Posted by ed_uk2010 on March 20, 2018, at 18:42:57
In reply to Re: How can I block Cortisol?, posted by Lamdage22 on March 20, 2018, at 12:36:33
> how is cortisol measured? I may do the same test
Cortisol levels vary greatly throughout the day and according to circumstances. You can't just measure the level randomly and get a useful result.
If cortisol is markedly elevated for a prolonged period, there are usually physical/medical symptoms as well as psychiatric symptoms. It would not be usual for a medical cause of high cortisol to present with psychiatric symptoms in isolation.
You would need to perform at least two of the below tests to identify an issue with elevated cortisol:
1. A 24 hour urine collection and analysis for cortisol content (this test is often done twice),
2. A late night saliva test for cortisol concentration,
3. An overnight dexamethasone suppression test with morning analysis of blood cortisol level.
You cannot perform a dexamethasone suppression test (no. 3) alone to look for a primary issue with cortisol. The normal suppressor pattern is often disrupted in severe depression (with or with anxiety) and in psychotic depression, with pts becoming non suppressors.
poster:ed_uk2010
thread:1097352
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20180212/msgs/1097536.html