Adrenal gland problems.

Posted , 6 users are following.

Being on pred for such a long time, it appears my adrenal glands are a bit lazy.

I did write about this a while back where once i get to 6.5 Mgs i start to feel

dreadful. Because of the covid virus i elected to stay at a healthy 7 Mgs daily

for a while (just in case).

From 7. i went down to 6. 3/4 .for a month & all is good. my next move is to

6. 5. ,.... to get in the range of, hopefully , awakening the adrenals without too

many problems for me. Alternate days of 6.5 then 6. 3/4. is what i am going

to do for at least a month and see what the results bring...........

It is just a suck it and see operation for me...........

Trouble is , it all takes time to see how adjustments to medications turn out.........

I just hope i am on the right track................

0 likes, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • Edited

    I think that is an ideal way to go about it if you can manage to make those small adjustments. One top guy keeps people at 5mg for up to 9 months once they get there - and then the rest does seem to be easier for most. 5mg must be low enough to poke the adrenal glands but not so low you feel awful and the body has time to catch up.

    • Posted

      Thanks Eileen.Since being on pred this is the first time that i have what

      appears to be adrenal gland malfunction.........

      Always something new popping up with PMR.

    • Posted

      You wouldn't have - at the higher doses the pred is doing the job of the cortisol and the body knows enough is there so shuts down production to stop the level going too high. And like a factory, it isn't able to get back to normal overnight when the artificial supply starts to dry up.

    • Posted

      I think i am experiencing the same thing, currently on 5 1/2 mg after three years of prednisone. I was quite concerned when I go to 5 I feel okay that day until the next morning. I felt extremely unwell, breathless and just overall not well. I am thinking it's my adrenal glands unable to kick in?

    • Edited

      They don't just kick in full throttle overnight - it is a gradual process over probably months, so the slower you go, the less you feel it each time.

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