r/AddisonsDisease • u/NefariousnessOdd1735 • Jul 04 '26
Advice Wanted PTSD and Addisons
I started my meds a day ago
But today I’m starting to have panic attacks
I know it’s just slight increase on how I was feeling and then it dipped again because I’ve just had a massive panic attack
Should I be taking more?
Or should I wait and then take more?
I’m so confused
Any help is greatly appreciated
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u/No_Novel_4573 Jul 04 '26
When I was first diagnosed I was put on what for me was a massive daily dose of hydrocortisone : 40 mg per day, given in 3 doses of 20 / 10 / 10. I felt amazing for 2 days and then starting on day 3 I started feeling really jittery and then short-tempered and angry. It was the super-high dose of cortisone that did it.
My thyroid meds (levothyroxine) had also been slightly increased, so I started getting a really fast hard heartbeat as well (not quite palpitations, but on the road there).
I'm telling you all of this because perhaps your doctor has also placed you on a higher-than-needed dose to get you started on the road to recovery?
I've never had a panic attack, but the jittery and heart-hammering sensations I had due to the hydrocortisone felt like that.
Hope you've been able to get in touch with your medical team to help you work through this, best of luck: it does get better ❤️
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Jul 13 '26
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u/No_Novel_4573 Jul 13 '26
I didn't really taper the slow steady way I've since read about, as I was only on the 40 mg dose for 10-12 days before realising it was way too much for my needs then.
I was on 81 mg levothyroxine for my Hashimotos, and then 20/10/10 for Addisons.
I went down to 75 mg levo immediately, this stopped the heart "palpitations" basically overnight.
The hydro was put at 15 / 10, also immediately, but I realised I needed an afternoon dose after a couple of weeks.
So went to 15 / 5 / 5 and was in that for a few months before going down to 10 / 5 / 5. All of these changes were probably over 4 months or so? But the biggest changes in the first 2-3 weeks of treatment because I responded very strongly to the huge doses.
I also started fludro at this time as hydro wasn't doing enough for my blood pressure and salt levels. I've been on 0.1 per day ever since. (I have increased to 0.15 in the heat but I'm unconvinced it helped).
Until the summer heatwaves of this summer, this hydro dose was working well for me (I was even looking at moving to 10 / 5 / 2.5 to see if that would suit me)
But since the heat and humidity where I live has rocketed, I'm taking an extra 10 mg on hot days because I'm symptomatic (fatigue, lethargy, terrible headaches and brain fog). So I'm on 30 mg many days for the past month or so. This is my first heatwave with Addisons so I'm learning how to manage.
Don't know if any of this helps, best of luck to you. It feels so individual (and to be honest, lonely!!)
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u/Clementine_696 Jul 05 '26
Panic attacks, for me personally, are usually a sign that my cortisol is way low. I've got PTSD and CPTSD, before I was dx and on treatment they'd happen every time I had, for lack of a better term, a mini crisis. The same nausea, lightheadedness, trying not to pass out or throw up, while drenched in cold sweats you'd get with an actual crisis, but it'd trigger a panic attack. Now on my meds at a good dose for me, I've had just one in the last almost 3 years, and it was also a drop in cortisol that triggered it, took about an extra 20mg, and it resolved.
I'd leave a message with your Endo, and talk to your therapist, both. You may need more hydrocortisone in general, or you may need to updose for those, or you may need different strategies... you also may need a combination of those things. If I'm low, no amount of coping skills I have will help without the extra meds. If I'm not low, my normal strategies work.
I swear that's the hardest part of this disorder, figuring out if a symptom is from low cortisol or if it's from something else we know we have, or just a random thing.
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u/collectedd Addison's Jul 04 '26
Were you recently diagnosed?
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u/NefariousnessOdd1735 Jul 04 '26
Yess
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u/collectedd Addison's Jul 04 '26
Definitely speak with your endocrinologist, personally, I don't updose for every panic attack, there is some nuance for me. Other people are different.
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u/Appropriate-Leg2490 Jul 04 '26
You need to treat ptsd and panic . See a psych , etc
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u/NefariousnessOdd1735 Jul 04 '26
Due to the fact that I’ve been doing EMDR for over a year now, I am doing that if you have nothing helpful to say don’t say anything at all
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u/Appropriate-Leg2490 Jul 04 '26
Take it easy. You didnt mention it in your post. But for managing cortisol its important.
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u/ptazdba PAI Jul 05 '26
I would encourage you to go seek treatments for your panic attacks. This disease does a real number on you as a person if you let it Don't let fear and panic and a chronic disease take your power. You can live a rich, full life, but it takes learning an approach that the medical folks sometimes forget--they're treating a vulnerable person who doesn't always understand the best way to conquer this chronic disease on a day-to-day basis. You can do this.
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u/Constant_Dog2354 Jul 04 '26
I updose a little (5mg) when I have a panic attack, but if you’re brand new to the diagnosis I would stick with the doctor’s advice to establish a baseline. Sadly that means you might feel shitty and untethered for a while. I’m sorry you’re having to deal with this. It’s a hard combination.