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Suggest Alternative Medication In Place Of Cortisone While Having Cushing's Disease
Question: I have Cushings desease/syndrome, what can I take instead of cortisone?
Brief Answer:
Some more info please.
Detailed Answer:
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
To give you a proper answer, i would need to know: what is the reason you need to be treated with cortisone and what is the cause of your Cushing syndrome/disease (caused by medications or a tumor in adrenal/pituitary gland)?
Please inform also about the actual treatment of Cushing and report if you have done any surgery to treat it.
It will be a pleasure to inform you further.
Kind regards,
Dr.Mirjeta
Some more info please.
Detailed Answer:
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
To give you a proper answer, i would need to know: what is the reason you need to be treated with cortisone and what is the cause of your Cushing syndrome/disease (caused by medications or a tumor in adrenal/pituitary gland)?
Please inform also about the actual treatment of Cushing and report if you have done any surgery to treat it.
It will be a pleasure to inform you further.
Kind regards,
Dr.Mirjeta
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Had Pituitary gland removed 25 years ago due to tumour, and have been on high dose of cortisone ever since, endocrinologist has reduced dose some, but still suffering Cushings, is there an alternative to taking cortisone?
Brief Answer:
Cortisone is the only treatment for hypopituitarism.
Detailed Answer:
Welcome back!
Now the situation is more clear.
To substitute the function of non-stimulated adrenal gland (due to pituitary removal) cortisone is the only alternative, but there are some available forms of cortisone, some of them with less side effects.
-Hydrochortisone
-Predsnisone
-Dexametasone
Are the three forms that may substitute adrenal gland function but hydrochortisone has less side effects.
The dose needed in these cases is not high and should be adjusted acording to blood pressure and electrolite level.
Only in cases of illnesses the need for cortisone increases.
Hope i have been helpful.
Kind regards,
Dr.Mirjeta
Cortisone is the only treatment for hypopituitarism.
Detailed Answer:
Welcome back!
Now the situation is more clear.
To substitute the function of non-stimulated adrenal gland (due to pituitary removal) cortisone is the only alternative, but there are some available forms of cortisone, some of them with less side effects.
-Hydrochortisone
-Predsnisone
-Dexametasone
Are the three forms that may substitute adrenal gland function but hydrochortisone has less side effects.
The dose needed in these cases is not high and should be adjusted acording to blood pressure and electrolite level.
Only in cases of illnesses the need for cortisone increases.
Hope i have been helpful.
Kind regards,
Dr.Mirjeta
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
I am taking hydrocortisone, 8mg a day, I was on 12mg of hydrocortisone, but I am still extremely Cushings, I am 100kg and have a big XXXXXXX hump and extreme moon face, can't sleep at night etc etc
Brief Answer:
Mostly hormone reeplacement may not be needed
Detailed Answer:
The dose you reported is very low, usually when hypopituitarism or adrenal insufficiency is confirmed the dose needed is 25 mg.
If you have developed iatrogenic Cushing with this low dose of hydrocortisone, means that probably there was no need to take it. In many cases the pituitary gland is not removed totally and the remained tissue functions normally and there is no need for hormone replacement.
The second possibility should be a functioning tumor of adrenal gland developed during these years.
You should discuss with your treating endocrinologist about the above possibilities.
Regrds,
Dr.Mirjeta
Mostly hormone reeplacement may not be needed
Detailed Answer:
The dose you reported is very low, usually when hypopituitarism or adrenal insufficiency is confirmed the dose needed is 25 mg.
If you have developed iatrogenic Cushing with this low dose of hydrocortisone, means that probably there was no need to take it. In many cases the pituitary gland is not removed totally and the remained tissue functions normally and there is no need for hormone replacement.
The second possibility should be a functioning tumor of adrenal gland developed during these years.
You should discuss with your treating endocrinologist about the above possibilities.
Regrds,
Dr.Mirjeta
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
I have had kidney scan and brain scan no pituitary remains and no renal tumours, I have completed a 24 hour urinary analysis with and without cortisone, findings are when I take cortisone it registers and when I don't take cortisone it doesn't. So my body is not producing cortisone by its self. I was taking 25mg of cortisone for 20 years which caused Cushings, now my dose is 8mg I still have severe cushings. Will it go away? Is Cushings irreversible? Don't know how to send you a photo of me to prove severe Cushings
Brief Answer:
Sorry about your situation.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Sorry to learn about your situation. Cushing syndrome caused by overdosage of hydrocortisone is reversible in most of the cases but it will take months-years to get back on the previous weight and as a result to improve the blood sugar, blood pressure, depression ect (if you have them).
Osteoporosis and other chronic side effects of corticosteroids will not aggravate further. You should start treatment for osteoporosis, if confirmed.
It is very important to find the proper dose now and prevent further over-dosage.
I would suggest to stop treatment and check the cortisol level in the blood and perform a synacten stimulation test.
Kind regards,
Dr.Mirjeta
Sorry about your situation.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Sorry to learn about your situation. Cushing syndrome caused by overdosage of hydrocortisone is reversible in most of the cases but it will take months-years to get back on the previous weight and as a result to improve the blood sugar, blood pressure, depression ect (if you have them).
Osteoporosis and other chronic side effects of corticosteroids will not aggravate further. You should start treatment for osteoporosis, if confirmed.
It is very important to find the proper dose now and prevent further over-dosage.
I would suggest to stop treatment and check the cortisol level in the blood and perform a synacten stimulation test.
Kind regards,
Dr.Mirjeta
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
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