Cortisol Results / Protocol help please

[Scotty323]

Ive been taking 35mg of dhea/preg and oral preg daily for a few months now. My salivary results came back and my cortisol is still extremely low:

[FONT=&quot]7:30am
109 ( 100-750 )[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]2:30pm
78 (<401)
5:30pm
<50 (<100)
11:00pm
<50 (<100)
[/FONT]


My next appointment with Defy isnt until the middle of March. What do you guys feel I should do? Up the dhea/preg? By how much? This seems extremely low to me.

 

[ERO]

What are the ranges on the test?

 

[Scotty323]

Sorry about that. Fixed up top.

 

[ERO]

Wow, those are low. Are you also on TRT? If so, what are your Total T, Free T, and Sensitive E2 levels?

 

[Scotty323]

Yes, I am also on TRT, HCG, and an AI.
.32 test cyp twice a week
.40 hcg twice a week
.1 anastrozole twice a week ( thinking about stopping this )


[FONT=&quot]Estradiol - 29 (20-75 Ref) ** I don't believe this was e2 sensitive **[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]ACTH,P - 16 (10-60 Ref am)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]DHEA - 307 (65-334 Ref)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Total and Free Test - 55.5 (4.6-18.1 Ref) *[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Total Test - 1180 (240-950 Ref)

I actually went by an older test for the cortisol.... most recent cortisol is below:

[/FONT][FONT=&quot]7:30am
109 ( 100-750 )[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]2:30pm
78 (<401)
5:30pm
<50 (<100)
11:00pm
<50 (<100)
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]

[/FONT]

 

[Scotty323]

any recommendations on this?

 

[CoastWatcher]

How are you feeling? You didn't mention it.

 

[Vince Carter]

Tests seems to me to be showing that no matter how it reads on paper, there's seems to be few to no guy that gets this backfill or downstream hormone production from either HCG/DHEA/Preg that supposedly happens. Ive run 500iu E3.5D and my Prog and DHT came back lower than any previous test. Your only option may be to discuss HC therapy with Dr Saya. I wouldn't start taking more HCG/DHEA/Preg.

 

[Dr Justin Saya MD]

Scotty323 - Vince Carter may be right, HC may be a valid option moving forward. Since you have time before your consult, it wouldn't hurt if you wanted to do a trial of an adrenal "adaptogen" such as rhodiola, ashwaganda, or licorice root simply to see if you notice any subjective changes before consult.

 

[Scotty323]

Scotty323 - Vince Carter may be right, HC may be a valid option moving forward. Since you have time before your consult, it wouldn't hurt if you wanted to do a trial of an adrenal "adaptogen" such as rhodiola, ashwaganda, or licorice root simply to see if you notice any subjective changes before consult.

Is there one that you would recommend over the other? What about a dosage? Thanks Dr. Saya.

 

[Vince Carter]

Those...rhodiola, ashwaganda, or licorice root ..are all typical Adrenal support herbs/supplements that you can google.

 

[Will Brink]

Those...rhodiola, ashwaganda, or licorice root ..are all typical Adrenal support herbs/supplements that you can google.

The active ingredient is licorice root, Glycerrhizinic acid, has been found to increase cortisol and lower T. Perhaps in men on TRT not an issue, but I don't tend to view licorice root a great choice for men as a supp.

 

[Dr Justin Saya MD]

The active ingredient is licorice root, Glycerrhizinic acid, has been found to increase cortisol and lower T. Perhaps in men on TRT not an issue, but I don't tend to view licorice root a great choice for men as a supp.

Good point, Will.

An increase in cortisol MAY not be a good thing for a male who is not on TRT (unless they have low cortisol to begin with...cortisol is the one hormone actually necessary for life). However the story is much different for a male already on TRT (i.e. there will be no suppression of exogenous testosterone).

OP actually has low cortisol production, so the increase in cortisol is, in fact, the exact intent.

 

[Dr Justin Saya MD]

Is there one that you would recommend over the other? What about a dosage? Thanks Dr. Saya.

I've seen mixed results with all of them, though if I were to take one for the purpose of increasing adrenal production, I would probably start with rhodiola or licorice root.

 

[Scotty323]

Good point, Will.

An increase in cortisol MAY not be a good thing for a male who is not on TRT (unless they have low cortisol to begin with...cortisol is the one hormone actually necessary for life). However the story is much different for a male already on TRT (i.e. there will be no suppression of exogenous testosterone).

OP actually has low cortisol production, so the increase in cortisol is, in fact, the exact intent.

From a quick google search the rhodiola looks intriguing because it appears to help libido as well. Would this be a good choice? Any recommendation on a dosage?

 

[Dr Justin Saya MD]

From a quick google search the rhodiola looks intriguing because it appears to help libido as well. Would this be a good choice? Any recommendation on a dosage?

See post above, rhodiola would be a good starting choice. I like Jarrow rhodiola caps - 500mg once daily.