Human Growth Hormone and Cortisol

[bullmastiff]

Does anyone know if hgh therapy either raises or lowers cortisol?

[love_en]

It lowers it. Sometimes to the point of inducing adrenal insufficiency. There is a reason why Drs in the know treat adrenals first, then thyroid, then testosterone, then HGH.

[bullmastiff]

But adrenal fatigue is usually preceded by a period of years where cortisol is elevated. In my case my cortisol stays high and my blood pressure is high. Possibly hgh might bring my cortisol down.

[Ozzie]

Bullmastiff raises a good point and while HGH does in fact lower cortisol levels, it may in the long run be easier on the adrenals given the inhibition occurs at the pituitary level with the decreased secretion of ACTH -- and hence, cortisol from the adrenals. In addition to the absence of impairment of the adrenocortical response to exogenous ACTH, neither does the peripheral metabolism of cortisol seem to be affected. (see website)

Sort of makes you wonder if during those stages leading up to adrenal exhaustion, some might benefit from the use of different protocols/nutrients/etc. which lower stress and/or lower cortisol response. My recollection is phosphatidylserine lowers cortisol at the pituitary level as well which is why so many bodybuilders seem to benefit so immensely from its use. More importantly for some of us older folks and from the perspective of sound health, its use by some might actually stave off the ravages/onset of adrenal exhaustion.

http://jcem.endojournals.org/cgi/con...tract/50/4/721

[bullmastiff]

Yes I've seen cortisol referred due as the death hormone. It is needed in high amounts in emergency situations. But chronically elevated cortisol is highly catabolic to the muscles and tissues and is a component in aging. Of course it can eventually lead to adrenal fatigue. Maybe the rejuvenating effects of hgh are not just due to elevated igf1 levels but also a reduction in cortisol.

[Ozzie]

Agreed and this is where labs & bloodwork are so imperative. If one is already experiencing a state of hypoadrenia and HGH is introduced however, seems like this may prove counterproductive and disastrous. As love_en posted earlier, this is why adrenals should be treated first.

Am wondering however if someone were diagnosed as hypoadrenic, then stabilized on an appropriate staple of nutrients and hydrocortisone (in physiological dosages), would it then be okay to incorporate hgh at that time (i'm focusing on adrenals since this particular thread speaks to cortisol -- the presumption being test and thyroid levels have already been addressed) which would further rest the adrenals. Just a thought...

[love_en]

By all means. Then you are balancing everything and taking total control of your health. The people and doctors who push HGH never mention your adrenals. If anything, these idiots want to see how low they can push your cortisol. To them, cortisol is a bad hormone that increases aging. Bullshit. Keep in mind that a high AM cortisol, is the warning sign that the adrenals are about to crash. I could use HGH myself, but not until everything else is properly supplemented.

[pmgamer18]

Here is one for you guys I just finished Dr. Jefferies book Safe Uses of Cortisol if your cortisol is dam high your about to be in Adrenal Fatigue. If you took some Isocort or Cortef to = 5mgs. 4 x's a day of cortisol. Your ACTH levels will slow down and your cortisol out put will come down this will give your adrenals a rest. I would not mess with HGH and I am low on it I keep my GH levels up doing other things like my adrenals, Thyroud, DHEA and T. levels.

[bullmastiff]

Originally Posted by pmgamer18

Here is one for you guys I just finished Dr. Jefferies book Safe Uses of Cortisol if your cortisol is dam high your about to be in Adrenal Fatigue. If you took some Isocort or Cortef to = 5mgs. 4 x's a day of cortisol. Your ACTH levels will slow down and your cortisol out put will come down this will give your adrenals a rest. I would not mess with HGH and I am low on it I keep my GH levels up doing other things like my adrenals, Thyroud, DHEA and T. levels.

So I guess his theory is that there is some kind of feedback loop and that exogenous cortisol in small amounts will cause your adrenals to secrete less of their own and rest them? Also less cholesterol will be used to produce cortisol and be used to produce other hormones. But the question is will your overall cortisol levels come down? While your adrenals may be resting will your overall cortisol levels stay high?

[love_en]

It is more than a theory. The adrenals decrease output in proportion to how much HC or synthetic steroids you take. Knowing that, I have real issues with doctors who will not look for or treat adrenal insufficiency, yet they have no problems prescribing high doses of dexamethasone, methyl prednisolone or prednisone. Those "symptoms" they are treating such as asthma and allergic reaction, are often signs of adrenal insufficiency. That 20 or 40mg dose of prednisone often prescribed will cause the thing they are so afraid of, but a 5mg dose will rest the adrenals, and perhaps improve the overall health of the patient.

[JAF86]

I don't recall Dr McK Jefferies stating that using low dose cortisone will give your adrenals "a rest" (although it has been many years since I read the book). He certainly advocates the use of it for hypo-adrenals and clearly, your own adrenals will secrete less of the stuff if you take steroids due to feedback loops in your body.

[pmgamer18]

Originally Posted by JAF86

I don't recall Dr McK Jefferies stating that using low dose cortisone will give your adrenals "a rest" (although it has been many years since I read the book). He certainly advocates the use of it for hypo-adrenals and clearly, your own adrenals will secrete less of the stuff if you take steroids due to feedback loops in your body.

Yes he has a new print out and in it states using doses of 5mgs 4 times a day will rest your adrenals but not shut them down.
http://members.aol.com/jefferiesw/
http://www.ccthomas.com/details.cfm?...=9780398075002

[Ozzie]

Phil's right. I too just finished reading the book and Jeffries goes on to state that with a hydrocortisone dosage of 20mg/day, one can expect his/her endogenous production of adrenal steroids to decrease by sixty percent.

I'm learning as much as i can and thanks to this board, my symptoms pointed toward adrenal fatigue. My ACTH Stim results i just received yesterday seem to further solidify my concerns.

Time 0 (0830): Cortisol -- 23.6 mcg/dL
Time 30 min: Cortisol -- 25.4 mcg/dL
Time 60 min: Cortisol -- 26.3 mcg/dL

Both Jeffries' book and the Merck manual state the levels should double and mine barely budged. It's now off to get some hydrocortisone, glandulars, herbal extracts, and the like.

[pmgamer18]

Originally Posted by Ozzie

Phil's right. I too just finished reading the book and Jeffries goes on to state that with a hydrocortisone dosage of 20mg/day, one can expect his/her endogenous production of adrenal steroids to decrease by sixty percent.

I'm learning as much as i can and thanks to this board, my symptoms pointed toward adrenal fatigue. My ACTH Stim results i just received yesterday seem to further solidify my concerns.

Time 0 (0830): Cortisol -- 23.6 mcg/dL
Time 30 min: Cortisol -- 25.4 mcg/dL
Time 60 min: Cortisol -- 26.3 mcg/dL

Both Jeffries' book and the Merck manual state the levels should double and mine barely budged. It's now off to get some hydrocortisone, glandulars, herbal extracts, and the like.

Ozzie read how to start on Isocort of HC at this site if you can't get HC try Isocort.
http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com...o/how-to-treat
Also post to Val. at this link
http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com...wforum.php?f=5
I am helping at the Men's Thyroid there.

[Ozzie]

Thank you very much Phil. I've just bought some hydrocortisone (i work overseas) and am now trying to get an ACTH serum test in the next couple of days although given the high/normal baseline cortisol levels, there seems to be little evidence of secondary hypoadrenalism...i'm just trying to make sure before making the plunge.

I would also like to confer with a practitioner in the U.S. on this issue at some point given that my job has me moving every several years and the names that come to mind thus far are Marianco, Swale, Rind, or Joy Bicknell.

In the meantime, i will also be researching the herbal and glandular support products to supplement the hydrocortisone...even Wilson, in his book i just bought, admits that a combination of cortisol and glandular support may very well bode for an even more expeditious recovery than either protocol on its own.

Any of your experiences (side effects, what to expect, etc.) that you're willing to share Phil would be most appreciated. I'm already indebted to this board for steering me in what appears to be the right direction.