Anyone on Cortef?

3leggedtable · 11-04-2009, 09:03 AM

Hi,

Does anyone take Cortef?

My new doctor just rx'ed Cortef (10mg a.m. & 5mg noon) because my adrenals were low. I'm really not interested in being on anymore medication. I don't have any major medical complaints other than I'm tired in the afternoon which is when the saliva test showed that my adrenals are low.

Thank you for your replies.

kmartt · 11-05-2009, 10:38 AM

My doctor prescribed HC for me but I am very scared to take it. He thinks I haave adrenal fatigue, but my saliva test came back with a good rhthym just on the low end of normal. My problems are that I can't tolerate my thyroid meds. I can't increase my levoxyl or cytomel without having weird symptoms. UGGGGGGG Now i feel more hypo than ever. Sorry I don't have an answer for you but I would be interested in the same thing. has anyone taken it?

3leggedtable · 11-05-2009, 12:47 PM

Hi Kmartt,

Have you tried Armour rather than Levo & Cytomel?

I was on Synthoid for 20 years and switched to Armour last year. I like the natural thyroid medicine much better. My complaints on Synthoid were a mile long and when they added Cytomel it made my feet HURT. Who needs that.

If you do chose Armour make sure you FIRST find a doctor that knows how to Rx it. I "worked" with my Endo on finding the right dose of Armour but the only thing he cared about was my TSH. I was woefully under medicated for 6 months.

Good luck.

Liz

nonstickpam107 · 11-05-2009, 09:43 PM

Liz, I know hundreds of patients on Cortef. But you are the very FIRST whose feet hurt on Cytomel (thank goodness...finally...I took Cortef for a MONTH and my feet were hurting so BADLY I could barely hobble!). We may be the only two people in the world who that happened to, ha ha. Nice to have company.

How are you feeling on the Cortef? Are you finding your Armour a bit too 'high dose' as you take it? Many of the patients on Cortef who were on thyroid med before the Cortef find that their current dosage of Armour becomes 'too high' for them and that they probably needed the Cortef BEFORE even being Rx'd the thyroid hormone. None of them can go off of the thyroid hormone, however, but many end up taking a bit less thyroid hormone even after they are able to stop the Cortef. That's the info I hear over and over, hope it helps you. Glad you are feeling well and that you have a good doctor!

Pam

3leggedtable · 11-08-2009, 07:56 AM

Hi Nonstickpam,

I have been on 5 mgs of Cortef for 5 days and feel worse. My eyeballs are hurting! And 5 hours after I take the pill I feel like I have the flu. On Saturday I skipped my dose on purpose, and had no flu symptoms. It will be interesting to see if I am "sick" with the flu today.

nonstickpam107 · 11-08-2009, 09:00 AM

If a patient has 'tolerated' taking Armour or T3 Cytomel or any thyroid hormone for over four months, and has not had symptoms of low adrenals (like: going hyPER on the Armour, having many loose stools a day, quad muscles in thighs feeling so weak you can't walk up stairs, hands held out in front of you shaking, etc.) than I don't see why to add the Cortef NOW. Most people with very low adrenals (like low enough to be ON Cortef) would have to have the Cortef treatment FIRST to shore up the adrenals, and only THEN would they be able to tolerate the incoming thyroid hormone.

I hope that info helps you. Almost ALL the patients I hear from on Cortef are on that FIRST...for at least half a year before they can tolerate even a tiny amount (say, 1/4 grain) of Armour (natural thyroid).

I'd have to see your 4x in one day salivary cortisol before I'd comment on how low adrenals you are specifically.

Pam

11-04-2009, 09:03 AM	#1
3leggedtable Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Bridgewater, MA Posts: 274 Gallery: 3leggedtable Stats: 244/198/180 6 feet WOE: general low carb Start Date: 1-29-2007	Anyone on Cortef? Hi, Does anyone take Cortef? My new doctor just rx'ed Cortef (10mg a.m. & 5mg noon) because my adrenals were low. I'm really not interested in being on anymore medication. I don't have any major medical complaints other than I'm tired in the afternoon which is when the saliva test showed that my adrenals are low. Thank you for your replies.

11-05-2009, 12:47 PM	#3
3leggedtable Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Bridgewater, MA Posts: 274 Gallery: 3leggedtable Stats: 244/198/180 6 feet WOE: general low carb Start Date: 1-29-2007	Hi Kmartt, Have you tried Armour rather than Levo & Cytomel? I was on Synthoid for 20 years and switched to Armour last year. I like the natural thyroid medicine much better. My complaints on Synthoid were a mile long and when they added Cytomel it made my feet HURT. Who needs that. If you do chose Armour make sure you FIRST find a doctor that knows how to Rx it. I "worked" with my Endo on finding the right dose of Armour but the only thing he cared about was my TSH. I was woefully under medicated for 6 months. Good luck. Liz __________________ Don't sell yourself short! Thyroidless since 1988 Armour Thyroid - 3.5 Grains

11-05-2009, 09:43 PM	#4
nonstickpam107 Thyroid Patient Advocate Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: NE Indiana Posts: 13,934 Gallery: nonstickpam107 Stats: 230/116/120 (BF<26%) WOE: Started w/Atkins/Now BFFM Start Date: Nov. 23 2000	Liz, I know hundreds of patients on Cortef. But you are the very FIRST whose feet hurt on Cytomel (thank goodness...finally...I took Cortef for a MONTH and my feet were hurting so BADLY I could barely hobble!). We may be the only two people in the world who that happened to, ha ha. Nice to have company. How are you feeling on the Cortef? Are you finding your Armour a bit too 'high dose' as you take it? Many of the patients on Cortef who were on thyroid med before the Cortef find that their current dosage of Armour becomes 'too high' for them and that they probably needed the Cortef BEFORE even being Rx'd the thyroid hormone. None of them can go off of the thyroid hormone, however, but many end up taking a bit less thyroid hormone even after they are able to stop the Cortef. That's the info I hear over and over, hope it helps you. Glad you are feeling well and that you have a good doctor! Pam __________________ So many fireworks. So little time. "You can't get a patent on a pig part"

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

11-05-2009, 10:38 AM	#2
kmartt Junior LCF Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 53 Gallery: kmartt	My doctor prescribed HC for me but I am very scared to take it. He thinks I haave adrenal fatigue, but my saliva test came back with a good rhthym just on the low end of normal. My problems are that I can't tolerate my thyroid meds. I can't increase my levoxyl or cytomel without having weird symptoms. UGGGGGGG Now i feel more hypo than ever. Sorry I don't have an answer for you but I would be interested in the same thing. has anyone taken it?

11-08-2009, 07:56 AM	#5
3leggedtable Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Bridgewater, MA Posts: 274 Gallery: 3leggedtable Stats: 244/198/180 6 feet WOE: general low carb Start Date: 1-29-2007	Hi Nonstickpam, I have been on 5 mgs of Cortef for 5 days and feel worse. My eyeballs are hurting! And 5 hours after I take the pill I feel like I have the flu. On Saturday I skipped my dose on purpose, and had no flu symptoms. It will be interesting to see if I am "sick" with the flu today.

11-08-2009, 09:00 AM	#6
nonstickpam107 Thyroid Patient Advocate Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: NE Indiana Posts: 13,934 Gallery: nonstickpam107 Stats: 230/116/120 (BF<26%) WOE: Started w/Atkins/Now BFFM Start Date: Nov. 23 2000	If a patient has 'tolerated' taking Armour or T3 Cytomel or any thyroid hormone for over four months, and has not had symptoms of low adrenals (like: going hyPER on the Armour, having many loose stools a day, quad muscles in thighs feeling so weak you can't walk up stairs, hands held out in front of you shaking, etc.) than I don't see why to add the Cortef NOW. Most people with very low adrenals (like low enough to be ON Cortef) would have to have the Cortef treatment FIRST to shore up the adrenals, and only THEN would they be able to tolerate the incoming thyroid hormone. I hope that info helps you. Almost ALL the patients I hear from on Cortef are on that FIRST...for at least half a year before they can tolerate even a tiny amount (say, 1/4 grain) of Armour (natural thyroid). I'd have to see your 4x in one day salivary cortisol before I'd comment on how low adrenals you are specifically. Pam