Adrenal Hormones/Glandular Support
Helps your body deal with stress and maintains blood pressure.
___ 54.** Cortef (Rx) - 5 mg tablets - ½ to 2½ tablet(s) at breakfast, ½ to 1½ tablets at lunch and 0 to ½ tablets at 4 PM. Use the lowest dose that feels the best. Most patients find that 1 to 1½ tablets in the morning and ½ to 1 tablet at noon is optimal. Take it with food if it causes an acid stomach. Do not take over 4 tablets a day without discussing the risks with your physician. Take Calcium (see #3) if on Cortef. If taken too late in the day, Cortef can keep you up at night. You can double the dose for up to 1 to 3 weeks (to maximum 7 tablets a day), during periods of severe stress (e.g. infections - see or call your doctor for the infection and let him/her know you’re raising the dose). If routinely taking over 4 tablets a day(at your doctor’s direction), wear a “Med-Alert bracelet” that says “on chronic Cortisol treatment.” After 9-18 months, you can try to wean off the Cortef (decrease by ½ tablet a day each 2 weeks) if you feel OK (or no worse) without it.
OR 55 plus 56
___ 55.** Adrenal Stress End - From Enzymatic Therapies or Integrative Therapeutics. Take 1-2 capsules each morning (or 1-2 in the morning and 1 at noon). Take less or take with food if it upsets your stomach.
___ 56. Isocort (Adrenal Glandular) - Contains approximately 2½ mg Cortisol (Cortef) per pellet (see #54 above for directions). Order from (800) 743-2256.
___ 57. Hydrocortisone (Rx) - 5 mg from natural sources. Hoyes pharmacy in Tampa (813) 835-5331 can make them.
___ 58. Drenamin (Adrenal Support) - Take 3-6 tablets in the morning and 3 at lunch for 3-7 days. Then lower the dose (e.g. 3 a day) to what feels best.
___ 59. Panax Ginseng - 100-200 mg twice a day can help your adrenals to heal.
___ 60.* DHEA (5 mg or 25 mg) - _____ mg each morning or twice daily (lower the dose if acne or darkening of facial hair occurs). Some experts recommend that the entire dose be taken in the morning. Keep your DHEA-Sulphate levels between 140-180 mcg/dL for females and 300-500 mcg/dL for males. If you have breast cancer, do not use without your physician’s OK. See information sheet for dosing.
___ 61. Florinef (Rx, fludrocortisone) - 0.1 mg - 1 each morning. Begin with ¼ tablet and increase by ¼ tablet each 3 to 7 days. Increase more slowly if headache occurs. Increase your water, salt and potassium (e.g. 12 oz V-8 juice and one banana a day) intake. See the NMH information sheet and check a potassium level and blood pressure each 6 weeks for 4 months and then each 3 to 4 months. Dexedrine is much more effective and I would use it first for NMH treatment.
___ 62.* Increase your salt and water intake a lot. If your mouth and lips are dry (and you’re not on Elavil) you’re dehydrated - drink more water (or herbal tea or lemonade sweetened with Stevia - see # 87), not sodas or coffee. Celtic Sea Salt is an excellent form to use (800-867-7258).