Hi,

Discontinuing hormonal birth control pills should not have any direct effect on the dose of Cortef (hydrocortisone) you are taking for Addison's Disease. Cortef is a type of steroid hormone that is produced by the adrenal glands and is used to replace the deficient cortisol levels in people with Addison's Disease.

However, it is important to note that hormonal changes can sometimes affect the way your body absorbs and metabolizes medications. As such, it is possible that discontinuing birth control pills could indirectly affect the way your body responds to Cortef. If you have concerns about the effect of stopping hormonal birth control pills on your medication regimen, it is important to discuss this with your healthcare provider.

If you require a personalized response, kindly use the Ask A Doctor service and post a follow-up. Take care. Hope I have answered your question.

Regards,
Dr. Priyanka, General & Family Physician

Hi,

Cortef (hydrocortisone) is a medication that is used to replace the cortisol that is not produced by the adrenal glands in individuals with Addison's disease. Cortisol is a hormone that is essential for the body's response to stress, and its absence can lead to a variety of symptoms, including fatigue, weakness, and low blood pressure.

Hormonal birth control pills contain synthetic versions of the hormones estrogen and progestin, which can affect the body's production and use of cortisol. In some cases, hormonal birth control pills can increase the metabolism of cortisol, which can lead to lower levels of cortisol in the body.

This can be a concern for individuals with Addison's disease, as they already have lower levels of cortisol. Hence, monitoring serum Cortisol levels, after stopping birth control pills is important.

Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Regards,
Dr. Diwashish Biswas, Internal Medicine Specialist