I was diagnosed with adrenal fatigue and my doctor wants to put me on adrenal granulars. Any good experience with these?

Hi - I am on adrenal glandulars and natural cortisol for my adrenal insufficiency and I love them both. I personally will never go on prednisone/cortisones ever again. They've helped with sleep disorders and chronic pain.

What natural cortisol are you on? I started the adrenal glandulars a week ago and along with my iron and thyroid change in meds, I am doing much better.

Considering the risk of mad cow disease, I can't imagine that what your taking can be considered completely safe.

wenron - I get my natural cortisol from my doctor, who I think gets it from a compounding pharmacy. As best I know it's just called "natural cortisol" but I can find out. I take Ortho Molecular's Adrene Forte and have been for over a year now - it's a great product. After being tested, I take 10 mg nat'l cortisol early am and then again at noon, and 4 adrenals daily. I can't tell you the huge difference these have made in my life. I'm glad they're working out for you as well.

Thanks for the info cathy

Hi there,

I believe chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia symptoms stem from adrenal insufficiency. How did you go about finding a doctor that would prescribe cortisol? Did you go to an holistic M.D. or an endocrinologist, and did you take a saliva test or blood test to determine your insufficiency level? Thanks for listening. Janis Rafael

Janis - I found my doctor in Illinois after doing an internet search when I first had pain - specifically in one rib that was real bad. I went to his website and liked what I read - lots of experience with alternative and traditional medicine - especially since I was not going to get surgery or stay on the heavy meds as was suggested to me. My doc is an MD who uses both alt/trad modalities - mostly alt. He ran both the saliva and blood tests and my adrenals were really bad, with the highest number at 2 am, which explained why I was ready to get up and go at that time. However, I crashed by 5 am and went through the day exhausted. I eventually crashed from that cycle. By that time I had the full-blown fibro and TMJ issues. He has to prescribe the cortisol for me and it comes from a compounding pharmacy. Hope this helps.

janis - I forgot to ask if you did searches for a doc at american college for advancement of medicine, american holistic medicine associations, complementary alternative medical associations, etc.? They can be great sources for a referral. Often times you can email the doctor first before paying for a visit (I did) to find out if they do what you are looking for. I think there's a dr. jacob teitelbaum, MD, (or something like that) in your area. maybe you could check him out? let me know if I can help you. you seem to be very knowledgeable from what I'm reading from the posts - you just need a doc to help you out!

Hi KathyK, I have adrenal insufficiency and I was trying to locate a doctor in Chicago. Since you live here as well, I thought you could help me out. I am desparate.

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Niki F. D. Bryant

NikiB - Glad to help you out - I go to Dr. Ross Hauser MD, in Oak Park at their Caring Medical Clinic. You can find their information on the internet too.

Thanks so much Kathy. I did not think I would hear anything today. How are you feeling these days and what were your symptoms?

Thank you so much! I was not expecting to hear from you so soon. So how are you feeling these days also what symptoms did you have?

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Niki F. D. Bryant

NikiB - I found the clinic when I was looking for a doctor who dealt with physical pain. He does - but everything else too! Basically I had deep body pain, headaches, low temp, salt cravings/sugar cravings. But the biggest thing was no sleep. I'd fall asleep OK at about 11 or so, then be WIDE awake ready to GO at 2 am. Then I'd crash real hard by 5 am or so and not be able to get through the day. The real problem was that I had been living on so little sleep for so long I thought it was great (because I didn't feel bad at the time). Normally your highest cortisol "should" be first thing in the morning and gradually increase through the day, decrease at night. Mine was highest at 2 am and lowest at noon. I'm still working through some of the pain but I'm nothing like I was before - and I feel I'm getting my life back.

I should also share with you that if you have BC/BShield for insurance I don't think they'll pay for going to see him - it's so political it's not even funny. All other insurance pay for him.

CathyK, thanks for the info I called the Dr.'s office and she was able to give me an appt in a couple of weeks. I was speaking to one naturopath and she was saying that even with natural cortisol vs. steriod cortisol there is a risk of Addison's disease because its not really healing the gland (something to that effect).

[This message has been edited by NikiB (edited 04-09-2003).]

NikiB - I hope your experience is as good as mine has been - I found them about 4 years ago and they've literally saved my life and helped me to move forward. No one before them looked at my adrenals for all the pain, sleep and hormonal issues I had. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!

[This message has been edited by cathyk (edited 04-10-2003).]

Originally posted by wenron:
I was diagnosed with adrenal fatigue and my doctor wants to put me on adrenal granulars. Any good experience with these?
I take Adrenal Desiccated, by Standard Process Inc. It helps. I also take licorice root, which is also great. My dr tried me on a small dose of hydrocortisone at one time, but I couldn't tolerate it. My adrenals are very sensitive, and the natural substances seem to work better.

Dee

Hi. I've been on prednisone for 9 weeks not (5mcg) and it is making me crazy. Diagnosed w/secondary a. i.- want to get off pred. - interested in hearng more about the natural alternatives but don't think my endo is aware of them. Been seeing acupuncturist - an a million herbs. Is the doctor who prescribed your alternatives an endo? Many thanks for any guidance.

Originally posted by cathyk:
Hi - I am on adrenal glandulars and natural cortisol for my adrenal insufficiency and I love them both. I personally will never go on prednisone/cortisones ever again. They've helped with sleep disorders and chronic pain.

Glad to hear there are alternatives to prednisone - yes?? Been on for 9 wks. and going crazy w/water retention/weight gain - and only on 5mcg/daily. Any advice? But don't think endo knows alternatives.

hi aly - I've been taking natural cortisol 20 mg daily (before noon), 25 mg DHEA, natural progesterone cream and 4-6 Adrene Forte caps daily. All were prescribed by my physician who is an MD. He practices mostly alternative but also traditional modalities - he based giving me the above on test results. The adrenal hormone test was the Adrenal Stress Index test, which is a saliva test measuring these hormones throughout the day. My cortisol levels were extremely low - the only time they were elevated was at 2 am - then I wanted to get up and start my day, then crash by 5 am.

I took prednisone a number of times in the past for asthmatic conditions - it's a double-edge sword - it got me breathing again, but the major side effect was RAGE and high anxiety. I feel it's OK for very short-term but is never a long-term solution - the numerous side effects are so devastating.

I'm real happy with the program I'm on.

Being in LA you should have access to a number of physicians who practice the way my MD does. Many times you can check out their websites and talk with other patients who have had success with them.

I hope this helps!

Thanks Cathy for your info and encouragement. I've located the name of a doctor in my new alternative medicine book and will call tomorrow. My endo at UCLA put me through a battery of bloodtests, showing my pituituary not making enough ACTH. Even had mri to rule out tumor. Interesting about rage - feeling mean, lots of anger, frustration, bitterness and "piss and vinegar". Not a happy girl.

Thank you so much for your suggestions!

I take a glandular called Mil-Adregen. Took for almost a year, but still had to add in hydrocortisone after a while as apparent hypothalamic dysfunction was keeping my adrenals from producing enough cortisol on their own. The glandulars seem to be support for overall adrenal health.
-K

Aly I was just on Prednisone for a month. Finally quit it because of the wild mood swings, & other side effects.

First symptom I had was anger, lots of it. Snap at the drop of a hat, say things you'd never ordinarily say, etc. It can be controlled, but it gets tougher & tougher.

In my case a combination of synthroid & prednisone put me into a "storm" where at first I was angry, then all the emotions came into play. Anxiety followed by crying, followed by manic activity, followed by depression, etc.

Best of luck & hang in there.

wenron - I get my natural cortisol from my doctor, who I think gets it from a compounding pharmacy. As best I know it's just called "natural cortisol" but I can find out. I take Ortho Molecular's Adrene Forte and have been for over a year now - it's a great product. After being tested, I take 10 mg nat'l cortisol early am and then again at noon, and 4 adrenals daily. I can't tell you the huge difference these have made in my life. I'm glad they're working out for you as well.

Hi Cathyk,
I, too, take natural cortisol from a compounding pharmacy (my doc practices conventional and natural medicine and said my cortisol was 'natural'.) I called the pharmacy and they said it was cortizone acetate. I am newly diagnosed with AI and have been taking 8 mg a.m. and 4mg at noon for 2 weeks and so far feel no differently. She will titrate me up in a week or two and hopefully I might feel somewhat better. I am interested in taking the adrenal supplements, too. I was diagnosed with the saliva testing of all my hormones, thyroid and female, too. I'm glad you are feeling so good now!
Sandi

i used isocort for about six months and found it very effective. i'm off it now for a month before getting the acth challenge test...

cathyk, I know it has been a long time since you posted so I am not sure you will get this. I am new to this forum and wondered how you are doing now? Are you still following the same protocol with the adrenal glandulars and natural cortisol or did you wean off the corticol? Thanks BJ