Hydrocortisone, Ascorbic Acid and Thiamine (HAT Therapy) for the Treatment of Sepsis. Focus on Ascorbic Acid

Nutrients Journal ^ | 2018 Nov 14 | Paul E. Marik

[ConservativeMind]

Abstract

Sepsis is a devastating disease that carries an enormous toll in terms of human suffering and lives lost. Over 100 novel pharmacologic agents that targeted specific molecules or pathways have failed to improve the outcome of sepsis. Preliminary data suggests that the combination of Hydrocortisone, Ascorbic Acid and Thiamine (HAT therapy) may reduce organ failure and mortality in patients with sepsis and septic shock. HAT therapy is based on the concept that a combination of readily available, safe and cheap agents, which target multiple components of the host’s response to an infectious agent, will synergistically restore the dysregulated immune response and thereby prevent organ failure and death. This paper reviews the rationale for HAT therapy with a focus on vitamin C.

(Snip)

Conclusions

Glucocorticoids, vitamin C and thiamine have important biological effects in patients with sepsis and septic shock. Due to the overlapping and synergistic effects of these remarkably safe and inexpensive drugs, the combination of these agents (HAT therapy) likely restores the dysregulated immune system and bioenergetic failure that characterizes sepsis. We, therefore, propose that HAT therapy will improve both the short-term (mortality) and long-term (post-sepsis syndrome) outcome of patients with sepsis and septic shock. Multiple randomized controlled trials are currently underway to test this hypothesis

[jimwatx]

Had severe sepsis a year ago and still feeling its effects. Was given less than 1% chance of survival, doctors pressured my family to pull the plug saying I was hopeless and probably had brain damage from my heart stopping several times and my brain going without oxygen for over 15 minutes. Fortunately my sister insisted they continue treatment and I made it. (after 3 1/2 months in hospital), While researching after I came across the vitamin C+ hydrocortisone study, and also this:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3489087/

[Chickensoup]

pill form

[jimwatx]

In addition to the mung bean extract mentioned above, green tea polyphenols, the Chinese herb Danshen, the common flavonoid Quercetin, and a few other natural substances also inhibit high-mobility group box 1, the late mediator of lethal sepsis.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17987129
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19265175

Since there is currently no effective treatment besides supportive measures, it’s ridiculous that these common harmless substances haven’t been studied further. Guess no money since natural substances can’t be patented.

[nikos1121]

That’s prednisone

[Pelham]

I don’t know that my nephrologist would agree with the idea that prednisone is “remarkably safe”; it’s a powerful drug, it’s got a list of side effects as long as your arm, and she was always trying to get me to switch to Cellcept or some other immunosuppressant. She said that the only reason that I wanted to stick with prednisone is because I was already used to all the weird crap that it does.

I was taking 60mg a day for months and during the first week or so I was wired to the gills. Barely slept, if at all. I don’t recommend that as a lifestyle. Took a long time to get weaned off of it. And being impatient, I rushed that too quickly and found out what adrenal shock is like.

[ConservativeMind]

That is my concern with HAT therapy, as well.

‘It’s too simple and cheap to do anything useful.’

[ConservativeMind]

Thank you for those.

[Bob434]

if you don’t mind my asking Jim- were you aware during your sepsis? Or were you out of it? I ask because I am curious whether a person going through sepsis is conscious and suffering, or not- Sop many folks get it, and i just hope there isn’t much suffering with it? Was there high fever with it?

[Bob434]

prednisone is usually only given short term and is quite safe- some folks however have to be on it long term and high doses- and usually they have to make a choice to suffer prednisone side effects, or the worse alternative of their conditions-

I stopped cold turkey once- was on 60 mg day and just stopped- big big mistake- don’t ever do that- I learned the hard way-

[jimwatx]

No I was delirious at home, had no awareness that my temp was 104 w/double pneumonia, just felt incredibly weak. But my best friend and sisters who I was texting back and forth with urged me to go to hospital as I seemed to be fading out. Actually drove myself there, have no recollection of of anything after that point. It was a very close call. Hospital actually pressured my family to pull the plug, said my brain went without oxygen too long and I’ be a vegetable. Fortunately family didn’t listen to them ;)

[Bob434]

i had pneumonia once too and like you say, I wasn’t aware how bad it was till i tried to get up and walk and fell over from weakness- and i had to be convinced also to go to hospital- i just felt it was a ‘bad flu’ and would pass- thankfully i got there in time and got the needed treatment-

They say that pneumonia is the ‘old man’s friend’, as i guess the person goes into a coma-like state and doesn’t realize what’s going on, if so, it sounds like a good way to go- I was worried one might ‘drown’ because of fluid in lungs, but i guess that’s not the case-