ACTH stimulation test--any possible side-effects ?

[chip douglas]

My primary care physician is sending me to have an ACTH test. Many here have had this test, so I'd like to know if it's known whether one can have a bad reaction to this injection ?

Aside from an allergic reaction, are there other side-effects from this tests ? i guess not, but I prefer asking just in case.

Thanks all.

[chip douglas]

just want to add that my pcp is sending me for a whole hormone panel again--she's my new doctor, so she wants to start fresh, which I find a good idea too. She checked a heck of a lot of blood test aside from the hormone panel, which is excellent.

[hardasnails1973]

[quote=chip douglas]just want to add that my pcp is sending me for a whole hormone panel again--she's my new doctor, so she wants to start fresh, which I find a good idea too. She checked a heck of a lot of blood test aside from the hormone panel, which is excellent.[/QUOTE

Running test is excellent interpreting them is a whole other ball game and then implimenting proper protocol is the most important. ]

[JanSz]

Originally Posted by chip douglas

just want to add that my pcp is sending me for a whole hormone panel again--she's my new doctor, so she wants to start fresh, which I find a good idea too. She checked a heck of a lot of blood test aside from the hormone panel, which is excellent.[/QUOTE

Running test is excellent interpreting them is a whole other ball game and then implimenting proper protocol is the most important. ]

If You can, do it at Quest Diagnostics, give a blood there, not at doctors office.
Use Quest's forms they have many tests bunched logically together, so ordering them means checking few boxes on a form.
I test for:

Complete metabolic Panel
Hepatic Function Panel
Lipid Panel
CBC

Total Estrogens
estrone
Estradiol, sensitive
Progesterone
Pregnenolone
Total Testosterone
Free Testosterone (calculated)
Bio-available Testosterone (calculated)
Albumin
sex hormone–binding globulin (SHBG), serum
DHT (dihydrotestosterone)
Hematocrit
prolactin, serum
FSH (3rd Generation)
LH
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
Free (T3) triiodothyroxine
Free T4
Total T4
Total T3
DHEA Sulfate
Cortisol, AM/PM
SOMATOMEDIN C (IGF-1)
IGF-BP3
C-reactive protein (high-sensitivity)
Fibrinogen
Hemoglobin A1C
Lp(a)
Bilirubin
AST (SGOT)
ALT(SGPT)
VLDL
Homocysteine
Insulin, fasting
Glucose, plasma
Magnesium
Vitamin D, 1, 25-Dihydroxy
Folate
Vitamin A
Ferritin
B12, selenium, zinc, copper
Free PSA
FreePSA/Total PSA
aldosterone

[chip douglas]

[quote=hardasnails1973]

Originally Posted by chip douglas

just want to add that my pcp is sending me for a whole hormone panel again--she's my new doctor, so she wants to start fresh, which I find a good idea too. She checked a heck of a lot of blood test aside from the hormone panel, which is excellent.[/QUOTE

Running test is excellent interpreting them is a whole other ball game and then implimenting proper protocol is the most important. ]

I agree--when I get the test results, I'll post them here, as I should have them before I see my M.D. again.

[chip douglas]

Originally Posted by JanSz

If You can, do it at Quest Diagnostics, give a blood there, not at doctors office.
Use Quest's forms they have many tests bunched logically together, so ordering them means checking few boxes on a form.
I test for:

Complete metabolic Panel
Hepatic Function Panel
Lipid Panel
CBC

Total Estrogens
estrone
Estradiol, sensitive
Progesterone
Pregnenolone
Total Testosterone
Free Testosterone (calculated)
Bio-available Testosterone (calculated)
Albumin
sex hormone–binding globulin (SHBG), serum
DHT (dihydrotestosterone)
Hematocrit
prolactin, serum
FSH (3rd Generation)
LH
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
Free (T3) triiodothyroxine
Free T4
Total T4
Total T3
DHEA Sulfate
Cortisol, AM/PM
SOMATOMEDIN C (IGF-1)
IGF-BP3
C-reactive protein (high-sensitivity)
Fibrinogen
Hemoglobin A1C
Lp(a)
Bilirubin
AST (SGOT)
ALT(SGPT)
VLDL
Homocysteine
Insulin, fasting
Glucose, plasma
Magnesium
Vitamin D, 1, 25-Dihydroxy
Folate
Vitamin A
Ferritin
B12, selenium, zinc, copper
Free PSA
FreePSA/Total PSA
aldosterone

Unfortunately, I'm not in the U.S. so cannot have it done at Quest Diagnostics, but the panel she's sending for is remarklably similar to the one you posted.

Would you be by any chance an M.D. ? I'm asking you because you said : *I test for*

Thanks for chiming in.

[JanSz]

Originally Posted by chip douglas

Unfortunately, I'm not in the U.S. so cannot have it done at Quest Diagnostics, but the panel she's sending for is remarklably similar to the one you posted.

Would you be by any chance an M.D. ? I'm asking you because you said : *I test for*

Thanks for chiming in.

I am not a doctor.
I am fortunate enough that I have cooperating dr ostheopath,
I design what to test what medicine I need, amount of dose etc, he writes the scripts and does sanity check.
I am doing my best to take care of my 67yo body.

[chip douglas]

Originally Posted by JanSz

I am not a doctor.
I am fortunate enough that I have cooperating dr ostheopath,
I design what to test what medicine I need, amount of dose etc, he writes the scripts and does sanity check.
I am doing my best to take care of my 67yo body.

Reading this, I'm glad for you that you have such a cooperating osteopath. I assume your treatment is working fine from the sound of things.

Thanks

[JanSz]

Originally Posted by chip douglas

Reading this, I'm glad for you that you have such a cooperating osteopath. I assume your treatment is working fine from the sound of things.

Thanks

Sure;
I have learned many things on this and the other boards.
At first the whole picture started to come out when I learned about LEF.org
Often doctors are able to satisfy their patients when presented with reasonable plan.
For long time, I was able to do with my long time doctor, he only agreed to give me script for Androgel, latter practically in any amounts, so I could experiment with what worked for me. AI's I had to buy over internet. Information is a key, that is why I posted my blood test, it took me a while to put it together, it may help someone.
If I should add or remove anything, please comment.

[wildfox]

Originally Posted by chip douglas

My primary care physician is sending me to have an ACTH test. Many here have had this test, so I'd like to know if it's known whether one can have a bad reaction to this injection ?

Aside from an allergic reaction, are there other side-effects from this tests ? i guess not, but I prefer asking just in case.

Thanks all.

I got the test. Didn't feel a thing. Didn't notice any signs of increased cortisol (though it did increase). I wouldn't sweat it.

[cwoody123]

I dont know if this any relevance but whe i was looking how Prolactin Inhibits GNRH it led me to this hormone Corticotropin-releasing hormone, apparently Corticotropin-releasing hormone inhibits GNRH at the hypothalmus. ACTH causes a Corticotropin-releasing hormone release also, and cortisol shuts its production down through the negative feedback system. Prolactin also stimulates Corticotropin-releasing hormone.

Don't know how this will help, but just wanted to share what i learned :-)

[chip douglas]

Originally Posted by wildfox

I got the test. Didn't feel a thing. Didn't notice any signs of increased cortisol (though it did increase). I wouldn't sweat it.

Ok, that's good to know.

So basically, you show up, they draw blood, then inject you with the ACTH analog, then how long do they wait before they take the after blood sample ?

[wildfox]

Originally Posted by chip douglas

Ok, that's good to know.

So basically, you show up, they draw blood, then inject you with the ACTH analog, then how long do they wait before they take the after blood sample ?

For me it was baseline draw first, then two more draws, 30 and 60 minutes after the stimulation injection.

[chip douglas]

Originally Posted by wildfox

For me it was baseline draw first, then two more draws, 30 and 60 minutes after the stimulation injection.

Ok, then i may have 2 as well. Thanks for telling me. I always like to know how things usually happen beforehand.

[love_en]

You might have the good fortune of actually feeling better 60 minutes after the ACTH injection. I know I did. The idiot, horse's ass of an endo running the test dumbly said "lots of patients tell me that." Duh, maybe it is because those patients are secondary adrenal insufficient. In another time, ACTH was used for the same reasons you would prescribe Solu-cortef or Medrol. I had an old Physician's Desk Reference from 1973 and it was indicated for treatment of conditions warranting use of corticosteroids.