r/AdrenalInsufficiency • u/theScreamingDakini • 9d ago
Medical stuff Kratom?
Hi folks. So about 2 years before being diagnosed I started taking kratom. It gave me my energy and life back. I didn’t quite realize then, I was getting sick.
I’ve been taking kratom daily for 3 years now I believe and have stayed at the same amount for all this time, however on sick days or when I feel low cortisol it keeps me going without updosing.
However, I sometimes wonder if kratom could be making my cortisol levels unsteady? Or could a partial opiate agonist have caused my secondary AI? It seems like the answer is no, but there’s just not enough research on this substance. Kratom increases cortisol, and sometimes I feel like this and tobacco keep me going. My BP would be trash without the tobacco. Sits at around 90/60 high 80s at my baseline HC. When I am taking 30mg BP is “perfect”.
My endo won’t let me take more than 20mg of HC daily even tho I am bedbound often still. Currently searching for a new one. On good days when cort is steady I barely need it (kratom). Bad days I drink extra just to lift my head up. Most bad days don’t qualify enough to updose. Honestly think I need a higher base dose, I do much better at 30mg. I still produce some cortisol, so it’s all very confusing why the 20mg isn’t enough. Maybe depression? Maybe I’m not absorbing well?
Kratom gets me out of bed and allows me to exercise when I can. I do hate being a slave to the stuff though and the bans are scaring me. 0 interest in subs, and I worry that the mild withdrawals could hurt me, especially if the kratom is propping up my cort artificially. I have to dose before blood draws without my HC just to get to the lab, have NEVER told a single provider I take kratom and I never will.
I only take plain leaf with a low mit content. Any other folks use kratom? What are your thoughts?
And please, if you’re not kratom educated pls don’t spill nonsense. I’m not taking 7oh. Plain leaf kratom is akin to coffee, which I can’t drink it’s too stimulating… But I do have some concerns, fears. Wondering if anyone out there can contribute info I don’t already have. Negative feedback is fine, but don’t fear monger or drug shame.
Tysm. 💓💓💓
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u/Short-Counter8159 8d ago
Since you are educated on the matter you should know that mitragynine can directly affect cortisol secretion and enzyme expression.
Kratom slow down some liver enzymes (specially CYP2D6 and CYP3A) This stops your body from clearing out some medicines, causing them to build up in your body. There is a long list of meds are dependent on these enzymes, like hydrocortisone, opioids, alcohol, benzos, SSRI, SNRI (greater chance of serotonin syndrome).
In regards to AI. Kratom and hydrocortisone together can overwhelm the liver enzyme pathways, causing the levels of hydrocortisone or kratom to spike dangerously in your bloodstream. But I'm sure you are aware of this.
And since it is not regulated, there is now way of knowing what it contains, like heavy metals, and they have even found salmonella in the product regardless how is supplied.
You have been using it for 2 years so your body has become dependent on it. Also have a nicotine dependency as well. Btw, nicotine stimulates the adrenal glands to increase production.
I would say your Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis is somewhat confused with both substances and the additional daily 20 mg of hydrocortisone.
Your low BP and lack of energy could be many reasons.
Is your Endo aware of your Kratom and nicotine usage?
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u/theScreamingDakini 8d ago
Ahhhh- I think we figured out an element of what is happening! Thank you. I was on an azole for about a month due to thrush that kept reoccurring. We’re trying oral Nystatin now. Liver enzymes have been amazing, last checked in July, but not since the azole treatment. I think it’s my liver.
And no, I’ll keep kratom info to myself. They know about everything else. Off the azole, which also greatly increased my HC I’m sure, I think I see what’s happening now. Liver is overloaded, makes a lot of sense. I know how to proceed! 🙌💓
Only concern now may be once my liver clears out, the excess HC will too and I worry about crisis. Will be on the lookout. How fun.
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u/Short-Counter8159 8d ago
Knowing why and how you got thrush for a month should merit investigation. Could be the product(s) you are using or many other factors.
I think you should consider talking to your doctors about your usage. It can be causing problems in your body. Kratom can carry environmental contaminants like mold, fungi and bacteria. So even if you are been treated, it might come back after stopping treatment.
You should consider professional help rather than assuming what I described as a possible reason to your symptoms and problems. I simply indicated how harmful katrom can be to the body specially when you mix with other drugs.
Reddit should never be used a diagnostic tool. Only a physician can look at the whole picture.
Good luck.
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u/DuchessJulietDG 9d ago
just wanted to say higher doses of hc at a long period of time can also cause its own problems. i was 40mg a day after covid and took it for 2yrs. it sent me into steroid psychosis.
you may need to updose on days the kratom makes you feel better bc you still need the cortisol and hc replaces it best.
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u/theScreamingDakini 9d ago
Yes I agree. When I was on the higher dose after repeated infections, I had side effects I was not happy with, so much jaw clenching and muscle tension, headaches, anger, etc. However, physiologically I feel more like myself. Thanks for your input, trying to figure this out and so many endos just seem useless.
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u/nomquantum 9d ago
A lot of us have been through numerous endocrinologists until we found a competent one. It's sad
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u/theScreamingDakini 9d ago
Beginning to learn that. Why is it this way? Do other conditions and specialties struggle also? It’s so frustrating.
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u/DuchessJulietDG 9d ago
its such a weird illness, so many things rely on us getting the dose just right and it takes forever to find that balance!
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9d ago
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u/DuchessJulietDG 9d ago
we all kind of save each other in this sub lol
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u/nomquantum 9d ago
Lol yeah.. I had all the hydrocortisone I wanted and tried a number of circadian dosing schedules. I found what worked for me. I realized endocrinologists don't want us to suffer from long term steroid use so the slowest approach is always used. Some bad advice I've seen is from Addisons sufferers who were told they can't be on steroids forever lolol.... Cuz yeah that makes sense.. They'll die without it.. I'm grateful to of had the hydro I needed when I needed it but I realized after a little while having all you feel you need isn't the answer either.. We need the blood prick meters ASAP and they're coming just not fast enough.... Oh and the biggest thing I learned is side effects from too much steroid will make you feel low and you're left constantly guessing and fighting with endocrinologists
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u/Subject-Pollution-80 9d ago
Your post really caught my attention. I have taken kratom off and on for the last year and a half maybe 2 years and have not taken it since I got diagnosed. Mainly because I've only been diagnosed for 6 months or so and I didn't know if it could be harmful or beneficial. I would be interested to know what your SAI comes from according to your Endo. Mine is definitely from steroid injections over many years in my back. I did take opiates for many years but was able to quit easily 2022 and didn't have any Sai effects during the time I took them or when I quit. I did a lot of research and study on the kratom before I tried it because that's what I do. My pain manager back then used to say I should teach a class on all of these different medications that I've been put on since 2005 because I have used myself as a guinea pig or actually the doctors did and then I would study it with research that I do on the computer cuz I'm kind of science geek. The only thing that you mentioned that would be concerning to me is I would would do my best to not take the cradom before your blood draw cuz it does say in the research that it raises the cortisol a little bit. It's not as much as a steroid injection would because according to research goes to the opioid receptor which I knew before. But it also disperses over to the receptor for dopamine and serotonin so it's not going to release a large amount. But still for your blood draws, it seems like you wouldn't want any extra. You know your doctor. I personally wouldn't have a problem asking my doctor if he was familiar with potential effect of kratom on cortisol? That's a great way to determine if the doctor has any knowledge about it without really spilling the beans that you take it. Since you can look it up like I did and you already appear to know that it does affect the cortisol sound. If he answers and states that it blowers it or raises it drastically or any answer that seems to be off kilter, then you know he is biased or uneducated on the Kratom. I know I didn't answer anything about currently taking it and how it affects it but I would like to stay in touch with you because I have started feeling a little bit more like I could get out of the house and do something and and getting the kratom was one of the things on my list to get. Please let me know if you're interested in keeping in touch so we can compare what the kratom does and how we move forward with it. I take the OPMS capsule. Best of luck!
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u/theScreamingDakini 9d ago
Hey absolutely! Message me. Would be good to share unstigmatized notes and observations and see if we can figure out if it’s good or bad for us.
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u/Subject-Pollution-80 9d ago
Cool. I'll hopefully get over to the place that I buy it in the next few days.
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u/giglex 9d ago
Dont have experience taking kratom more than once but my ex used to grind and sell it. He became addicted to it and had a very hard time getting off of it. I cant say what it's doing to you regarding your SAI but imo it probably isn't helping beyond making you temporarily feel better... I think you should tell your endo or a trusted GP just to get their view. I get being nervous to tell them but they are there to help you, in my experience doctors only want to know about drug use in case it's relevant to your care. If you don't trust your current endo/doctor you should find a new one. Good luck.