Cortisol In Blood: How To Prepare
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How To Prepare
You may be asked to avoid strenuous physical activity the day before a cortisol test. You may also be asked to lie down and relax for 30 minutes before the blood test.
Many medicines may change the results of this test. Some medicines, such as steroids, can affect cortisol levels for some time even after you stop taking the medicine. Be sure to tell your doctor about all the nonprescription and prescription medicines you take.
Talk to your doctor about any concerns you have regarding the need for the test, its risks, how it will be done, or what the results will mean. To help you understand the importance of this test, fill out the medical test information form (What is a PDF document?) .
| Last updated: | July 28, 2008 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS |
| Reviewed By: | Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine, Alan C. Dalkin, MD - Endocrinology |
| Editors: | Maria Essig, Tracy Landauer |
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