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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by jay on December 4, 2003, at 19:13:08
I just wanted to know how many of us folks with mental illness use things like Thyroid meds, and even a med like Glucophage to help with both depression and weight gain. Any great stories, I'd love to see.Thanks,
Jay
Posted by metalflipflop on December 4, 2003, at 22:30:34
In reply to Question please :-), , posted by jay on December 4, 2003, at 19:13:08
hi jay,
my doc added cytomel (T3) to my zoloft to augment it and combat the sluggishness i was still feeling. this type of thyroid med has proven efficacy in augmenting antidepressants, and there are virtually no side effects!
i take 12.5 mcg (half the usual adult dose) b/c i'm small, relatively young, and don't have hypothyroidism. it seems to have boosted my metabolism a bit--i can't keep weight on, much less gain any, which is what i'm trying to do after killer depression leaving me with no appetite for months. i have to say i love the mood boost though--i'd recommend this drug. =)
liz
Posted by T_R_D on December 5, 2003, at 12:05:05
In reply to Question please :-), , posted by jay on December 4, 2003, at 19:13:08
I was taking Cytomel for quoite a while as an augmentation to Effexor. When I went off the Effex. the Cytomel was cancelled too. As a result (I believe) I have gained weight that I just can't lose. My pharmacist also thinks that taking the Cytomel may have had something to do with me developing a very bizarre intolerance to Effexor after I went back on the drug several months later. I was at 375mg per day and then at a starting dose of 75mg per day the side effects were nuts...nightmares, seizures...all the really "rare" ones.
My Thyropid tests have all come back "normal" but I still wonder if it hasn't been impaired somehow. Someone was posting on this board a while ago (can't remember their ID) about how this can happen.
This is just my story, however...and an "unconfirmed" one at that. Others may not have the problems that I seem to have suffered.
Posted by loni on December 5, 2003, at 22:35:25
In reply to Re: Question please :-), , posted by T_R_D on December 5, 2003, at 12:05:05
I've been on Cytomel since my Prozac days as an augment...it has helped a lot. I've stayed on it through Prozac, Effexor, Wellbutrin and now Parnate. I feel very lucky in that my Primary Care doc, Psych Med Doc, and OB/GYN all communicate via email when I present with something complicated (and copy me in). The general consensus seems to be that, although I test just within the "normal" range on thyroid tests, the results may not be normal for me, personally. Those ranges are for a very average segment of the tested population, not the outlyers, of which we're all betting I am one.
Anyway. No harm has been done being on for me.
Posted by gardenergirl on December 6, 2003, at 11:54:04
In reply to Re: Question please :-), , posted by loni on December 5, 2003, at 22:35:25
The general consensus seems to be that, although I test just within the "normal" range on thyroid tests, the results may not be normal for me, personally. Those ranges are for a very average segment of the tested population, not the outlyers, of which we're all betting I am one.
>
> Anyway. No harm has been done being on for me.I also test just at the lowest end of the "normal" range for thyroid. I am on Nardil and a tiny dose of Synthroid. The Synthroid is because some research has found that a low dose for those of us "low normals" can help with conception.
Also no problems with the two.
This is the end of the thread.
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