I started taking cortef 5mg last month before meals and at bedtime. I have still not noticed any difference in the severe fatigue. I most ofted still wake up feeling tired-not refreshed. It has been 6 weeks now and I was wondering if it just isn't going to help me or takes a while. I have extreme low cortisol until 10pm when it is normal. I also have Lyme so I am not sure if that is why I feel no relief. My doctor seemed to think it should help but not so far. I am getting very discouraged because I have been sick for over 2 years. The fatigue is the worse and it isn't really a sleepy fatigue but a total physical fatigue which is undescribable. Anyone have any ideas? Thanks
Kim

That really sucks! I have been on cortef for almost 2 years. It has really helped, but I have been on a much higher dose. Have you talked to your doctor about increasing the dose? Just wondering. Kiesha

Thank you for responding. He wanted me to stay on the same dose 20mg for another month to see if it would help. I am thinking he might up the dose if I don't have any improvement. I am very discouraged about this. I actually thought I would get some relief from the terrible physical exhaustion I have all the time. I guess I don't understand why it isn't helping even a little bit. It has been 6 weeks as of today.
Kim

Have you been checked for a thyroid problem as well as Addison's? You may be hypo and need to be treated for that as well. I have Addison's and hypo for a year now and have good days and bad. Some days I have more energy than others. I have been dealing with not being able to sleep at nights lately. I would think you would have started to feel some relief by now. For me I started to feel better within a day or two. Maybe the Lyme's could have something to do with it. I would ask your doctor about that or the possibility of thyroid. Good Luck and keep us posted.

cruiser is right. I think you just need a higher does. But I am not a doctor.
Before the cortef & the synthroid I couldn't move. You should have some days where you are still going to be tried. But it shouldn't be every single day. right now I am taking 30 mg each day. It was 45 mg when I first went on it. Which was too much for me. I gained 30 pounds in 2 and a half months. I also had a hard time sleeping on it when my does was too high.

cruiser, do you take a nightly does? You might be taking it too late. I also have this problem after I got everything else under control. I can't take it past 7pm otherwise, I am at 6 am wide awake!!

Good luck to you both. I knowhow bad it can suck to not feel well! Kiesha

k_c_lady

I started out taking 25mg a day, now I am down to 20. I take my last dose no later than 5 or 5:30. I had to lower the dose, I was constantly hungry and couldn't stand it and all the weight I was gaining. My problem is not waking too early in the morning, it is not being able to fall asleep at night or waking in the middle of the night and can't fall back to sleep. I usually have to peel myself out of bed in the morning, that is what bothers me.

kpt

I agree you could try uping your dosage, but be careful, it can cause weight gain. Check with an endo about that and the thyroid issue, it could very well be the cause of cause of some of your problems.

I was checked for thyroid and am on synthroid also. I take my last dose of cortef at 10pm and I have no problem sleeping luckily. I am hoping it is because of the Lyme. I have some energy but run out within 3-4 hours. Then I am just done. I seem to start feeling better at night which is kind of strange. Maybe he will up the dose. I have not gained any weight yet. The Lyme has basically taken away my appetite so most days I have to force myself to eat. Thanks for the info. I need some relief soon...One other question-my doctor said the night dose is the most important because that is what helps with the energy in the mornings. I am wondering if that is the dose he might increase. Any thoughts on that?
Kim

k_c_lady

I started out taking 25mg a day, now I am down to 20. I take my last dose no later than 5 or 5:30. I had to lower the dose, I was constantly hungry and couldn't stand it and all the weight I was gaining. My problem is not waking too early in the morning, it is not being able to fall asleep at night or waking in the middle of the night and can't fall back to sleep. I usually have to peel myself out of bed in the morning, that is what bothers me.



I would have to say you are being over dosed like I was. I couldn't stop eating! Most days I would have two lunches! From going from never eating to this, I really packed on the pounds. I just started playing with my doses. By lowering it slowly. (Which I would not do without your doctors help.) I found that when I wasn't pregnant, I only needed 20 mgs per day. I lost all the weight that I had gained by getting the right dose. Most days i felt great, just "normal!"

I am not sure what to tell the poster. Sorry I couldn't be more help! Kiesha

cruiser is right. I think you just need a higher does. But I am not a doctor.
Before the cortef & the synthroid I couldn't move. You should have some days where you are still going to be tried. But it shouldn't be every single day. right now I am taking 30 mg each day. It was 45 mg when I first went on it. Which was too much for me. I gained 30 pounds in 2 and a half months. I also had a hard time sleeping on it when my does was too high.

cruiser, do you take a nightly does? You might be taking it too late. I also have this problem after I got everything else under control. I can't take it past 7pm otherwise, I am at 6 am wide awake!!

Good luck to you both. I knowhow bad it can suck to not feel well! Kiesha

I can relate to that exhaustion that seems bone deep. I am on 30 mgs of cortef and I cannot take it after 5:00 or so my time either or I just won't sleep at all. We may all have our problems but it is good that we have this board to go to so we know what is normal or not. I started on a lower dose of the cortef and they slowly moved it up and I take the florinef with synthroid to boot. I don't know if anyone else feels this way but I can't even take my thyroid meds in the pm without it affecting my sleep.

I was having difficulty sleeping so he gave me lunesta to take. I sometimes get into bed totally exhausted but unable to fall asleep. This was before I even started on the cortef. I can't even nap during the day because I never doze off. I still have to lay down though because of the physical tiredness. I take my synthroid in the mornings. I was feeling a little less tired yesterday so maybe there is some hope for me!

sonyamom "I take the florinef with synthroid to boot."

I am in the same boat! I have never taken my synthroid at night so I am not really sure how it works for me.
Synthroid: 125 mg
Florinef: 1. mg

ktp812: I am just wondering ifyour endo gave you the sleeping pill or your Gp? Just wondering! So I can get some too!

Kiesha

Kiesha
My MD/Holistic gave me the lunesta. He said that sleeping problems are very common with AI and had no problem giving them to me. He actually gave me a prescription for a 6 month supply. I am also taking a neurotransmitter supplement which I feel is already making a difference. I actually had a pretty good weekend fatigue wise. I hope I am beginning to feel the results of the cortef. Take care
Kim

I am being tested for adrenal issues (LOCAH) and that bone deep fatigue is one of my biggest concerns. One thing my endo checked for was a possible growth hormone deficiency. Mine turned out to be fine but I did do a little research on it after he mentioned the possibility. If you have a pituitary issue it might be something to check out.

Apparently it's only been in the last 10 years or so that mainstream medicine has come to the conclusion that a deficiency in adults can be a real problem, mostly with quality of life b/c of the fatigue but also affecting bone density etc.

Good luck

That is another issue I will be talking with my doctor about. Thank you for that information. I learn so much from these boards!
Kim

Kiesha
I am also taking a neurotransmitter supplement which I feel is already making a difference. I actually had a pretty good weekend fatigue wise. Kim

Kim, Hi, it's Sarah:wave: what is the neurotransmitter supplement that you are taking?

Sarah
It is called Serene Neurotransmitter support. It was 40.00 for the bottle of 120 so it will last 4 months. My urine tests were all messed up so he put me on this. He said it would help with the energy problem but so far it hasn't. I have only been taking it for 2 weeks though. I take it in the morning rather than at night when he told me to. I will let you know if it starts to help.
Kim

wow, never heard of it! You learn something new everyday! Kiesha