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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Dave1 on January 1, 2003, at 20:15:15
If you are augmenting an antidepressant with
thyroid hormone - T3 - Cytomel, What dose should you be on and how long before it works?Thanks,
Dave
Posted by Noa on January 2, 2003, at 12:42:51
In reply to thyroid hormone, posted by Dave1 on January 1, 2003, at 20:15:15
I am not sure of the dose, because I also have primary hypothyroidism, so my dose might be different. I noticed a change within a week (again--was this augmentation effects or effect on hypothyroidism?).
Posted by Dave1 on January 2, 2003, at 12:48:34
In reply to Re: thyroid hormone, posted by Noa on January 2, 2003, at 12:42:51
What kind of changes did you notice???
Dave
Posted by Noa on January 2, 2003, at 13:15:50
In reply to Re: thyroid hormone, posted by Dave1 on January 2, 2003, at 12:48:34
Slightly better mood, not as exhausted.
Posted by Dave1 on January 2, 2003, at 15:55:59
In reply to Re: thyroid hormone, posted by Noa on January 2, 2003, at 13:15:50
Are you taking it alone or are you using it to augment an antidepressant???
Do think 50 mcg is a good dose for me???
Dave
Posted by Noa on January 2, 2003, at 17:44:32
In reply to Re: thyroid hormone, posted by Dave1 on January 2, 2003, at 15:55:59
Sorry, but I really have no idea whether that is a good dose for you. How would I be able to judge that? Ask your doctor how he/she arrived at that dosage decision.
My endocrinologist advised me 1)to split my cytomel dose and take 12 hours apart, 2)thyroid meds seem to absorb best on an empty stomach and 3)not to eat any soy products within 4 hours of taking my thyroid meds.
I am taking two thyroid meds in conjunction with other meds (Effexor, Serzone, Adderall).
Posted by syringachalet on January 2, 2003, at 18:00:33
In reply to thyroid hormone, posted by Dave1 on January 1, 2003, at 20:15:15
Hello Dave1,
I hope that your MD has shared with you that any thyriod replacment therapy (TRT) should be regulated by regular blood lab screening.
(specifically TSH and T-3) It is by these lab values that your MD can establish a theraputic baseline for your TRT.
It should be checked at least yearly if
not more often.Also he should have told you that any TRT is best absorbed on an EMPTY stomach.( The dose is so small that for it to be mixed with food and metabolized you only get a partially dose-effect. Half hour before a meal or two hours after..)
Just an FYI.. hope this helps...
syringachalet
Posted by Dave1 on January 2, 2003, at 20:44:23
In reply to Re: thyroid hormone, posted by syringachalet on January 2, 2003, at 18:00:33
Thanks for the input. Unfortunately my doctors are idiots. Alot of the stuff I take I research myself and then bug my doctors until they give it to me. No one ever told me about the empty stomach thing or the blood test.
Dave
Posted by gabbix2 on January 3, 2003, at 0:24:05
In reply to Re: thyroid hormone, posted by Dave1 on January 2, 2003, at 12:48:34
I was given cytomel to augment an anti-depressant
25 mcg increased to 50 mcgs within a week. It was done that way, because it can cause anxiety for a while, so its better to increase the dosage.
It took about 10 days for me to notice the positive effects, at first I was just very anxious.Its been 7 years now and its still a staple for me, I've also noticed it helps to minimize some of the side-effects of various medications.
Things like water retention, and lethargy.
I recently boosted mine to 75 mcg, w/o telling my Dr. I don't know if your system adjusts to it over time or not but I was starting to gain water weight again and feel sluggish and cold all the time. Its helped, without any negatives.
Surprisingly from the little research I've done on it there doesn't seem to be many negative side-effects from t3 even if you don't have HypoThyroidism. It hasn't been extensive research though.
Posted by IsoM on January 3, 2003, at 1:32:52
In reply to Re: thyroid hormone, posted by gabbix2 on January 3, 2003, at 0:24:05
Gabbi, your TSH level can change over the years. Your thyroid can become somewhat dependent on supplemental hormone & produce less. It would be a simple matter to have a bit of blood drawn & check your TSH level again. Most doctors will monitor a patient every year at least & for some, ever 6 months.
Too much thyroid hormone though, & it increases calcium loss from already formed bone tissue. It's one reason that doctors seem so reluctant to give a therapeutic amount to older female patients. They're worried about osteoporosis progressing in these women. A person's B vitamins requirement increases with an overactive thyroid, so the same would be true of a higher dose of T4 or T3. But as long as your B complex & calcium intake was good, there's little problem unless the amount of thyroid hormone is quite high.
I know I feel best when my TSH levels are around 1 oor even lower. I think I've always had a fast metabolism when young & feel sluggish otherwise.
Posted by Noa on January 3, 2003, at 1:58:22
In reply to Re: thyroid hormone » gabbix2, posted by IsoM on January 3, 2003, at 1:32:52
Another possible adverse effect from T3 is heart arrhythmias, from the up and down effects because it is relatively short acting (as opposed to T4, which is the more stable form of thyroid hormone, while T3 is the more active). That is why my endo told me to split the dose in two rather than taking the whole thing once a day.
If you are interested, try the Mary Shomon (author of "Living Well with Hypothyroidism")web site. She has a page where people recommend doctors. That is how I found my endocrinologist who is wonderful.
Other info is in the thyroid and depression folder at the Psychobabble yahoo site--see link at top of main psychobabble page.
Posted by syringachalet on January 3, 2003, at 11:35:12
In reply to Re: thyroid hormone, posted by Noa on January 3, 2003, at 1:58:22
Noa,
Both of these books sound great!!
I plan to add them to my work library.
Thanks.
syringachalet
Posted by Dave1 on January 3, 2003, at 13:53:22
In reply to Re: thyroid hormone, posted by gabbix2 on January 3, 2003, at 0:24:05
Hi Gabbi,
Thanks for the response.
What antidepressant are you augmenting. Right now I'm using EFFEXOR. If that doesn't work, I plan to try a TCA. Also, does everyone here have a thyroid problem. I don't think I do. I'm trying to gauge whether T3 will work if you don't have a thyroid problem.
Bye,
DAVE
Posted by gabbix2 on January 3, 2003, at 16:04:44
In reply to Re: thyroid hormone » gabbix2, posted by Dave1 on January 3, 2003, at 13:53:22
No I didn't have a thyroid problem, I was given the T3 simply to augment my prozac.
I didn't do well with effexor, so I can't guess how it will be with that, I do know though that
If people without thyroid problems are given t3's alone it can help lift depression. I'm sorry I don't have the link to that article when I find it I will post it.Really though, if the Effexor is okay for you, then the thyroid hormone will help augment it the same way it does for other antidepressents, because its not so much the chemistry of the two medications, but how the thyroid medication causes the body to use it (I think)
Sorry, I hate giving half-information,but because the cytomel worked so well for me I've studied it less than any other medication.
Remember though the thyroid medication can make you feel panicky for the first little while,
so start slowly, even if your doctor doesn't tell you that. Start with even a half a pill, see how it is and work up to the 50 mgs in a week or so.Anyway I think I should go find that link for you.
Good luck
This is the end of the thread.
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