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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by wacky on August 2, 2006, at 1:54:51
I just got back lab work on blood tests checking my thyroid. The TSH level was 15 (normal range is 2.5 to 4). I have been taking .075mg Synthroid for several years. I didn't get it checked for the past 1 1/2 years and the last time was right when I started on Effexor. It hasn't been checked since then until now.
My pdoc bumped by Effexor to 450 - and now I think the low thyroid may have been why the lower doses didn't work - just a hunch. It must have started going down and it wasn't caught.
Any thoughts?
Posted by caraher on August 2, 2006, at 1:54:52
In reply to Low thyroid and depression, posted by wacky on July 31, 2006, at 16:15:21
You should definitely check whether the thyroid level is the primary factor in your depression. It would be so much better not to have to take the Effexor in the first place!
(I also suspect this thread should be redirected to the main Babble meds board!)
Posted by pegasus on August 2, 2006, at 1:54:52
In reply to Low thyroid and depression, posted by wacky on July 31, 2006, at 16:15:21
Thyroid functioning can definitely be linked to depression. A doc should always make sure your thyroid homone levels are good when they're adjusting antidepressants! Especially when you already have known thyroid problems. A TSH of 15 is really quite high, and could definitely lead to feeling depressed. You might want to mention it to your pdoc and to your endocrinologist (or whoever does your blood tests for TSH).
peg
Posted by wacky on August 2, 2006, at 1:54:52
In reply to Re: Low thyroid and depression, posted by pegasus on August 1, 2006, at 9:56:00
I suspect that since the meds were upped over several months, and the thyroid had been checked immediately preceding, the pdoc and internist assumed that the thyroid hadn't changed - it usually only gets checked once a year - and I had been stable with .075mg of synthroid for about 7 years. I wonder if one of the meds could cause the thyroid to drop more?????
Posted by maxime on August 2, 2006, at 2:04:36
In reply to Low thyroid and depression, posted by wacky on July 31, 2006, at 16:15:21
> I just got back lab work on blood tests checking my thyroid. The TSH level was 15 (normal range is 2.5 to 4). I have been taking .075mg Synthroid for several years. I didn't get it checked for the past 1 1/2 years and the last time was right when I started on Effexor. It hasn't been checked since then until now.
>
> My pdoc bumped by Effexor to 450 - and now I think the low thyroid may have been why the lower doses didn't work - just a hunch. It must have started going down and it wasn't caught.
>
> Any thoughts?It's two different things. An antidepressant can't help the depression caused by hypothyroidism. Your hypothyroidism made you feel depressed. All the ADs in the world aren't going to change it ... just an increase in Synthroid and a lower TSH.
How much has your Synthroid been increased?
I hope you feel better soon. It takes about a month for an increase in Synthroid to kick in. Hang in there. I've been there ... it's awful.
Maxime
Posted by Crazy Horse on August 2, 2006, at 8:35:11
In reply to Low thyroid and depression, posted by wacky on July 31, 2006, at 16:15:21
> I just got back lab work on blood tests checking my thyroid. The TSH level was 15 (normal range is 2.5 to 4). I have been taking .075mg Synthroid for several years. I didn't get it checked for the past 1 1/2 years and the last time was right when I started on Effexor. It hasn't been checked since then until now.
>
> My pdoc bumped by Effexor to 450 - and now I think the low thyroid may have been why the lower doses didn't work - just a hunch. It must have started going down and it wasn't caught.
>
> Any thoughts?I was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism about 5 years ago. My Doc put me on 150 mcgs. of Levoxyl once daily and now my thyroid is normal. Did i feel any difference as far as my depression goes after normalizing my thyroid..NOPE! ???..i thought i would, but didn't.
Monte
Posted by wacky on August 2, 2006, at 9:35:13
In reply to Re: Low thyroid and depression, posted by pegasus on August 1, 2006, at 9:56:00
Thanks for the input. The Synthroid was bumped to .100mg and I just started the new dose. I know it will take awhile for it to impact the TSH but I do go back for more blood work in 6 weeks. The only real symptom I have is weight gain - about 10 pounds in the past 6 months. I thought I was just exercising less and eating too much - but now I think it's the thyroid (I HOPE!) I have a hunch that the Synthroid will be increased even more.
Nancy
Posted by Phillipa on August 2, 2006, at 11:47:28
In reply to Re: Low thyroid and depression, posted by wacky on August 2, 2006, at 9:35:13
See this just helps prove my theory of hypothyroidism and depression and anxiety. I used to check all pt charts part of my job when a nurse on psych and most seriously of the pts. had thyroid problem. Wierd as I am when mine went I wasn't depressed it went to 20 and my anxiety sky-rocketed off the wall. My first hospitalization. They didn't know it was my thyroid when I was admitted. Oh the first time it went it took about a week to work. And I was skinny or just right in weight at the time. Wierd that's just me I guess. Love Me the wierd one Phillipa
Posted by wacky on August 3, 2006, at 10:58:59
In reply to Re: Low thyroid and depression, posted by Phillipa on August 2, 2006, at 11:47:28
Interesting stuff. When I was first diagnosed about 8 years ago, my TSH was at 23. I had virtually no symptoms that I could recognize - other than - again - weight gain.
Posted by Phillipa on August 3, 2006, at 11:11:19
In reply to Re: Low thyroid and depression, posted by Phillipa on August 2, 2006, at 11:47:28
Wacky I don't understand how come all my relexes were signs of hyper? Through the years I've had it checks many times and it always says hypo. But now I'm starting to gain wt but I've also been through menopause.And all of a sudden it seems like my whole metabolism has changed. My anxiety isn't apparant to those I talk to but inside even with valium I'm shaking. I just had it checked again TSH 1-3. New standards. Love Phillipa
Posted by wacky on August 3, 2006, at 15:21:55
In reply to Re: Low thyroid and depression » Phillipa, posted by Phillipa on August 3, 2006, at 11:11:19
Even on medication my TSH wasn't that low. There are so many variables to account for. I too went through menopause - but it's been a couple of years - so I don't attribute that to my new "low" thyroid.
Posted by Phillipa on August 3, 2006, at 21:24:28
In reply to Re: Low thyroid and depression, posted by wacky on August 3, 2006, at 15:21:55
Most low thyroid is hasimotos the autoimmune type and that's what mine is. The doc says that's the reason my ANA averages l:320 or l:640. I also have chronic lymes which is in remission so no antibiotics. But at the time when I was in the hospital with a Pic line for Rocephin IV my ANA was 2 thousand and something. Love Phillipa
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