Instructions for Patients Taking Cortef

A physiologic dose (up to 20 mg per day) of cortef does NOT cause:

• Bone loss
• Weight gain
• Elevated glucose, sugar cravings (a normal level of cortisol regulates blood sugar)
• Anxiety, sleep disturbances
• Thinning skin, easy bruising
• Suppress the immune system
• Suppression of endogenous adrenal production (it takes 40 mg of cortef to suppress your natural cortisol production)

Wichers 99, Jodar 03, McConnell 02, McK.Jefferies 96

This is important for you to understand because you will receive information from the pharmacy when you pick up your prescription that describes the ‘side effects' of steroids. Some health care providers are not aware of the difference between therapeutic replacement doses of cortef and ‘steroids'.

Cortisol is your body's natural anti-inflammatory hormone and is much safer than Vioxx ®, Celebrex ®, and Mobic® which can cause serious side effects, including death.

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