Question
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Followup To
Question -
i recently had a TAP test and my levels were as follows:
7-8    am  38
11am-12pm  25
4-5  pm    35
11-midnight 31
overall cortisol burden was 129
My doctor told me to take the following:
serphos
licorice plus
DIM and
Advaclear

Are these normal for high cortisol levels?  I am not sure what to do and was wondering if you could help?
Thank you,
Erin
Answer -
Erin,

I need to know what scale these levels were evaluated at.  Was this a saliva test you took?  What measurement was it based upon?  What lab was used?  

You should have also had your DHEA level tested.  Did they test this?

Once I know these answers, I can advise you on treatment.  I do use Seriphos and Licorice root, but not usually together, or at least at the same time of the day.

I am not familiar with DIM and Advaclear.  Let me know what is in these and what he has given them to you to treat.

I will be happy to advise you after getting this information.

Dr. Boss


They were done by Diagnos-Tech, Inc.
I am not sure what levels they were evaluated at.  I have the test results but am unsure how to find the levels they were evaluated by.
They have that my cortison burden is 129 and ref values are 23-42
7:00-8:00 AM  mine 38  Ref= 13-24nM
11:00-Noon    mine 25  Ref= 5-10 nM
4:00-5:00 PM  mine 35  Ref= 3-8  nM
11:00-Midnight mine 31  Ref=1-4 nM
My DHEA Free (DHEA+DHEA-S) Pool  = 6 Ref ranges = 3-10ng/ml

I hope this helps, if I don't have the right info please let me know.
Thanks,
Erin

Answer
Erin,

Thank you for the detailed response. This tells me exactly what I needed to know.  These numbers are very out of the normal range, but what they do tell us is that you are in Stage 1 of adrenal fatigue.  Adrenal fatigue goes like this: Stage 1 (adrenal dysfunction), Stage 2 (adrenal fatigue), Stage 3 (adrenal exhaustion, Stage 4(adrenal failure).  

Most patients that we see are in Stage 2 by the time they get anything done about it or tested.  You are ahead of the game and have been tested early and found to be in Stage 1.  This means that your adrenal glands are working harding than they should and they are producing excess cortisol.  At this point, your DHEA level is OK.  It has not started to decline as it would in later Stage 1 and Stage 2. Decreased DHEA levels leads to a myriad of symptoms and feeling poorly.  The excessively high cortisol levels are "normal" for Stage 1 of adrenal dysfunction.  

I am not familiar with the supplements DIM and Advaclear.  What are they used for?

Here is the protocol that I utilize:
1-Biomatrix Support Adrenals 2 caps/2X/day -  This is to supply proper nutrition to adrenal system and helps to repair and recover the adrenal glands.

2-Biomatrix Support Minerals 3 tablets/30 minutes prior to bedtime - This is to supply proper mineral content to adrenal glands.  Adrenals thrive off of minerals and we are normally deficient when in adrenal dysfunction.  Minerals are best absorbed and utilized overnight during repair and recovery time.

3-Vitamin C with bioflavonoids-500 mg 4 times/day.

4-Seriphos-1 capsule 30 minutes prior to meals 3 times per day and 1 capsule 30 minutes prior to bedtime. Seriphos increases the hypothalamus/pituitary gland receptors sensitivity to the negative feedback loop that controls cortisol output.  By taking it, this will work to help decrease excessive output of cortisol and prevent further imbalance.

5-Pregnenolone-Pregnenolone is a precursor hormone that the adrenal glands use to convert into all of the other important adrenal hormones.  When cortisol levels are excessively high, the adrenals begin to become depleted of pregnenolone.  This leads to a decrease of DHEA and the other adrenal hormones.  It is a condition termed pregnenolone steal. By providing pregnenolone, we avoid this condition and can more quickly turn around the adrenal dysfunction.

6- Daily exercise-30 minutes.

7- Daily intake of quality protein and at least 4 servings of above ground vegetables.

8- Daily water intake of minimum of 64 oz.

9-Proper rest and sleep.  Daily bedtime between 10-11pm.

10-Mental, physical and emotional stress reduction.

This is the protocol that I use with my patients and see great results.

If you have any further questions, please let me know.

Dr. Boss