How to wean off Cortef?

[jasonshadow]

Hello everyone,

I am a patient of Dr. Mariano but cannot get in touch with him. I cannot get a return email or phone call. Anyway, I am considering getting off Cortef and want to know the best way to wean off. I currently take 15mg of Cortef in AM and 10mg of Cortef at noon. I have been on this regiment for about 1 1/2 years. Any suggestions?

[Ozzie]

You might want to consider having an ACTH stim test performed first in order to assess current state of your adrenals. Problem with just doing regular cortisol labs (blood or saliva) at this juncture is that cortisol levels may very well come back low -- not because your adrenals haven't improved...but rather, because ACTH signal is blunted at the pituitary level in light of exogenous intake of cortisol during these last eighteen months.

Should cortisol response to ACTH stim test be sufficient or good, you can consider weaning yourself off Cortef slowly...

You might also want to have condition of your thyroid assessed...or at least strive for 'normal' temperature readings prior to coming off Cortef...otherwise, over time, you run the risk of reverting back to an adrenally fatigued state.

[hardasnails1973]

TO lean of cortef COME OFF SLOWLY.
If you are at 25 mgs cut to 20 mgs for a good 3 weeks then 15 mgs for another 3 weeks then 10 mgs for 3 weeks then 5 mgs for another 2 weeks. then 2.5 mgs for another week, On days of not working out cut cortisol down 5 mgs, Extra cortisol is not needed.

[Gator8]

I know someone who will fall flat on his face if he tinkers with his cortef dose on his own. You want to leave this treatment change as a mutual decision between you and your Dr.

[hardasnails1973]

Yes i lost over 15 lbs in 2 weeks stopping cortisol cold turkey for urine test and salvia test to get accurate reading. You need to be under a trained dr. in this field. Dr O will be attending a seminar that deals specific with cortef administration so when he returns we will have a better idea on how properly to accomplish this. One can say I have been his testing model for last 2 years for the advances in his practice. What I think I will do is lower cortef and phase in a adrenal supplement to lean off the cortef with out having a crash. I take 15 mgs on traning days 10 on off days. Staggering dosages would in relationship to phyiscal activity is good game plan to start tampering. AGAIN THIS IS ME EVERY ONE IS DIFFERENT AND I AM UNDER DR';S CARE and SUPERVISION

[1ainslie]

[quote=jasonshadow;591391]Hello everyone,

I am a patient of Dr. Mariano but cannot get in touch with him. I cannot get a return email or phone call. Anyway, I am considering getting off Cortef and want to know the best way to wean off. I currently take 15mg of Cortef in AM and 10mg of Cortef at noon. I have been on this regiment for about 1 1/2 years. Any suggestions?[/QUOTE

Why have you decided to come off Cortef, I am planning to do the same, not sure its been helping much, I think it buggers up the immune system maybe

[mane man]

Hi,
Have heard of people using the drug benicar to lessen symptoms when weaning off steriods.
Check link -
Weaning From Steroid Medications - Essential Information About the MP (Required Reading) - ABOUT THE MARSHALL PROTOCOL - The Marshall Protocol Study Site