Category Archives: Doctor’s Answers

Tapering Steroid Replacement

Doctor's Answers | Oct 11, 2013 | Steroid Replacement

Question: I have been trying to taper my replacement dose of Cortisone following adrenal surgery, and have ended up in the Emergency Room several times due to adrenal insufficiency. I have been told that for my adrenal gland to start working again, I need to be this low. Is that true? What tapering protocol would… Continue Reading

Stress, Replacement Steroids and Recurrence

Doctor's Answers | Oct 11, 2013 | Recurrent Pituitary Cushing's, Steroid Replacement

Question: Does stress make it more difficult to discontinue replacement medication and does stress increase the likelihood of pituitary recurrences? Answer: While it is my clinical impression that patients with Cushing’s syndrome do not report more stress in their lives than patients with other medical disorders, to my knowledge, there are no data in the… Continue Reading

Steroid Replacement for Surgery

Doctor's Answers | Oct 11, 2013 | Steroid Replacement

Question: I take replacement hydrocortisone and recently had surgery. I know that increased doses are required during and after surgery, but they gave me 100mg every 6 hours, which I know was way too much. How much cortisone does one really need during and after surgery? Answer: Usually the dose of additional hydrocortisone required for… Continue Reading

Steroid Replacement and Other Medications

Doctor's Answers | Oct 11, 2013 | Steroid Replacement

Question: Are there any drugs that interfere with cortisone metabolism or measurement that I shouldn’t take while I am tapering off of replacement medication? Answer: A number of drugs interfere with cortisol metabolism including anti-seizure medications and anti-fungal medications. Growth hormone therapy may affect cortisol replacement. The measurement of cortisol in a blood test is… Continue Reading

Steroid Replacement and Illness

Doctor's Answers | Oct 11, 2013 | Steroid Replacement

Question: I am on replacement cortisone following surgery and recently had an experience where I was really sick with an infection. I tripled my dose (to 60 mg) according to the instructions from my endocrinologist. I only ran a fever of 99, but felt much sicker. Will the higher doses of cortisone required during illness… Continue Reading