Posted by Squiggles on September 19, 2006, at 12:49:14
In reply to Re: Depakote/Lithium +Weight gain + Cognitive Func, posted by HEART~ on September 19, 2006, at 9:55:25
> Yes Lithium effects the thyroid thus slowing down the thyroid over the many years a person is on it...usually resulting in hypothyroidism and resulting in weight gain...that's why weight gain is listed as a side effect. But it takes longer to put weight on with Lithium that's why people think it causes less gain...It just takes longer to happen......I think I should add here, that under lithium
treatment your doctor will or should monitor
your TSH, T3, T4, etc. to see how well your
thyroid is functioning under lithium. In my
case, the Synthroid has been raised from an
initial small dose, gradually to the present
maximum dose for a euthyroid (good thyroid level) state. I am slightly hypothyroid, but nothing
to worry about. Many people are in their
natural state.BTW, almost all psychiatric drugs cause weight
gain -- they don't really know why. If you ever
go to an asylum, you will see that patients tend
to be fat, or obese. The doctor's aim is to keep
you at as healthy a level as possible, not to change the nature of the drugs. The only drugs I know of that does not cause weight gain is
Wellbutrin, heroin and cocaine-- the former for
particular depressions, and the latter, illegal.Squiggles
poster:Squiggles
thread:687152
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060919/msgs/687413.html