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Improving My Memory + Hypo-Adrenalism (Low Cortisol)

Gaz_hmmmm

Gaz_hmmmm

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Joined
Nov 27, 2002
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England, UK
Ever since developing idiopathic (Medical induced) hypo-adrenalism (Low Cortisol) my short-term memory's been getting worse.

It's now really bad and seriously affecting my life. I'm seeing my endocrinologist in 3 weeks and will be bringing this up.

In the mean time what can I do to help improve my memory?

I'm trying to be healthier. I'm exercing more (Mostly weight training, but walking more too), eating more fruit, trying to eat more veg'. Taking 1000mg - 2000mg of Fish oil (About 300mg - 600mg Omega 3 fats) daily. As well as Evening Primrose Oil (Contains Gamma-Linoleic or G'-Linolic Acid and another essencial fat) high-dose Vitamin B complex and an A-Z Vitamin & Mineral pill.

I'm also on 35ml Methadone daily as well as 10mg Hydrocortisone (Turns into Cortisol) when I wake up and another 5-10mg around 4pm. I also use twice weekly high dose morphine orally, usually between 300mg - 500mg orally.

I'll soon be trying Armodafinil (Nuvigil <- Brand name) (It's the R-eniotioner of Modafinil (Provigil <- Brand name) for my energy levels and have read that it improves memory too even affect it's cleared out of your body. Also that taking Piracetam (Not sure about how much.) alone and with Modafinil can help memory and other things.

Is Gingko Biloba any good? As I know it's used as a memory supplement and also that certain B-Vitamins are good for it too. I am however taking a high-dose B-Complex.

Thanks in advance!
Gaz
 
Last edited:
Gaz_hmmmm said:
Is Gingko Biloba any good? As I know it's used as a memory supplement and also that certain B-Vitamins are good for it too. I am however taking a high-dose B-Complex.
Click to expand...
Gingko lowers cortisol.

http://www.ergo-log.com/ginkgo.html
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12369732

I am not sure how you have determined that you have low cortisol or that low cortisol is a factor in your memory difficulties but taking you for real that you have low cortisol and that it is causing problems you definitely do not want gingko then. It is a bit stimulating. I wouldn't add anything though til you know how newly added substances are effecting things. Hopefully you have a physician involved with whom you can discuss all the drugs and supplements you are taking.

DMAE is available as a supplement in many places and has some reputation for helping memory
 
TurelGrigori said:
Gingko lowers cortisol.

http://www.ergo-log.com/ginkgo.html
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12369732

I am not sure how you have determined that you have low cortisol or that low cortisol is a factor in your memory difficulties but taking you for real that you have low cortisol and that it is causing problems you definitely do not want gingko then. It is a bit stimulating. I wouldn't add anything though til you know how newly added substances are effecting things. Hopefully you have a physician involved with whom you can discuss all the drugs and supplements you are taking.

DMAE is available as a supplement in many places and has some reputation for helping memory
Click to expand...

The fact that it lowers cortisol I don't think should be a.problem as I take hydrocortisone twice a day to replace what I not producing ( Which should be nothing now as I've been on hydrocortisol for a few years now.) Unless it will reduces cortisol that I have to take.

The memory thing I only found out about because I read a study on google about mice on amphetamine running through a maze and how they'd obviously remember the route and get out quicker. But mice that had been stopped from producing cortisol never remebered the route.

It also says on the in packet leaflet that they can affect memory, but they is aimed generally at people who are still producing cortisol.
 
I'm assuming the OP's medically induced low cortisol is a result of having to take steroids regularly for a condition like asthma, rhematoid arthritis, or some other auto immunological condition. Is that it, Gaz? I think I'd wait and see how the Armodafinil works long with the supplements and exercise. I've never known anyone to take modafinil relative without getting enhanced concentration and improved cognition. If you tolerate the armodafinil you are likely to find you don't need anything more. Adding to many new things at once can lead to confusion about what helped or caused problems. If things are inadequate after a while there are lots of herbs, nootropics, and supplements worthy of a trial, I'd just do them one at a time as much as possible.

If my guess is correct that you are taking medically required steroids which are lowering cortisol, is there any possibility of being able to lower the steroids at some point?
 
Originally I was told by my main specialist (Endocrinologist) that it was Methadone induced hypoadrenalism, but my GP (At the Meth clinic where there's about 940 of us.) and 8 other Endocrinologists have said that it was because of all of the steroid creams I've used since I was 3. I've been told that I'll be on the hydrocortisone for the rest of my life. I've looked into withdrawing from it and if I was lucky enough not to die from withdrawl I'd have to be healthy (Not catch any illness, othwise I'd have to start the hydrocortisol again) for a year before my adrenal glands may recover, but I doubt it. This will end me!

EDIT: There is no one at my Methadone clinic with 'Opioid induced hypoadrenalism', so even I think it is the steroid use and the endo' was just trying to help me quit opioids.
 
Well, in all honesty, how are they to know if the condition's gotten better if you already have some pretty severe short term memory loss? I say give it a try if you know enough about yourself and how it works. A year really isn't that long to force yourself to live a healthy lifestyle. :P
 
Simply_Live said:
Well, in all honesty, how are they to know if the condition's gotten better if you already have some pretty severe short term memory loss? I say give it a try if you know enough about yourself and how it works. A year really isn't that long to force yourself to live a healthy lifestyle. :P
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It's not about forcing myself to be healthy if I withdraw, it's the fact that if I get ill at any point I have to restart the hydrocortisone, wean off and withdrawn for a year. I personally think attempting to go a year without almost any immunity and not catching/developimg an illness would be almost impossible unless I was locked in a sterile bubble.
 
Consider dietary changes, such as eliminating sugar. Improves mental clarity like a lot.
 
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