clomid or Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) with hydrocortisone

[lakers0812]

clomid or hcg with hydrocortisone

Hey guys,

I'm battling adrenal fatigue while still trying to maintain gains by lifting lightly, upping protein, etc. I'm supposed to be starting on hydrocortisone 30 mg starting next week to help heal my adrenals. I've read that HC can tank your testosterone levels, which obviously isn't good for lifting. However, I don't know if HC negatively impacts your LH function. I just did my first successful restart and don't want problems with my testosterone as it took me forever to get it back.

I was thinking of taking either clomid with the HC, OR Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) with the HC? I'm not sure which one to take. If I chose Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) it would be your typical on cycle dose for 500 ius/week split in 2 injections (mon/thurs). Anyone with experience on this. Thanks.

 

[Austin1]

30mg. Wow. What time are you taking the dose?

Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) secretion test would identify adrenal insufficiency, or Addison's disease. Further, you can look at 17OH's response to ACTH.

The ACTH test will provide your serum cortisol in response to Cortrosyn, which is what is used to determine either primary or secondary deficiency. Primary would yield attention to your adrenal glands for lack of hormone production. Secondary would yield attention to the pituitary, which in this case, would not be signaling properly.

hCG mimics LH analog. Are you a testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) patient? If not, I don't see why you're looking into hCG.

Are you under care? The problem needs to be identified at the root cause, otherwise you're merely masking the issue.

 

[lakers0812]

30mg. Wow. What time are you taking the dose?

Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) secretion test would identify adrenal insufficiency, or Addison's disease. Further, you can look at 17OH's response to ACTH.

The ACTH test will provide your serum cortisol in response to Cortrosyn, which is what is used to determine either primary or secondary deficiency. Primary would yield attention to your adrenal glands for lack of hormone production. Secondary would yield attention to the pituitary, which in this case, would not be signaling properly.

hCG mimics LH analog. Are you a testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) patient? If not, I don't see why you're looking into hCG.

Are you under care? The problem needs to be identified at the root cause, otherwise you're merely masking the issue.

I'll be taking the doses for hc 4-5 times throughtout the day spread out 3-4 hours apart. This was recommended by the yahoo adrenals group. "Men should take a minimum of 30 mg of hc because anything less may suppress your cortisol, not help it."

Do you know if the hc impacts your LH? I don't have addison's disease, but I am definitely producing a low amount of cortisol. It's enough to need hc.

I just did a restart after being on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) for almost 2 years. I did three restarts before I finally did one that ACTUALLY WORKED. So I obviously don't want to mess with my test levels. I am off testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) and don't intend to go back. I was thinking of using Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) in case the hc impacts my LH. I'm not under care because most doctors don't recognize it as a problem unless it is full blown Addison's disease, which I definitely don't have.

Could taking clomid help with the hc that I take?

 

[Austin1]

I'll be taking the doses for hc 4-5 times throughtout the day spread out 3-4 hours apart. This was recommended by the yahoo adrenals group. "Men should take a minimum of 30 mg of hc because anything less may suppress your cortisol, not help it."

Do you know if the hc impacts your LH? I don't have addison's disease, but I am definitely producing a low amount of cortisol. It's enough to need hc.

I just did a restart after being on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) for almost 2 years. I did three restarts before I finally did one that ACTUALLY WORKED. So I obviously don't want to mess with my test levels. I am off testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) and don't intend to go back. I was thinking of using Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) in case the hc impacts my LH. I'm not under care because most doctors don't recognize it as a problem unless it is full blown Addison's disease, which I definitely don't have.

Could taking clomid help with the hc that I take?

I don't understand that protocol. You haven't identified any root causes. Why supplement blindly? I'm not getting on your case, just concerned for your health.

Yes, it will impact LH, but not FSH. Adding clomid will just result in another Yin and Yang. One mask after another. Not the way to resolve issues.

What time was your blood drawn or cortisol? Can you list your results? If you don't want to discuss your condition, no problem. The answers are above.

Honestly, I'm a bit mind boggled here.

 

[lakers0812]

Well for starters. I have hypothyroidism. I got adrenal fatigue which resulted in high reverse t3. I solved the reverse t3 issue by taking t3 only for 12 weeks. Now, I need to address the adrenal insufficiency/low cortisol issues. My issue is that every time I increase my t3, my adrenaline builds in my blood because my t3 needs cortisol to get into the cells (which I have little of). The adrenaline build up causes pretty severe sides. I was advised on a very reputable adrenal thyroid yahoo forum to start taking hydrocortisone to help my adrenals.

As far as results I took a saliva cortisol test because blood are NOT accurate. The results are as follows:

9am: .443 (.025-.6) Too low needs to be top of range
12pm: .117 (.010-.330) Too low needs to be 3/4 to top of range
4pm: .067 (.010-.3) too low needs to be mid range
11:30: .034 (.010-.090) Too high needs to be bottom of range

Hope that helps man. I'm just trying to figure out how to prevent testosterone decrease on the HC. Like I said I finally did a successful restart and don't want to mess with that. Thanks for the help brother.

Testosterone: 1091 (348-1197)
Free testosterone: 17 (9.3-26.5)
sex hormone binding globulin: 75.5 (16.5-55.9) Last 4 times I got this tested it was in the 20's. It only recently went up from the cytomel aka high dosages to clear rt3
LH: 9.6 (1.7-8.6) high
FSH: 5.1 (1.5-12.4)
prolactin: 5.3 (4-15.2)
Estradiol 31 (7.6-42.6)

FT4: .41 low (.82-1.77)
FT3: 4.7 high (2-4.4)
Don't have b12 (I dont know why I could've sworn that the dr wrote it in.
vitamin D: 44.7 (30-100) supplement with 2000 iu vitamin d per day
Dhea: 242 (31-701)

Cortisol was taken 4 times throughout the day. Blood work for the rest of the data was taken at 8 am. Also for the HC, you want to take it in a way that mimics your body's cortisol production.

 

[Austin1]

Thanks for the details. I appreciate that.

I would opt for a low dose of Tamoxifen instead of Clomiphene if LH is your primary concern.

Side note... Really need to get your DHEA and Vitamin D up. DHEAs is a better test. Makes me wonder how your pregnenolone is doing.

 

[lakers0812]

Thanks for the details. I appreciate that.

I would opt for a low dose of Tamoxifen instead of Clomiphene if LH is your primary concern.

Side note... Really need to get your DHEA and Vitamin D up. DHEAs is a better test. Makes me wonder how your pregnenolone is doing.

Yeah you're correct. You're probably on to something about my pregnenolone. I was thinking the same. I doubled the dose of my vitamin D recently from 2000 iu to 4000 iu. I got some tamox so that's perfect. I just posted the same thing on allthingsmale forum and they said that if you taking anything less than 40 mg for hc it shouldn't have any negative effects on your testosterone. If that's true, it is definitely a relief.

How do you go about getting your dhea up? I know my sodium is also low. So Im supplementing with sea salt. Thanks again man.

 

[Austin1]

Yeah you're correct. You're probably on to something about my pregnenolone. I was thinking the same. I doubled the dose of my vitamin D recently from 2000 iu to 4000 iu. I got some tamox so that's perfect. I just posted the same thing on allthingsmale forum and they said that if you taking anything less than 40 mg for hc it shouldn't have any negative effects on your testosterone. If that's true, it is definitely a relief.

How do you go about getting your dhea up? I know my sodium is also low. So Im supplementing with sea salt. Thanks again man.

I know Crisler didn't say that.

For starters, get a micronized DHEA supplement for now.

 

[lakers0812]

I know Crisler didn't say that.

For starters, get a micronized DHEA supplement for now.

yea, but does that make it inaccurate? I haven't found any studies that say otherwise. The person who said that is taking 30 mg of hc. Either way if there is a way to maintain test levels on hc, I'll find it.

 

[Austin1]

Of course it makes it inaccurate. How could anyone possibly determine a generalized dose? It's like saying 100mg of testosterone will yield 750 ng/dl for everyone.

 

[lakers0812]

Of course it makes it inaccurate. How could anyone possibly determine a generalized dose? It's like saying 100mg of testosterone will yield 750 ng/dl for everyone.

True, but I'm talking about a significant reduction. I still haven't found any men on other forums taking hc complain about this. Although most of the guys that I've seen taking hc are also on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). They increase their testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) dosage when they start hc usually for fear that there testosterone may drop, not because it actually does. It would be great to see some before and after labs from guys on hc.

 

[lakers0812]

Also, why does your testosterone drop when you take a replacement dose of cortisol (hc)? You're trying to take a dose that roughly simulates the amount your body would produce. That is with a replacement dose of anything. If you don't take too high a dose than maybe you can minimize testosterone reduction.

That presents the question, what should YOUR appropriate dose of hc be because it will yield different results for everyone.