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Does Ashwagandha Help In Tapering Off Cortef?
Question: I have been taking Cortef for 2 years and my Dr has suggested tapering it to see if my adrenals have rested long enough to have healed. I originally was put on it because I had debilitating symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue and the saliva test came back that I was not producing enough Cortisol.
I am concerned about withdrawal. I could not work before the Cortisol and just want to do the tapering correctly, so i can go to work everyday.
I have read that Ashwagandha is used to help taper. Is this useful? Ive also read that I should taper by percentages - 10% every 2 weeks. Instead of by mg. (im guessing by crushing the pill and weighing it)
cutting 2.5mg off my original dose should be manageable, but cutting 2.5mg from a 5 mg dose would induce withdrawal.
What are your suggestions?
I am concerned about withdrawal. I could not work before the Cortisol and just want to do the tapering correctly, so i can go to work everyday.
I have read that Ashwagandha is used to help taper. Is this useful? Ive also read that I should taper by percentages - 10% every 2 weeks. Instead of by mg. (im guessing by crushing the pill and weighing it)
cutting 2.5mg off my original dose should be manageable, but cutting 2.5mg from a 5 mg dose would induce withdrawal.
What are your suggestions?
Brief Answer:
You can simply break the tablet in 2 equal pieces and can take any one piece
Detailed Answer:
Hello
I share your concern
You need not to crush and weigh the medicine but you can simply break the tablet of 5 mg in 2 equal piece and take any of it.
In my opinion if you taper its doses gradually you might not get the withdrawal symptoms
you can reduce it to half (2.5 mg ) take it for a week followed by half tablet(2.5 mg ) every alternate day for a week followed by once a week and stop it.
Ashawagandha is a good alternative and you can try a combination preparation like licorice, Korean ginseng, rhodiola and ginkgo biloba herbs for alternative supplements.
Please write back to me with following details so that I will be able to tell you even more precisely
What all symptoms you have were having when you started cortef?
History of any other metabolic or hormonal disease like diabetes or thyroid disease?
Any other medicine if you are taking?
Waiting for your reply
Best wishes
You can simply break the tablet in 2 equal pieces and can take any one piece
Detailed Answer:
Hello
I share your concern
You need not to crush and weigh the medicine but you can simply break the tablet of 5 mg in 2 equal piece and take any of it.
In my opinion if you taper its doses gradually you might not get the withdrawal symptoms
you can reduce it to half (2.5 mg ) take it for a week followed by half tablet(2.5 mg ) every alternate day for a week followed by once a week and stop it.
Ashawagandha is a good alternative and you can try a combination preparation like licorice, Korean ginseng, rhodiola and ginkgo biloba herbs for alternative supplements.
Please write back to me with following details so that I will be able to tell you even more precisely
What all symptoms you have were having when you started cortef?
History of any other metabolic or hormonal disease like diabetes or thyroid disease?
Any other medicine if you are taking?
Waiting for your reply
Best wishes
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Sonia Raina
Answered by
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