Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Do These Cortisol And ACTH Levels Indicate?
Question: I am a 53 year old female with severe indoor outdoor allergies. I am starting allergy shots and my allergist
had me take 25mg of cortisone once a day during the testing period. I recently am feeling more tired then
my usual allergy induced fatigue so had my cortisol levels checked 2 weeks after being off the cortisol. MY AM CORTISOL reading was 7.2 which is always 9.8 TO 10.2 ( OVER LAST 15 YEARS)
My ACTH WAS 18 which seems sluggish to me. My question is can just one week of cortisol affect the adrenals to that extent and if so will they come back up and how long? Is there anything I can do to support them? XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
had me take 25mg of cortisone once a day during the testing period. I recently am feeling more tired then
my usual allergy induced fatigue so had my cortisol levels checked 2 weeks after being off the cortisol. MY AM CORTISOL reading was 7.2 which is always 9.8 TO 10.2 ( OVER LAST 15 YEARS)
My ACTH WAS 18 which seems sluggish to me. My question is can just one week of cortisol affect the adrenals to that extent and if so will they come back up and how long? Is there anything I can do to support them? XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Values still in reference range, self resolving
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for asking Miss XXXXXXX
Corticosteroids use even for a week may modify the hormonal levels but the effects are not devastating and suppressing for long and self resolves with the passage of time.
Your cortisol levels in the morning and ACTH levels are still in the reference range. So thats nothing to worry about. Of Course use of cortisone cause slight reduction of hormones but slight variations in side the reference range are normal and prone to many other reasons apart from any hormonal imbalance like lab error and sample error etc.
Apart from this slight variation is also due to advancing age and 15 years ago you were not 53 years old. So that is age related too.
Until and unless labs are in reference range all clear.
And regarding your allergies i suggest to try sublingual and subcutaneous and allergen immunotherapies. They work like charm and has minimal adverse effects.
I hope it helps. take good care of yourself and dont forget to close the discussion please.
may the odds be ever in your favour.
Regards
Khan
Values still in reference range, self resolving
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for asking Miss XXXXXXX
Corticosteroids use even for a week may modify the hormonal levels but the effects are not devastating and suppressing for long and self resolves with the passage of time.
Your cortisol levels in the morning and ACTH levels are still in the reference range. So thats nothing to worry about. Of Course use of cortisone cause slight reduction of hormones but slight variations in side the reference range are normal and prone to many other reasons apart from any hormonal imbalance like lab error and sample error etc.
Apart from this slight variation is also due to advancing age and 15 years ago you were not 53 years old. So that is age related too.
Until and unless labs are in reference range all clear.
And regarding your allergies i suggest to try sublingual and subcutaneous and allergen immunotherapies. They work like charm and has minimal adverse effects.
I hope it helps. take good care of yourself and dont forget to close the discussion please.
may the odds be ever in your favour.
Regards
Khan
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
My cortisol levels I was comparing to were
6 months ago and I am trying allergy shots but they are making me feel even worse then I already do to the point of extreme exhaustion all day. Even aftrr many Kenalog shots my cortisol levels never changed after injection half life.
So is cortisol worse then using prednisone or Kenelog?
6 months ago and I am trying allergy shots but they are making me feel even worse then I already do to the point of extreme exhaustion all day. Even aftrr many Kenalog shots my cortisol levels never changed after injection half life.
So is cortisol worse then using prednisone or Kenelog?
Brief Answer:
Cortisol more potent glucocorticoid.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for asking
COrtisol has more suppressing effect on hormonal axis and hypothalamo pituitary axis. Allergy shots themselves put the steroid levels on variation.
As i said your levels are fine. age related variations usually occur , your 6 months previous labs were fine so that makes that factor less likely.
Cortisol is more potent than kenalog or prednisone etc.
Stay in touch with your endocrinologist and let them be the judge of that.
Take care
Khan
Cortisol more potent glucocorticoid.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for asking
COrtisol has more suppressing effect on hormonal axis and hypothalamo pituitary axis. Allergy shots themselves put the steroid levels on variation.
As i said your levels are fine. age related variations usually occur , your 6 months previous labs were fine so that makes that factor less likely.
Cortisol is more potent than kenalog or prednisone etc.
Stay in touch with your endocrinologist and let them be the judge of that.
Take care
Khan
Note: For further information on diet changes to reduce allergy symptoms or to boost your immunity, Ask here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
