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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by clipper40 on April 20, 2008, at 3:34:09
Anyone tried this yet?
Posted by bleauberry on April 21, 2008, at 21:31:34
In reply to Isocort, posted by clipper40 on April 20, 2008, at 3:34:09
I tried Isocort. I have talked to a lot of people at Yahoo chelation forums and thyroid/adrenal forums also. Isocort is a top brand and there are a fair number of people who get benefit from it. It, as well as any adrenal aid such as licorice or other adrenal extracts, made me extremely fatigues and much more depressed, as well as flared up some old tendonitis.
The only adrenal support I have been able to handle and get benefit from is oral hydrocortisone.
People with adrenal problems usually start off with the ginsengs, ashwaghanda, astragulus, and those kinds of things. Not many people get marked benefits from those. They made me worse actually. The next stop is adrenal cortex extracts, of which Isocort is one of the two top picks. People find more benefit than from the herbs. But even so, there are a good number of people who do not benefit until they get the real stuff...HC. Some take HC and Isocort together.
It think when a few of us have trouble with Isocort or adrenal extracts it is because it boosts other things besides just cortisol. Some of us just need the cortisol enhancement and leave everything else as it is. It is not unusual for people with adrenal weakness to be sensitive to certain foods or chemicals, of which pig glands are a common offender. Some people benefit from the wide spectrum of adrenal extract though versus the narrow focus on cortisol. Not me.
Isocort is a decent trial to either confirm something stronger is needed or to confirm that it is all that is needed. Don't underestimate the tiny pills, they are powerful.
One lady I know personally was not getting any benefit from Isocort at the normal dosage, but when her doctor had her increase the dose it made a difference for her. She takes it along with Siberian Ginseng and Astragulus combination, which is a good adrenal support formula, both anecdotally and scientifically.
I don't know the purpose of your inquiry about Isocort. If you have had a cortisol test and it is in the dumps, Isocort is a good way to go. If it feels bad, doesn't work, or feels good but not strong enough, you may need HC instead.
Posted by clipper40 on April 22, 2008, at 18:20:05
In reply to Re: Isocort, posted by bleauberry on April 21, 2008, at 21:31:34
Thanks for the detailed message. Yes, my cortisol is low and I have tried adrenal extract to little or no avail. I tolerated it well enough but it just didn't have much effect. I don't tend to do well with herbs so I haven't tried any of the ones you've mentioned yet (other than Siberian Ginseng which I couldn't tolerate). I guess Isocort is a rational next step. My holistic doctor prescribed it for me so I'll start taking it soon. If this doesn't work out then the next step is the pure hydrocortisone instead of, or in addition to, some of the Isocort.
I'm really hoping this and/or the hydrocortisone can give me some energy back. I'm so tired of feeling tired and lethargic for most of the day. My doctor also added a small amount of HRT and DHEA, which I'll add in later. One thing at a time so I can tell what's working and what isn't.
Posted by bleauberry on April 26, 2008, at 19:07:47
In reply to Re: Isocort » bleauberry, posted by clipper40 on April 22, 2008, at 18:20:05
You should probably take a very close look at detailed thyroid numbers while you're at it. FreeT3, freeT4, total T4, and TSH. The numbers need to be optimal, not normal. Normal is bogus, especially when there are symptoms. I saved a graph from a doctor's website where you plug in your lab numbers and if they are optimal, they line up vertically on the page. If not, they are scattered. The more widely scattered, the worse they are. Even apparently normal numbers can be quite out of balance with each other. In my case, the numbers show a pattern of too much reverseT3 (the brakes) and not enough T3 (accelerator), even though all the numbers were within the so-called "normal" range. Not cool. I have not started T3 yet, but I did pick up the prescription.
Anyway, hypoadrenalism and hypothyroid go hand in hand. If you improve adrenals, thyroid will need to catch up over weeks or months, or get some pharmaceutical assistance. vice versa also. If someone starts with thyroid first, it completely wipes out the already spent adrenals. It is kind of a tricky balance, but adrenals and thyroid need to be viewed as partners in the whole scheme of things.
Posted by clipper40 on April 28, 2008, at 20:11:19
In reply to Re: Isocort » clipper40, posted by bleauberry on April 26, 2008, at 19:07:47
I am very familiar with thyroid issues. Been studying them for quite a while and my latest test results are all good (not just the traditional normal). My holistic physician is happy with them as well.
However, I did make the mistake of being treated for thyroid problems first. I have been treated for this for many years now and I've only recently become aware of how bad my adrenal situation is and am starting to deal with that. Wish I knew this earlier but unfortunately I can't go back and change things.
Posted by clipper40 on May 4, 2008, at 19:18:31
In reply to Re: Isocort » clipper40, posted by bleauberry on April 26, 2008, at 19:07:47
I read in another post somewhere that you're taking Cortef now. Are you taking 2.5 mg. or 5 mg. of it? How long have you been taking it? Have you noticed any changes or improvement yet?
I am wondering if I should just skip the Isocort and go straight to Cortef.
This is the end of the thread.
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