Hydrocortisone for Addison's Disease User Reviews

• Ell...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 12, 2019

Hydrocortisone "Cortef has saved my life. Diagnosed with Addison’s 7 years ago after months of declined health (deathly thin, anxious, random cry spells, brain fog, intense nausea, lower back pain) and eventually slipping into a coma. Once the doctors figured out it was Addison, they put me on Cortef. It was a bit of a challenge at first, trying to figure out the right amount for my body, however, after about 2 years of trial and error, I found the right dosage and the proper times to take them, as I found that was extremely important. I was also put on Cytomel, which I would highly suggest for anyone who’s struggling with Addison’s disease. With those combined meds, Addison’s became controllable. Until I started premenopausal symptoms, and now it feels like the first year of my Addison diagnosis. I’ve been taking a bit more Cortef as of late to help me through the premenopause, which can become more of an issue for the body and brain."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 3, 2017

"This medication is life-sustaining. I take a total of 20 mg divided into several doses throughout the day. It has supported muscle development so that now, after a year of treatment, I am a healthy weight for my height and am able to live an active life. No digestive issues. No sleep issues. No other side effects. My blood pressure has increased to a healthy level. I no longer have spells of dizziness or see stars."

• Ham...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 16, 2024

"My diagnosis is not confirmed as yet, but it was the first treatment with hydrocortisone at double the normal dose of 80 mg per day. I was completely out of it on a ventilator for five days, but I recovered, and I was glad to be well again."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 13, 2018

"Since being on hydrocortisone, I have retained a lot of fluid in my face, neck, arms, legs, and stomach! Before this medication, I was a happy size 9 and had an athletic physique! Now I’m a whopping, miserable, depressed size 16! After just one year on this medication!"

• Sop...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 1, 2025

"I take hydrocort for Addison's. I hate steroids, but I respect their use in the treatment of many illnesses. Make sure to take a multivitamin, and especially one that treats the health of bones. This medication and all steroids have the side effect of osteoporosis. Be sure to get a bone scan before you start the medication. Make sure all your doctors know you are on a steroid. Steroids lower your immune system and have the potential to cause osteoporosis. I am a trauma ER nurse."

• Tam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 19, 2022

"This drug is awful, but it saved my life, so I’ll give it some credit. It stabilized my blood pressure and I'm no longer in a critical state, but I’ve gained so much weight, and I had insane anxiety at a higher dose. It would make me uncontrollably agitated and emotional. But I’m alive and at a lower dose now, but I want the weight gone."

• Bia...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 17, 2022

"Doing nothing for me. Takes effect in about 10 minutes and lasts about 2 hours. Then, I am back to feeling bad. You know the desperation, the pain everywhere, lights off, no noises, can't breathe. I feel like an emergency every day. So fatigued. I have a sudden small cramp inside my right eye every once in a while. It hurts from some time after that like something in the back inside twisted. It comes back another day. Is this a side effect or am I just too far gone?"

• Anonymous
• February 9, 2015

Hydrocortisone "Feel better, but getting really fat."

• Ted...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 29, 2021

"Have been on medication for 30 years. I was on Cortef before. One relapse."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 10, 2016

Hydrocortisone "Added so much weight, due to this drug."