Hydrocortisone and adrenal suppression in CFS
McKenzie R et al. · 1998 · JAMA
Indexed 2026-11-12.
Reported findings and study design
Reported findings
Randomized double-blind comparison of daily hydrocortisone or placebo for about 12 weeks. The oral regimen used 13 mg/m² in the morning and 3 mg/m² in the afternoon.
Dose, route and schedule
Randomized double-blind comparison of daily hydrocortisone or placebo for about 12 weeks. The oral regimen used 13 mg/m² in the morning and 3 mg/m² in the afternoon.
Protocol source ↗ · Original source
| Measure | Result | Comparison, timing and statistics |
|---|---|---|
| Global wellness | 20/30 (66.7%) improved with hydrocortisone versus 19/35 (54.3%) with placebo (p=0.31). An improvement of at least five points occurred in 53% versus 29% (p=0.04). | |
| Adrenal suppression | 12 hydrocortisone recipients and no placebo recipients developed suppressed adrenal responsiveness. |
Adrenal suppression limits interpretation of modest symptom changes.
Source for these results ↗ · Reviewed 2026-11-12
For research and education. Consult a qualified clinician for medical advice.
Study limitations and source details
Study limitations
- Adrenal suppression limits interpretation of modest symptom changes.
Source access
Randomized double-blind comparison of daily hydrocortisone or placebo for about 12 weeks. The oral regimen used 13 mg/m² in the morning and 3 mg/m² in the afternoon.
Source reviewed 2026-11-12.
Citation and original source
Original source: McKenzie R et al.. Hydrocortisone and adrenal suppression in CFS JAMA 1998.
Molekul research summary: https://molekul.io/research/hydrocortisone-mckenzie-1998. Cite the original publication for its findings and this page when referring to Molekul’s summary or evidence appraisal.
Bibliography entry