrenocorticotropic hormone. In cases of Addison's disease, there is no cortisol being made, and there is a very high level of ACTH. So, your brain is yelling at your adrenals to work, and they are not working.
When you have adrenal dysfunction, like my patient had, it is a different story. I address adrenal dysfunction in my new book, where I cover the levels of adrenal distress: crashed, wired or tired, or stressed. If we look at the ACTH level, it will not be elevated. There is low cortisol, but the body wants low cortisol. In my patient’s case, her system did not really want the cortisol from her own body. She was capable of making it, and she did make it at certain times, but her body did not want it because it was really run-down and exhausted. So, it took rest, relaxation, rejuvenation and restoring her cycles and daily rhythms for her body to want to make cortisol again. Pouring cortisol into her body (through the pills) was fighting against what the body was trying to achieve. That is why she had so many, troubling side effects.
If you are crashed, take a look at the chapter on crashed in the new book and think about botanical medicines. Think about timing of light. Think a lot about rest and all the factors that give rise to it. Your blood sugar is a critical one, too. So, manage all the factors that raise your resiliency, and know you can do better and your cortisol production can come back again. If you take cortisol, you are not giving your body what it wants. You are giving your body what it is trying to avoid. You will also make it harder for your body to make more cortisol because you will pull away from your adrenals that much further.
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[@jennyabrenica8714]

For some people, they DO need HC replacement prescribed. I was one of those people. I had Adrenal Insufficiency as a result of stress on my body from the poisoning from a bad root canal. As soon as the root canal got extracted, the adrenals bounced back very well on their own, but in the interim I was DYING without enough cortisol. It sent me to the ER twice in a month's time before I got hormone replacement. I was ramped up to 50 mg. HC. I was also prescribed Florinef to keep me from peeing a river due to poor sodium retention (also caused by Adrenal Insufficiency). My DO (doctor of osteopathy) also prescribed Medrol injections for the stressful task of the extraction. That was a life-saver!

[@organicfireorganicfire1236]

I got mercury poisoned from 2 amalgams fillind I think it messed up my adrenal, did you felt tired all the time???

[@nabilinho]

Love your videos. Doctors like you are very hard to come by these days.

[@IcelanderUSer]

If you have an adrenal problem and aren’t producing cortisol be careful if you have surgery. I was given precedex and almost died on the operating table. My blood pressure skyrocketed. I’ve had several other surgeries without problem.

[@hollys6687]

Most doctors don't know what Addison's is or they've never dealt with it so it is hard to diagnose. It took doctors months to diagnose me in a state with ample medical. I finally diagnosed myself and testing proved me right. Many times women are treated as if they have emotional problems too. Addison's is a life and death condition, not merely an imbalance.

[@pifandrei5743]

So what does this Addison disease means exactly? I was prescribed this with no major simptoms. I just have stiff joints from time to time,.do to using prednisolone and gettting of lf it . What are the main simptoms of Addison's disease?

[@robertmarking817]

I’ve been diagnosed with adrenal, insufficiency and have been on HC for 10 years. I I have Addison symptoms but I don’t have Addison’s. a person can have adrenal insufficiency, and be dependent upon Hydrocortizone, because of either 1) primary adrenal insufficiency - direct adrenal gland is issues 2) secondary adrenal insufficiency - hypothalamus, pituitary issues In either case, Hydrocortizone is needed to maintain homeostasis in the body, and to maintain proper regulation of the autonomic nervous system.

[@DrChristianson]

All of these are possible. It is also common that people who are given hydrocortisone unnecessarily have a hard time coming off of it. It’s best to connect with a good endocrinologist for a first or second opinion if you’re not sure which situation you’re in.

[@tamaragenar2636]

Was thinking that ...you explain it verry well thank you ..bless you

[@JessiPerez1234]

Thank you!

[@shiningstar7775]

I think this is not entirely accurate. If this guy had truly experienced AI he would know this advice is not useful. Some people have AF for 10+ years and cortisol or Adrenal Cortex (which is also Cortisol) helps them.

[@ScottNotAvailable]

Do any of the mentioned side effects occur in patients using HC topically?

[@iamangela171]

I thank God for you Dr Axe

[@Youngone78]

“Dr Axe”??

[@bunaskitchen3399]

If i have ACTH 95pg/ml its low or what have anyone ideas for this please answer

[@brettcollin3693]

Wife has been taking Hydro for couple years and now she can't walk it ate thru her bones and is waiting for hip surgeries. Seriously can't walk and has lost teeth. Is there any other option???

[@jeffreywp]

People need to stop asking for medical advice after watching these or any medically-related online presentations. I've been seeing this more and more. You should follow up via email (or phone call) with whichever online doctor you have questions for. Dr. Christianson has a medical practice, does speaking engagements, AND needs to care for his family. Asking for online medical feedback shouldn't be expected nor is it safe since you are an individual and need specific care, not sound bites.

[@gwen6566]

+Dr . Alan Christian I have Addison Disease. Is it possible to get and feel better on this program? I take prednisone and levoxyl.

[@1Wendy_Woo]

gwen6566 : He never answered?! Wow.

[@khaledalrmaih5321]

I wonder how you feel now? If you ever see this comment I hope you answer. Do you still have Addison’s disease? Also I really wonder what kept the doctor from not answering your question for 3 years.. wow

[@dianelindenberger6941]

If I take hydrocortisone if I cannot sleep at night......I have not been able to sleep for over a year and now the doc. has me on klonopin which is bad and poison for the body. HELP!!!!!!!!!!

[@sebodear]

Hey Dr. Christianson! I have a question. I was three months on Medrol for asthma. When I came off of it, i was diagnosed with secondary adrenal insufficiency. My cortisol level after the ACTH stimulation was under 27 nmol/L. I was put on hydrocortisone 10mg+5+5. Three months later we did another Acth test and the result was the same. My adrenal glands are just not working. Now i am confused. You say i dont need to take it, my doctors say I have to take it to prevent adrenal crisis. What now?

[@Voxterx]

Yeah I think Iam on the same boat as you because I was taking sertide inhalr for Years then i have come off it myself not realising the coonection to the adrenals and all this tyime i thought it was my thyroid...still not taking anything for it though need to wait for dr. Can I ask when did you find out it was your adrenals?

[@sgraybritt]

Me also! I was in adrenal crisis and my adrenal dr told me I was in adrenal crisis. I lost a lot of weight and was v sick. Now I take hydrocortisone and have gained so much weight but I’m scared to stop taking it that I’ll get really sick again. My acth test keeps coming back that adrenals are not working My gma had Addison’s disease but I was not diagnosed as having that. I also must wear a medical alert bracelet that I have adrenal insufficiency and to give hydrocortisone Plz offer some ideas if I should continue this regime

[@bunaskitchen3399]

my 5-year-old son takes hydrocortisone 15mg a day because the dr says he has late onset disease and kidney failure while ACTH is 95pg/ml. I don't know if the doctor is lying to us or what the matter is

[@michaelmoneytv]

I was diagnosed with low cortisol from one single regular blood test it was taken at 7am and I went back to bed after the blood test for a few more hours after that my doctor is saying regardless of you going back to bed that my level is low my level is currently 4.5 and the doctor wants me at a 10 at least on the cortisol level my life feels horrible right now I’m pretty sad and upset down right now I’m getting abdp-5 for it on Monday to help treat never heard of it but I pray to god that it works for me cause right now I feel like I wanna die from all this anxiety and panic episodes I got going on in me lol what’s a normal healthy level a male should be at on cortisol I’m I really that LOW??? From one single blood test all my other male hormones were general fine the doctor says just that one was low I’m kinda going crazy here I tend to not handle stress very well at all

[@godisgracious3505]

Mine is at a 1.5. My hospital Dr. ,an internist, said 5 is already low and mine is an extreme low.

[@frosty_teacup]

I recently got something like 1.3 on my 8am test, I’m starting the long process of figuring out how to cope with the Cortef that I’ve been prescribed. I’m getting very bad headaches from it.

[@ashleyashley9405]

Frosty Teacup do you have adrenal fatigue?

[@bunaskitchen3399]

Please don’t worry doktors sometimes are wrong you need to think how was you after diagnose or have you any symptoms how did you go to doctors what problems did you have? If cortisone is low

[@Lolitadarkmusic]

Hello, I truly hope you'll get back to me... History: My mother has a secondary adrenal insufficiency and have been taking HC since April this year. She was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in November 2018, and received 9 Keytruda infusions, which doctor believes caused her to have secondary adrenal insufficiency, and hyperthyroidism (which was recently cured by methimazole). Her sodium level went down to 18 back in March this year which made her violently ill, she was diagnosed with secondary adrenal insufficiency then, and started taking HC. Her cortisol level stablized with HC, but blood tests shows its not improving without HC. She is 82yrs young and she eats well, has more energy than the normal 82yr olds. Her hormone specialist says she may need to be on HC for the rest of her life. She wants to get off of it. Please advise. Thank you so much!

[@pifandrei5743]

2 years passed, how r things now?

[@sadiaimran3856]

I have pituitary adenoma and got removed by surgery. Dr. Prescripe me Cortisone 5mg on daily use. Since 1 year I am using and there is no regulation of my periods. Using this medicine i have weight gain and too much hair fall. So what is benefit of using this medicine.

[@bunaskitchen3399]

A very good question,i want to ask too ??

[@flaminjackson]

Can hydrocortisone be taken on a empty stomach if it doesn't cause stomach upset? I do intermittent fasting regularly.

[@sindhususanbinu]

No you can’t take hydrocortisone tab on empty stomach. It causes gastritis

[@MY-dm9wz]

i just found your videos. Very interesting. . I will watch all of them. Please, can I ask you to talk about Cushing Disease. I am three months pituitary operation. I went out from the hospital taking 40HC. Now I am trying to reduce to push my adrenals to work. Process very painful. I am taking 30HC but my body complains with big pain: weakness in legs, pain in bones and joints, like needles crossing my bones, especially at night. Stomach pain sometimes diarrhea ( not vomiting) I need to massage my hands continuously because pain is horrible. Please, can you explain: 1) what symptoms you feel when you reduce HC in your body. Why this process of reducing is so painful. 2) Apart of blood tests, how I know when my adrenals are working? Many thanks for all your help. I dont know too much about you yet but you look like a surgeon 😀 The movements of your hands and long fingers. ☺️

[@mehmetakif5842]

I had very little levels on the 24 h Urin-Cortisol-Test, I mean less than the lower end, and I feel like crap. I assume due to chronic stress, which sitll lasts. So accordingly to your explanations, my body intentionally shuts down cortisol to help my body recover? This sound logical. But what if It only took lets say max. 5 mg HC or 1mg Prednisolone to fix me a little bit, so I could wake up more easily, as I have to work.

[@pifandrei5743]

It will not fix it . Cause i tried. Had an extra box of prednisolone when I stopped it. Was afraid of withdrawal so still took like half pill or quarter. When tested, adrenal glands didn't produced as much. They where producing around 75% capacity. They prescribed cortizol again. Not sure if i should take it, cause i can live with joint paints, but managing diabetes or high blood pressure for the rest of my life ,. doesn't sound so appealing, specially knowing their side effects since was on them for 2 months.

[@mehmetakif5842]

@@pifandrei5743 Hi. I also tried Prednisolone, somehow I had the feeling it helps, but it was more wishful thinking. I only take it after very hard training to recover better, think then it helps but would also not take it permanently.

[@pifandrei5743]

@@mehmetakif5842 it does help. It saved my life. But in the same time they *ucked up my adrenal glands. They trying to put me on hidrocortisol now, but my gut feeling is the adrenal glands will fix naturally, and if taking hidrocortisol , will mess those up, in a state in witch i will hsve to take steroids for the rest of my life.

[@trafficjon400]

CROCK

[@flaminjackson]

I was Born without my pituitary Gland so I have to take hormones medicines everyday

[@DrChristianson]

Yes. That’s rare, but happens.