How to Suppress the Adrenal Glands

Your adrenal glands make about 50 hormones. One of them is cortisol. When your body secretes too much cortisol, this can create a number of health issues. Cortisol regulates your body's immune response. In the right amount, it helps your metabolic function. It also helps you deal with stress. But long-term elevations of cortisol may wear out the adrenal gland so it is no longer able to produce normal levels of cortisol. In this case, suppression of the adrenal glands is required to reduce the amount of cortisol.

Instructions

• 1

  Ask your doctor to check your level of cortisol and your adrenal gland function--they can be tested using blood, urine or saliva. Continued elevated levels of cortisol can also cause problems with blood sugar, fat accumulation, compromised immune function, exhaustion, bone loss and heart disease. Even memory loss has been associated with high cortisol levels.

• 2

  Ask your doctor about taking prescription Nizoral. Using 800 or 1,200 mg of Nizoral keeps the adrenal gland from producing cortisol. While you're taking this drug, have your cortisol levels monitored regularly. The long-term effects of Nizoral on your hormones are not known.

• 3

  Ask your doctor about taking prescription Lysodren. It is used to reduce natural steroids in your body. However, it may affect your ability to recover from an injury, illness or surgery. In order to balance your level of steroids, you may need to take a corticosteroid (prednisone) until your body can make enough on its own.

• 4

  Ask your doctor about taking Metopirone, which also suppresses the production of cortisol. You should take it with milk or a snack, as it can cause nausea and stomach upset. It can also cause headaches, skin rashes, dizziness or drowsiness.