Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Suggest Treatment To Lower Cortisol Level
Question: I am 64 yrs old. I was diagnosed as having cushings in 1951. My cortisol got out of control from severe stress in April 2010 when my little sister died. My blood serum colesterol is now up to 20. 2 years ago it was at 60. I cannot feel my feet and my legs and whatever food I eat causes my blood sugar to go as high as 600. And it goes down to 200 in 3 hours. My blood serum insulin is at 9. I need a drug to lower my cortisol and no doctor in my area knows what to do. They have misdiagnosed me and gave me insulin and Metformin ( which almost killed me) which made my cortisol go up to 60.I am on no meds now. I have no tumors on adrenals or in brain. Would Anipryl or Selegium 5mg help me?XXXX Thank You
Brief Answer:
Hello
Detailed Answer:
Good day,
Noted your case history. Could you please tell me bit about your Cushing diagnosis in 1951 ? How was it treated? Where was the lesion? ( adrenal or pituitary or elsewhere ?) Any surgeries at that time ?
Could you please attach the investigation reports ?
Excess cortisol production can happen in stress, severe depression, alcoholism and in Cushing's syndrome. Excess cortisol ( or conditions causing excess cortisol) can push up the sugar levels. I must say that your sugar level of 600 mg/dl is very high and tablets usually do not work at this stage. I am afraid, you may have to use insulin. However, insulin treatment is very safe, provided we avoid severe hypoglycemia.
There are drugs to block excess cortisol. Eg: Mitotane, Metyrapone, etc. However, the efficacy of Anipryl or Selegium is not proven in humans. But the most important approach would be to find out the source of excess cortisol. You may require a combination of investigations like 24 hour urine tests and midnight cortisol etc.
Regards
Binu
Hello
Detailed Answer:
Good day,
Noted your case history. Could you please tell me bit about your Cushing diagnosis in 1951 ? How was it treated? Where was the lesion? ( adrenal or pituitary or elsewhere ?) Any surgeries at that time ?
Could you please attach the investigation reports ?
Excess cortisol production can happen in stress, severe depression, alcoholism and in Cushing's syndrome. Excess cortisol ( or conditions causing excess cortisol) can push up the sugar levels. I must say that your sugar level of 600 mg/dl is very high and tablets usually do not work at this stage. I am afraid, you may have to use insulin. However, insulin treatment is very safe, provided we avoid severe hypoglycemia.
There are drugs to block excess cortisol. Eg: Mitotane, Metyrapone, etc. However, the efficacy of Anipryl or Selegium is not proven in humans. But the most important approach would be to find out the source of excess cortisol. You may require a combination of investigations like 24 hour urine tests and midnight cortisol etc.
Regards
Binu
Note: For more information on hormonal imbalance symptoms or unmanaged diabetes with other comorbid conditions, get back to us & Consult with an Endocrinologist. Click here to book an appointment.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
