Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 7540

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cortisol - my problem?!

Posted by glenn on June 19, 1999, at 9:33:22

ive had a lot of tests to determine whats causing my problem which all proved negative apart from my cortisol level, which on both urine and saliva tests came up more than twice the normal maximum, strangely enough adrenaline proven normal which considering the problem i have which to me feels like being wired ie "up" ,but not in mood i found suprising
now ive been tested for a cushingoid tumour and that was negative im left with a diagnosis of my hpa axis being up the spout and just producing too much cortisol
i have prevoiusly meditated ,sometimes for upto 2 hours with little effect and exercise definitely worsens it, something i found hard to beleive until i found some evidence for this on the net, so does anyone have any advice on what can get it down, my specialist only uses ketaconazole or metyrapone if its killing you
and my home made attempts dont seem very effective, ie meditation, he mentioned anti cort but does anyone know if it is available or where to get it?
many thanks for any help you can offer, oh and antideps and anxiolytics either have no effect or make me worse very quickly, have not tried effexor though
please forgive any englishisms
glenn

 

Re: cortisol - my problem?!

Posted by andrewb on June 19, 1999, at 11:07:35

In reply to cortisol - my problem?!, posted by glenn on June 19, 1999, at 9:33:22

> ive had a lot of tests to determine whats causing my problem which all proved negative apart from my cortisol level, which on both urine and saliva tests came up more than twice the normal maximum, strangely enough adrenaline proven normal which considering the problem i have which to me feels like being wired ie "up" ,but not in mood i found suprising
> now ive been tested for a cushingoid tumour and that was negative im left with a diagnosis of my hpa axis being up the spout and just producing too much cortisol
> i have prevoiusly meditated ,sometimes for upto 2 hours with little effect and exercise definitely worsens it, something i found hard to beleive until i found some evidence for this on the net, so does anyone have any advice on what can get it down, my specialist only uses ketaconazole or metyrapone if its killing you
> and my home made attempts dont seem very effective, ie meditation, he mentioned anti cort but does anyone know if it is available or where to get it?
> many thanks for any help you can offer, oh and antideps and anxiolytics either have no effect or make me worse very quickly, have not tried effexor though
> please forgive any englishisms
> glenn

Sounds like you have had some good testing done! From what I've read, both tianeptine and pivagabine have been effective in reducing cortisol. In trials these drugs have helped people with anxiety and concurrent depression by 'inhibiting corticotropin releasing factor'. If you keyword search the medline database (within the medscape site) of medical journal abstracts you will find more information. Also there is a 'babble' thread on tianeptine that started on May 19. Tianeptine is not available in the US and I don't think pivagabine is either. Tianeptine can be ordered from overseas without a prescription. I imagine pivagabine can be ordered from overseas but may require a prescription.

 

Re: cortisol - my problem?!

Posted by Racer on June 20, 1999, at 14:44:32

In reply to Re: cortisol - my problem?!, posted by andrewb on June 19, 1999, at 11:07:35

Pergolide has had good results in horses with elevated cortisol, as has cipraheptidine (sp? it's an anti-histamine). Pergolide is a parkinson's drug.

Hope that helps a bit. Good luck.

 

Re: cortisol - my problem?!

Posted by JD on June 20, 1999, at 16:50:34

In reply to Re: cortisol - my problem?!, posted by andrewb on June 19, 1999, at 11:07:35

I've also heard/read about tianeptine working well to decrease HPA activation and associated cortisol levels--this could be the main reason tianeptine "works" in the first place, since its status as a serotonin-reuptake enhancer has always been puzzling. Two other meds I've seen cited as cortisol-lowering: xanax (though doctors hate to prescribe now because it's so addictive) and also DHEA (though it's not as rigorously tested).
Good luck!
--JD

>
> Sounds like you have had some good testing done! From what I've read, both tianeptine and pivagabine have been effective in reducing cortisol. In trials these drugs have helped people with anxiety and concurrent depression by 'inhibiting corticotropin releasing factor'. If you keyword search the medline database (within the medscape site) of medical journal abstracts you will find more information. Also there is a 'babble' thread on tianeptine that started on May 19. Tianeptine is not available in the US and I don't think pivagabine is either. Tianeptine can be ordered from overseas without a prescription. I imagine pivagabine can be ordered from overseas but may require a prescription.

 

Re: cortisol - my problem?!

Posted by JohnB on June 22, 1999, at 23:11:42

In reply to cortisol - my problem?!, posted by glenn on June 19, 1999, at 9:33:22

Glenn:
Cortisol levels seem to be implicated in depressive illness. Aspirin lowers cortisol levels, as does an expensive supplement called phosphatidyl serine (800-1000 mgs). Itraconazole and ketaconazole have solidly established cortisol lowering properties. As a matter of fact, I've read two accounts in psychiatric journals of patients suffering from intractable depressions becoming symptom-free within 10 days taking 400 mg ketaconazole b.i.d. Both persons had "atypical" depressions that wouldn't respond to all major AD's or ECT. An endocrinologist consult might help. Good luck.
JohnB.

 

Re: cortisol - my problem?!

Posted by tlc1222 on January 4, 2001, at 13:14:07

In reply to Re: cortisol - my problem?!, posted by JohnB on June 22, 1999, at 23:11:42


Has anyone found that they gained weight with this problem? I suffered a traumatic situation a couple of years ago after which I gained 20 lbs. I've been searching like crazy for an answer as to how to get it off -- I've tried everything -- and am down to overactive adrenal glands possibly causing my thyroid and many other systems to slow down... I just did a saliva test and found that my am level of cortisol is quite high. Also, I think I read that the herb licorice root is supposed to be helpful for this.

Thanks!

 

Re: cortisol - my problem?! » tlc1222

Posted by MarkinBoston on January 9, 2001, at 13:28:50

In reply to Re: cortisol - my problem?!, posted by tlc1222 on January 4, 2001, at 13:14:07

>
> Has anyone found that they gained weight with this problem? I suffered a traumatic situation a couple of years ago after which I gained 20 lbs. I've been searching like crazy for an answer as to how to get it off -- I've tried everything -- and am down to overactive adrenal glands possibly causing my thyroid and many other systems to slow down... I just did a saliva test and found that my am level of cortisol is quite high. Also, I think I read that the herb licorice root is supposed to be helpful for this.
>
> Thanks!

My cortisol is high and I've done much researh on this issue. High cortisol is almost a given with melancholic depression. Depression throws the endocrine system out of whack and AD meds help restore it. Recently, the NIH has suggested treating endocrine symptoms along with AD therapy.

Cortisol (stress hormone) is not good at high levels unless you are in some temporary life threatening situation where shutting down non-essential functions (sex, muscle building, immune response) and preparing for a tough time by storing energy as fat and breaking down muscle for energy. High cortisol will decrease your level of testosterone, making weight loss harder,
and it will increase your blood pressure. It is associated with heartburn and heart disease.

CRF (the hormone that triggers cortisol release from the adrenals) is generally high in the depressed (in spinal fluid), and associated with lower levels of Human Growth Hormone. HgH also helps keep you thinner and support lean tissue over fat tissue. Its expensive and a literal pain in the ass to inject 6 IU's daily though.

Exercise temporararly increases cortisol, stress increases cortisol (social interaction, e.g.), high estrogen amplifies the response to stress in men and women. Having more fat raises estrogen levels in men and women.

Many of the drugs that supress cortisol will also supress other steroids like testosterone, so you will likely need exogenous replacement with a drug like ketoconazole (which is also liver toxic). Search for treatment of Cushing's Syndrome or Pseudo Cushing's Syndrome. Depression is in the Pseudo catagory, but actual physiologic Cushing's should be screened for as depression is one of its symptoms. Key markers for Cushing's is that your cortisol does not decrease significantly at night, or 8 hours following 1mg of dexamethasone ingestion at 11pm (the DST test).


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