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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Jimmyboy on September 11, 2006, at 17:36:04
Anyone know if taking dexamethasone raises or lowers your cortisol level? Read this and can't figure it out , maybe someone else can..
From : http://www.psychosomaticmedicine.org/cgi/content/full/61/5/698"If short-term, high-dose dexamethasone treatment proves to have antidepressant effects, how might this be reconciled with antiglucocorticoids having similar effects? Antiglucocorticoids and dexamethasone administration could both have antidepressant effects via 1) their common effect of lowering cortisol levels (with resultant upregulation of brain corticosteroid receptors); 2) altering levels of other adrenal steroid hormones; or 3) increasing ACTH levels (with short-term, high-dose dexamethasone treatment, this might occur after dexamethasone’s acute inhibitory effects are terminated and the suppressed adrenal axis signals increased ACTH output). Additionally, recent evidence suggests that dexamethasone is actively excluded from brain and does not replace endogenous corticosteroids at hippocampal mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid receptor sites (144). Its behavioral effects, therefore, may result from indirect effects of dexamethasone-induced ACTH suppression on the balance between the two corticosteroid receptor types in the hippocampus (144). Long-term dexamethasone treatment has also been shown to result in an increase in glucocorticoid receptor mRNA levels in hippocampus, an effect that parallels changes observed over the course of antidepressant treatment (33, 145). "
JB
Posted by notfred on September 12, 2006, at 0:44:10
In reply to Dexamethasone effect on cortisol???Raise/lower?, posted by Jimmyboy on September 11, 2006, at 17:36:04
> Anyone know if taking dexamethasone raises or lowers your cortisol level?
cortisol is hydrocortisone, dexamethasone is a
40X more potent form of cortisol.Your body stops making cortisol as you just added
some dexamethasone. The amount of circulating cortisol remains up till the dexamethasone is metabolized and cortisol levels drop off. Then the
body starts making cortisol.A shot of Dexamethasone is likely to give you higher levels of cortisol, it sure feels that way.
> "If short-term, high-dose dexamethasone treatment proves to have antidepressant effects, how might this be reconciled with antiglucocorticoids having similar effects?Long term use of steroids at a level that supresses the bodies production of cortisol
carries a high risk for loss of bone and damage to optic nerve, just to name a few. Some people have psychotic reactions to taking any corticoids and many do if they take them long enough.I take prednisone (4X cortisol) from time to time, it does have mood elevating effects. It also has "snap peoples heads off at the drop of a hat" effects. I don't find short term high doses have any effect on long term mood.
Posted by Jimmyboy on September 12, 2006, at 8:02:19
In reply to Re: Dexamethasone effect on cortisol???Raise/lower, posted by notfred on September 12, 2006, at 0:44:10
Well, I have taken Dexamethasone for a couple of days and have noticed massive difference in my mood, it definitely has mood evevating effects ..
By having a good reaction could you glean any helpful long-term info about this? Like whether rasing or lowering cortisol may be helpful?And I still don;t quite understand the cortisol thing, I know taking the Dex raises cortisol levels in the body, but does it lower them in the brain? Something in that article made me think that , and if thats the case maybe lowering cortisol levels could be helpsful...
don;t know or understand but, hey if you or anyone else does would love to hear your opinion..
JB
Posted by Jimmyboy on September 13, 2006, at 21:22:58
In reply to Re: Dexamethasone effect on cortisol???Raise/lower » notfred, posted by Jimmyboy on September 12, 2006, at 8:02:19
Well, taking Dexamethasone improved my mood and cognition immensely over the last 4 days.. I have almost felt like my old self. Too bad I can't keep taking it : ( Its bad to take it for too long , so I'm told.
Anyway, from what I figured out it (probably) does lower your brain cortisol , by flooding your body w/ a cortisol like substance, it basically tells your adrenals to " stop making it" .. and the adrenal cortisol is what will cross into the brain and the dex will not, thus having an overall lowering of cortisol in the brain .. at least thats what I got from the article...
Anyway, what a shame, it really helped ALOT , especially on anxiety too.
I am talking to my doc tomm. but I am sure he won;t know what to make of it..
JB
Posted by notfred on September 15, 2006, at 22:26:08
In reply to Re: Dexamethasone- 4 days- wish I could continue!, posted by Jimmyboy on September 13, 2006, at 21:22:58
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dexamethasone#Side_effects
Side effects
If dexamethasone is given orally or by injection (parenteral) over a period of more than a few days, side-effects common to systemic glucocorticoids may occur. These may include:
* Stomach upset, increased sensitivity to stomach acid to the point of ulceration of esophagus, stomach, and duodenum
* Increased appetite leading to significant weight gain
* A latent diabetes mellitus often becomes manifest. Glucose intolerance is worsened in patients with preexisting diabetes.
* Immunsuppressant action, particular if given together with other immunosuppressants such as ciclosporine. Bacterial, viral, and fungal disease may progress more easily and can become life-threatening. Fever as a warning symptom is often suppressed.
* Psychiatric disturbances, including personality changes, irritability, euphoria, mania
* Osteoporosis under long term treatment, pathologic fractures (e.g., hip)
* Muscle atrophy, negative protein balance (catabolism)
* Elevated liver enzymes, fatty liver degeneration (usually reversible)
* Cushingoid (syndrome resembling hyperactive adrenal cortex with increase in adiposity, hypertension, bone demineralization, etc.)
* Depression of the adrenal gland is usually seen, if more than 1.5 mg daily are given for more than three weeks to a month.
* Hypertension, fluid and sodium retention, edema, worsening of heart insufficiency (due to mineral corticoid activity)
* Dependence with withdrawal syndrome is frequently seen.
* Increased intraocular pressure, certain types of glaucoma, cataract (serious clouding of eye lenses)
* Dermatologic: Acne, allergic dermatitis, dry scaly skin, ecchymoses and petechiae, erythema, impaired wound-healing, increased sweating, rash, striae, suppression of reactions to skin tests, thin fragile skin, thinning scalp hair, urticaria.
* Allergic reactions (though infrequently): Anaphylactoid reaction, anaphylaxis, angioedema. (Highly unlikely, since dexamethasone is given to prevent anaphylactoid reactions.)
This is the end of the thread.
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