Can Methamphetamine Be Taken When Diagnosed With Cushing's Disease?

Posted on Fri, 9 Jan 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Fri, 9 Jan 2015 Answered on

Sat, 7 Feb 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : I have/had cushing's disease. I no longer have a pituitary. Would prescription methamphetamine be helpful?

Answered by Dr. Shehzad Topiwala (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
No

Detailed Answer:
To the best of my knowledge, there is no study in published medical literature that mentions any role of prescription methamphetamine in such a situation.

In those who do not have any pituitary, the following are the key hormones to replace:

1 Cortisol
2 Thyroid
3 Sex steroids if applicable
4 Desmopressin
5 Growth hormone, especially in growing children

It typically requires the expertise of an endocrinologist to medically manage a person without a pituitary.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Shehzad Topiwala (3 hours later)

I mentioned at the beginning that I hoped to go back on hgh. My insurance used to cover it and still doesn't (medicare doesn't either) so am going to try to pay out of pocket, however, it cost about $1300 a month. So, first question is is there a way to get help to pay for it? I am on disability and have medicare, but, it doesn't cover prescriptions. I also have cooperative care which doesn't cover it or celebrex, which I recently had stopped taking (arthritis). One of the many reasons I want to go back on hgh is it lowers my weight. I don't eat much. I have diagnosed with severe anemia, malnutrition, and dehydration. I just forget to eat some times. With cushing's I got up to 360 lbs, using the hgh I got down to 183 lbs and the med was too expensive for me. What I'd like is for you to look over med list that might stand out as a culprit for weight gain. I am currently am at 215 lbs and have been up to 245 lbs. It is demeaning. My med list: fiorocet, fluconazole 100mg for 2 weeks as needed, methacarbarbamol 750 as needed, buspirone 15mg 2 daily, liothyronine 2mcgs 2x daily, hydroxyzine 50mg as needed, sertraline 2 100mg daily, levothyroxine 150mcg, cimitidine 300mg 2x daily, amitriptyline 2 100mg for dyspepsia (any good ideas to beat this? Had it for many yrs. It has really messed up my life), prempro 0.3-1.5, metformin 500mg 2 tabs daily (not sure why I am taking this. My glucose levels are 90 last check. Once, it went to 130.), pantoprazole 20mg, Topamax 50 MG 2 tabs 2x daily, trazadone 6 100 MG tab at bedtime for sleep- it's a high dose, but, started taking them 20 yrs ago?, b-12, lopermide I end up taking a lot more than I'm supposed to. However, my dyspepsia is a really nasty case, so, I take too much. I hope it isn't affecting anything too badly, and then last but not! least multivitamins. I have no pituitary so, I need a lot of meds. I do understand that, just wondering if any of these cause too much overt weigh gain/no loss of weight like mine. Before I found the tumor, I did see a diatician, who told my doctor that I must be eating more than I thought (I had to keep a 2 week journal). Because of my weight no one believed that I don't over eat. It's something else. Thank you for your time and energy. I realize that cushing's is a bit rare. Thx

Answered by Dr. Shehzad Topiwala (12 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Follow up

Detailed Answer:
1 Amytryptiline can cause weight gain. Check with your prescribing doctor if there is any substitute for it that (s)he can consider

2 Growth hormone can be potentially covered by insurance providers if 'Dynamic' tests like Insulin tolerance test or 'Arginine stimulation tests' reveal growth hormone deficiency.

These tests require the expertise of an endocrinologist to perform, and are not without side effects.

So I suggest you discuss this with your endocrinologist but before you proceed to undergo them, check with the insurance company which test results they accept and what are the numerical cut offs for the diagnosis of GH deficiency.
The threshold values for diagnosis vary from test to test and often insurance companies have their policies on file for this.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar