26 replies to this topic

[riloal]

Hi, i suffer from adrenal fatigue, because i used to take a lot of stimulants. What,s the best supplements for this? Theres is adoptogens (rhodiola, licorice, ginseng, etc,) there is also chinese tonics (Reishi Mushroom, Gotu Kola, etc), also adrenal glands, l-tyrosine? I,m a mess with all the information. Anyone have some experiences? What worked best for you? Thanks

[Thorsten3]

1. Lots of rest
2. Meditation
3. Removing things in your life that stress you out (be that a job, a girlfriend,etc)
4. Supplements can help. The ones you mentioned might help. There are lots to choose from. Maca is like fuel for the adrenals I love the stuff.

Also remove caffiene, stimulants, nicotine, alcohol, processed sugar and eliminate all junk from your diet.

See how that treats you.

[riloal]

Any favourite brand for Maca?. Thanks for your reply

[Mr Serendipity]

Pregnenolone!

Here are the positive effects on me:

• what little beard hair I have becomes darker and grows faster
• my erections are much better and my scrotum tightens (testicles working harder)
• I think my sleeping pattern has improved, and I can get out of bed in the morning

Here are the negative effects:

• constipation
• hair loss

However I think I've minimized these by lowering my dose from 50mg to 12.5mg. I was using source naturals 50mg tablets, and used a pill cutter to divide them into quarters.

It's dirt cheap as well, you get 120 tablets of 50mg for $12, but now I have 480 tabs for $12.

I will also say I've had many digestive problems recently with supplements (creatine, whey, royal jelly, pregnenolone), so it may not cause you constipation.

Can't really expand further because I haven't made a routine, but I can say it does effect me positively.

For example yesterday I didn't take any and went to sleep at 12pm, my alarm went off at 8am, switched it off, woke up at 10:30am. I feel a bit groggy/sleepy after all that sleep but I'm ok. However what use to happen was I would oversleep for 10-12 hours because I just couldn't wake up and feel fresh, and I still felt really groggy in the morning after all that sleep. So the cortisol you produce from pregnenolone definitely helps wake you up with a clear head.

[MrHappy]

L-Tyrosine and copper/zinc balance.

These are the precursors to dopamine and the whole cycle including epinephrine and noepinephrine production.

Unsubstantiated, but Vitamin B12, magnesium and zinc seems to help me from epinephrine burnout.

[niner]

What exactly is adrenal fatigue, anyway? Is there any consensus as to whether it's real or not?

[stephen_b]

What exactly is adrenal fatigue, anyway? Is there any consensus as to whether it's real or not?

I was reading about this last night. Cortisol levels can be easily measured by a saliva test. (Some say it's more accurate than a blood test, because having a needle stuck in your arm tends to raise your cortisol.)

There is a whole cascade of undesirable things that happen with chronic high cortisol: insulin resistance, low testosterone, disturbed sleep. Apparently the adrenal glands enlarge along the way to provide more cortisol. (Source: Maffetone and Allen, The Big Book of Endurance Training and Racing).

[stephen_b]

Higher rates of excretion of cortisol are associated with high BMI and lower HDL (http://hyper.ahajour.../33/6/1364.full). Apparently high cortisol also interferes with fat oxidation.

[TheSpawn]

What exactly is adrenal fatigue, anyway? Is there any consensus as to whether it's real or not?

http://www.amazon.co...e/dp/1890572152

[MrHappy]

Sure is. I know someone with Addison's disease.

[MangekyōPeter]

Yeah would like to know what I can take to help me with adrenal fatigue as well...

please share your finding for those that have battled this condition

[stephen_b]

Getting enough sleep is a big one here. If you are an athlete, avoid overtraining.

[8bitmore]

My personal fav regenerative/adaptogenic agent (which should definitely help with adrenal fatigue if taken at the same time as practising a few thumb rules: i.e. meditation and proper eating/sleeping as suggested by a few in this thread) is Ashwagandha - I have never had much success with it in extract form but as a organic herb in powder form it is unbeatable IMHO (I have on and off taken between 2-6 grams a day for at least half a decade). There's quite a bit of difference in regards to how the body reacts depending on the medium it is taken in - I prefer quite warm rice-milk (this is partly backed up by Ayurvedic source ("The Yoga of Herbs" by D. Frawley) in which it is written that Ashwagandha taken in warm milk regenerates the hormonal system)

[LIB]

By FAR the most helpful for me is pantethine. I take that as well as equal amounts of pantothenic acid. As well as good amounts of vitamin c, in both fat and water soluble versions.

[Lufega]

I think "adrenal fatigue" could be related to not consuming enough dietary Lysine. Lack of lysine in the diet can cause elevated cortisol levels and anxiety. What I don't understand is why the adrenals seem to be secreting MORE hormones when it is supposedly "fatigued".

[zorba990]

Sublingual Calcium Pantothenate. Cheap and works well. Just buy the 250mg hard tablets and leave under the tongue until dissolved. Its is bitter but under the tongue seems to work much better than swallowing it (which can cause intestinal cramps).

[jakord]

Deprenyl.

[TheSpawn]

Deprenyl.

"Deprenyl medication side effects and benefits"
http://www.raysaheli...m/deprenyl.html

... i'd read this : http://www.deltastar...product-16.html

[Ark]

Vit D3, ZInc, Coconut oil, Licorice root (8 grams a day), Maca, Long Jack, Jujube Seed(*up too 6 grams a day), deprenyl lots of sleep no stims (including coffee)

Good luck!

Edited by Ark, 19 December 2011 - 03:44 AM.

[August59]

The adrenals are responsible for a whole lot more than just cortisol. If it is getting fatigued, or you have adrenal insufficency, or adrenal burnout then there is a tremendous more to worry about along with with cortisol

If you have adrenal problems I would suggest getting more than just a 4x saliva test done. The saliva test might be the best test for cortisol (I'm not completely sold on that one yet), but that is the only hormone a saliva test is good for. Get your serum testosterone, thyroid, dhea(s), aldosterone, sbgh and there are some more. The adrenals do so much and to treat just a cortisol condition when something is wrong with the adrenals is rolling the dice.

I do wish it was as simple as it some advertising makes it appear, but tied together pretty tightly and just trying to loosen or tighten one knot could cause more problems than it is fixing.

Good Luck!!

[PhaQ]

There is no such thing as adrenal fatigue. Your adrenals don't get 'worn out.'
The real question, and the harder one to answer, is, "What is it then?"

In looking into 'adrenal fatigue' I have come to the conclusion that it a physical response to a mental health issue. 'Adrenal fatigue' is caused by a kind of learned helplessness to stressors. Instead of reacting to a stressor, you just try to live with it. After a while, you stop having an adrenaline induced 'fight or flight' response to the stressor, and you start having the cortisol response of chronic stress.

Thorsten2 was mostly right in his suggestions, except instead of getting lots of rest, you should do the opposite. When something happens that 'stresses you out' don't try to rest and deal with it. Get excited! Get Pissed off! Then take that energy and sprint around the neighborhood like a fucking madman. It doesn't hurt to imagine a tiger or horny wildebeest or something like that chasing you. Train your body to react with adrenaline, don't sit there and take it with cortisol.

[nowayout]

I think "adrenal fatigue" could be related to not consuming enough dietary Lysine. Lack of lysine in the diet can cause elevated cortisol levels and anxiety. What I don't understand is why the adrenals seem to be secreting MORE hormones when it is supposedly "fatigued".

That is because a few posters in th thread before you have it the wrong way around. Adrenal fatigue is supposed to be a condition of too little cortisol, not too much. As best I can tell, adrenal fatigue is a new-agey term for what real doctors know as adrenal insufficiency, where too little cortisol or other adrenal hormones are being produced. Andrenal insufficiency is a real and measurable medical symptom, which can be due to various underlying conditions. Given the fundamental role cortisol plays in sustaining life, the condition can be life-threatening if it is bad enough.

Edited by viveutvivas, 08 February 2012 - 10:51 PM.

[niner]

What PhaQ and viveutvivas said. It looks like the 'adrenal fatigue' treatments are mostly things that would help whether your adrenals were 'fatigued' or not. That and a dose of placebo effect. Here is what Wikipedia has to say on adrenal fatigue:

Adrenal fatigue or hypoadrenia is a term used in alternative medicine to describe the belief that the adrenal glands are exhausted and unable to produce adequate quantities of hormones, primarily cortisol. The term "adrenal fatigue" may be applied to a collection of nonspecific symptoms such as, "tiredness, trouble falling asleep at night or waking up in the morning, salt and sugar craving, and needing stimulants like caffeine to get through the day", but there is no scientific evidence supporting the concept of "adrenal fatigue" and it is not recognized as an actual diagnosis by the medical community.[1] This is distinct from recognized forms of adrenal dysfunction such as adrenal insufficiency or Addison's Disease.[2]

Blood testing is sometimes offered by alternative medical practitioners to diagnose "adrenal fatigue", but these tests lack any scientific basis.[1] The concept of "adrenal fatigue" has given rise to an industry of dietary supplements marketed to treat this condition. These supplements are largely unregulated in the U.S., are not thought to be effective, and in some cases may be dangerous.[1]
References

1. "Myth vs. Fact: Adrenal Fatigue" (PDF). The Hormone Foundation. August 2010. Retrieved August 30, 2011.
2. "Adrenal fatigue: What causes it?". MayoClinic.com. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Retrieved 2008-08-03.

[PhaQ]

I think "adrenal fatigue" could be related to not consuming enough dietary Lysine. Lack of lysine in the diet can cause elevated cortisol levels and anxiety. What I don't understand is why the adrenals seem to be secreting MORE hormones when it is supposedly "fatigued".

That is because a few posters in th thread before you have it the wrong way around. Adrenal fatigue is supposed to be a condition of too little cortisol, not too much. As best I can tell, adrenal fatigue is a new-agey term for what real doctors know as adrenal insufficiency, where too little cortisol or other adrenal hormones are being produced. Andrenal insufficiency is a real and measurable medical symptom, which can be due to various underlying conditions. Given the fundamental role cortisol plays in sustaining life, the condition can be life-threatening if it is bad enough.

You're wrong because you're right. Everywhere I have seen talk of 'adrenal fatigue' its always about too much cortisol and not enough adrenaline. 'Adrenal fatigue' is hogwash. Adrenal insufficiency is real and different. Adrenal insufficiency is what you said, a lack of all adrenal hormones, and it is a legitimate medical condition.
Most people with 'adrenal fatigue' eat like crap and get no exercise. No wonder they have malaise and fatigue.

Edited by PhaQ, 10 February 2012 - 12:21 PM.

[Brenjin]

I take the supplement Power Adapt for adrenal fatigue. Works well. I recommend it

[Atropy]

What do you have if your sleep and sometimes mood is disturbed when you have a good exercise session?
It's really frustrating not being able to recover from a workout session because of insomnia.

I sometimes lower my exercise intensity to avoid insomnia.Any diagnosis or supplements?

I take a multi-vitamin,potassium,magnesium,d3/k2 ,fish oil,healthy diet.

I do however drink coffee.

[jcxz]

I got a continued stress induced adrenal fatigue (work and a high crime rate), apart of that I also have a baby that cries at the nights. No caffeine, no tobacco, light exercise (had to leave gym, couldn't bare the pain after exercises), healthy mostly vegan diet (with occasional meats once o twice in a months). Was struggling to get enough rest, waking up all the night and basically not sleeping enough. The worst symptom of the adrenal fatigue is inability to handle any stress situation (even those that is not generally considered stressful), having a horrible anxiety attacks and feeling of impending doom. Tried to reduce the stress as much as I can changing my lifestyle, tried to relax and have a fun putting my mind out of daily worries (Watching movies and playing computer games), also tried basically all non prescription drugs and supplements. The best that I found that works miracles for me is GABA, I take a dose of 80-100 mg at night and that gets me a full rest. I would definitely recommend it to try to anyone with a similar condition.