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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by frillyknickers on April 29, 2009, at 14:24:38
I'm on a number of drugs that affect metabolism (adderall, wellbutrin) and I know hypothyroidism is essentially about your metabolism, so I was wondering if there'd be crossover.
if I'm taking these drugs and get blood work done, could it "mask" the results if I actually have hypothyroidism?
Posted by Phillipa on April 29, 2009, at 17:28:58
In reply to can drugs affect hypothyroidism test results?, posted by frillyknickers on April 29, 2009, at 14:24:38
Hey what a great question as also have thyroid disease mine's hasimotos thyroiditis. But the endo had said okay to take with valium? Will check into this in a bit. I did find out last night on a google search that iodine drops are not good for know cases. So you're just ruling out? I do doubt they can mask systoms but never know. Phillipa
Posted by desolationrower on April 30, 2009, at 0:54:22
In reply to Re: can drugs affect hypothyroidism test results? » frillyknickers, posted by Phillipa on April 29, 2009, at 17:28:58
not sure but i think most drugs affect metabolism have at least some direct effect on appetite, and might cause weight gain that way, which would increase thyroid output, but if you counterbalance with diet, you might have it lowered, but yeah i'd think tests could vary depending on what you're on at any point in time
-d/r
Posted by Alexanderfromdenmark on April 30, 2009, at 6:16:07
In reply to can drugs affect hypothyroidism test results?, posted by frillyknickers on April 29, 2009, at 14:24:38
> I'm on a number of drugs that affect metabolism (adderall, wellbutrin) and I know hypothyroidism is essentially about your metabolism, so I was wondering if there'd be crossover.
>
> if I'm taking these drugs and get blood work done, could it "mask" the results if I actually have hypothyroidism?I do actually think Adderal and wellbutrin might increase thyroid output, but I'm not sure. But I don't think one can treat hypothyroidism with anything other than thyroid meds, so if you have hypothyroidism it would show on blood tests. What symptoms do you have of hypothyroidism? Even if you are told you are normal, there's a lot of controversy over what a normal blood test is these days. TSH over 3 is many places considered hypothyroidism, and TSH above 2 is considered suspisciosu. If your Free T3 is in the lower end of normal that might also be considered hypothyroidism.
Posted by bleauberry on April 30, 2009, at 19:23:56
In reply to can drugs affect hypothyroidism test results?, posted by frillyknickers on April 29, 2009, at 14:24:38
I don't recall seeing any studies looking at this. I have no doubt though that meds can indirectly affect thyroid function. If not thyroid levels in the blood, perhaps thyroid receptor functionality or something.
But here is a theory I ponder. SSRIs increase serotonin. As the body's attempt to reach balance, it increases noradrenaline function to try to match the aritifically high serotonin function. It can for a while, but the adrenal glands aren't built for that longterm strain. Eventually they get exhausted and adrenal fatigue, or hypoadrenalism kicks in. Then, again as the body's attempt to balance, the thyroid turns itself down in order to adjust to the sluggish adrenals. They try to work in harmony. So if one goes weak, the other goes with it to match. Maybe??? Just a theory of mine.
I see the phenomenon here a lot. I know what adrenal fatigue looks like and it appears frequent here at pbabble. With me, I went from high thyroid function all my life to hypothyroid after a few years on ssris. Makes one wonder.
In general, I do believe all these meds have profound effects throughout the body, not just on serotonin or whatever. I don't think they are as specific as we think. There is so much happening downstream as a result of what they do to serotonin. My two cents anyway.
Posted by Phillipa on April 30, 2009, at 21:41:51
In reply to Re: can drugs affect hypothyroidism test results?, posted by bleauberry on April 30, 2009, at 19:23:56
BB chicken and egg effect. But for me SSRI's didn't affect my thyroid as on none when thyroid went hypo only on very low dose of xanax and beer. Only after the thyroid went did I require a low dose of an SSRI and that was months later. For real. Phillipa ps also adrenals were fine as was happy and working enjoying fully my job and in love. So all should have been well. For me the trigger was the beginning of menopause age 49.
This is the end of the thread.
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