Hydrocortisone for Adrenocortical Insufficiency User Reviews

• Anonymous
• September 23, 2011

Hydrocortisone "After a long chronic stress, my adrenals were in 'burnout.' This medicine, until now, has worked great. The progression has been very slow but with satisfaction. The only side effects were an upset stomach (which have gone) and frequent urination (which has been reduced)."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 3, 2024

"I was diagnosed with AI after receiving a number of dire diagnoses in the ICU. Finally, the head of Endocrinology correctly diagnosed AI… he supposed I had damaged my pituitary during military parachute operations. I now am “vertical,” which is good, but numerous steroidal-induced side effects are troubling. I especially deplore my weight gain and rashes. Still, hydrocortisone is indeed a lifesaver. I have reduced to 20 per day, two times. Hopefully lower as time goes on. Best wishes, all."

• MrM...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 27, 2019

Hydrocortisone "Started experiencing fatigue a few years ago and passed out suddenly. Rushed to the hospital with a normal cardiac workup and blood tests. After seeing a long list of doctors, one finally came to the realization I had adrenal insufficiency. Prescribed 10 mg hydrocortisone daily and feel much better."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 18, 2013

Hydrocortisone "Made stomach upset early on, gurgly/hungry feeling. Goes away. Severe prolonged subclinical hypothyroidism resulted in needing this medicine. Makes my Cytomel work. And reduced my anxiety to manageable levels. Even the little painful scab bumps I used to get on my scalp are gone... gone! Those things were as painful as a bee sting the day after."

• Aar...
• December 23, 2020

"I’m on 20 mg daily, split into 3 doses: 10 mg/5 mg/5 mg. Keeps my blood pressure stable and blood sugar levels. But got long-term muscle weakness in my legs now, so got to use crutches now. Without this medication, I wouldn’t be here to speak about this. So I’m really grateful I’m still here."

• Anonymous
• April 12, 2009

"I was put on this for 3 months. It's been 2 years now, and I can't wean off it. My immune system is in bad shape, and I'm developing side effects. I wish I'd been put on something else. It was nice at first, thinking it was only short term, but now it's becoming a bigger problem than help."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 24, 2022

"I had surgery in 1997 to partially remove a pituitary tumor, which damaged the gland, so I have taken 15 mg of hydrocortisone daily for almost 25 years to replace my adrenal function. It truly has saved my life! I didn't experience any noticeable side effects, thankfully!"

• Lou...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 25, 2021

"It worked great for me. As sometimes I would have attacks where I couldn't breathe and the air would go in just in time before I passed out. I was intubated 2 times. My oxygen was normal, and then there was no air at all. It was good I was in the emergency department. Then, I went on the cortisone and haven't had any attacks since."

• Pet...
• October 16, 2020

"I believe hydrocortisone is much better than prednisone. With hydrocortisone in pill form, side effects were minimal to none. Prednisone at 1 pill daily, after three weeks, came irregular weight gain, stomach, face, arm, hands, and fingers very noticeable swelling. Very painful back and side pain. Salt and water retention, headaches."

• Ash...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 11, 2021

"I have been on oral hydrocortisone for about six months now and trying to decrease the medicine to get completely off of it, even though I was on a low dose before. I have had really bad side effects the whole time taking this drug, but I am also very sensitive to medication. My ACTH levels are rising, so the drug did its job, but I would not take it again unless necessary."

• Sea...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 12, 2025

"I’ve been on hydrocortisone since 2016. It took a year to diagnose after an ABI and then a year of seeing endocrinologist after endocrinologist that all had their own ideas about how to treat AI. One said take 20 in the morning. None were useful for stress dosing. I take 10/7 am, 5/1 pm, and 5/6 pm. It took a while and many adrenal crises before they figured out my body does not absorb oral HC nor prednisone nor methylprednisolone or dexamethasone. Also, as an EMT, we don’t carry HC even though 100 mg is necessary in case of severe trauma to avoid cardiogenic shock. There’s only one state, Maine, which has an AI protocol, but it was written as 125 mg Solucortef or 125 mg SoluMedrol, which is 5x stronger than HC."

• Lar...
• September 25, 2014

Hydrocortisone "Take 25 mg daily - 15 mg morning/10 mg evening for 46 years. No side effects. No symptoms. Restored my well-being!"

• Sin...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 26, 2016

"Tests showed my cortisol production was low, but I do not feel any better on HC. And I am fatter now than ever before. I even have fat on my mid and lower back."

• Len...
• October 30, 2008

"This medicine has kept me alive for 20 years with very few side effects."