Posted by AnneL on October 26, 2001, at 0:09:50
Hi,
Diagnosed with major depression of a situational nature last March. Saw a Pdoc for a few times and he wanted me to see a psychopharmacologist for a med review to see if Effexor was the right med or not or if I needed to add a mood stabilizer.
Went to the new Pdoc today and he is the first one to ask me whether I have any medical conditions and I told him I was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism after the birth of my first child approximately 17 years ago. I have been on Synthroid all this time and my dose has
been consistant at 0.15 mg. Most if not all of my TSH levels have been within the normal range. If any were elevated slightly, it was due to taking a Calcium supplement, an iron supplement or from estrogen in a birth control pill and my TSH would normalize after discontination of one of these.My new Pdoc would like to review my thyroid panel results for the last year or two. He is following up on a hunch that even though my TSH may have been "within normal limits" that perhaps I am taking too much Synthroid. He is basing this on an experience that I had about 1 year ago where I became obsessed with dieting and constant exercising. He wants to explore the possibility with my endocrinologist of lowering my Synthroid dose in order to lower my Effexor XR dose which is currently at 225 mg. I believe he wants to explore any possible reduction in thyroid med and possible reduction in Effexor XR prior to the addition of a mood stabilizer.
I have three questions: 1. Why mess with my Synthroid dose? (I don't have any symptoms of hyperthyroidism and my tests are within normal limits). His point: You treat the person not the numbers.
and 2. What behaviors or symptoms make one believe that a mood stabilizer is recommended? and 3. Why lower my Effexor dose? (My only side effect is one of sexual disinterest, but no loss of capability - not a big deal to me).
Thanks for your input, Anne :)
poster:AnneL
thread:82320
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20011025/msgs/82320.html