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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Phillipa on August 29, 2011, at 11:23:27
No study here. I have an old high school friend caught up with on Facebook husband a pdoc in Florida. She and I have been writing and he says that synthroid can cause anxiety and to have thyroid rechecked. I've never heard this before and tried a lot of google searches. Anyone ever hear of this before as always told the opposite it doesn't seem to fit? Tried multiple googles. She also said an article yesterday in Sun from Florida has an article on treating subclinical thyroid. Anyone please as could be missing link so to speak. Phillipa
Posted by Lepus on August 29, 2011, at 11:29:21
In reply to Synthroid Causes Depression/Anxiety????, posted by Phillipa on August 29, 2011, at 11:23:27
Do you mean the actual drug causing the anxiety or thyroid levels that are off? Hypo or hyperthyroidism can definitely cause anxiety and depression but I don't know about the medication. Also, there is Hashimoto's where your thyroid levels fluctuate.
I feel anyone having issues with anxiety and depression needs to have their thyroid checked first.
Posted by Phillipa on August 29, 2011, at 12:41:48
In reply to Re: Synthroid Causes Depression/Anxiety????, posted by Lepus on August 29, 2011, at 11:29:21
Lepus as bizarre as it sounds I mean the actual med and that this pdoc said some are not needing the synthroid as they are subclinical. Does this mean he's not up to par or knows something we don't know? That's why so confused. It just doesn't make sense? All the googles and can't find anything that insinuates this. Thanks for reading. Phillipa
Posted by Lepus on August 29, 2011, at 13:25:32
In reply to Re: Synthroid Causes Depression/Anxiety???? » Lepus, posted by Phillipa on August 29, 2011, at 12:41:48
Hmm. I have no idea obviously. I found this article on subclinical thyroidism: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1880829/
It doesn't say much. However, if you feel this could really be the missing link then perhaps try to get some more concrete information from this psychiatrist (if possible) and see an endocrinologist. It certainly is worth investigation.
Posted by 10derheart on August 29, 2011, at 13:48:41
In reply to Synthroid Causes Depression/Anxiety????, posted by Phillipa on August 29, 2011, at 11:23:27
well, a known side effect of levothyroxine is "nervousness." I think you'd find that listed on any reputable drug website. This is anxiety, really. Which I suppose, since this is a synthetic hormone, is much (or exactly?) the same as if your own hormones are 'off' (as in hyperthyroidism, often accompanied by anxiety)
I used to do medical transcription for an endocrinologist for about 6 months. I remember he often lowered pts Synthroid dose if they reported any significant inner restlessness, anxiety, nervousness...whatever, that he/they felt probably correlated with the medication.
my 2 cents :-)
Posted by Phillipa on August 29, 2011, at 13:51:53
In reply to Re: Synthroid Causes Depression/Anxiety????, posted by Lepus on August 29, 2011, at 13:25:32
When I was diagnosed my TSH was l8. Small dose of synthroid felt much better. Less anxiety. I see an endocrinologist who has my TSH now in the l-1.5 range. I have postive TPo antibodies. But as I age I wonder since ANA now normal if it could have gone away? But diagnosis with hasimotos was confirmed by three docs two endos? But do have osteoporosis. Uggg what a mess. Phillipa
Posted by 10derheart on August 29, 2011, at 13:52:47
In reply to Re: Synthroid Causes Depression/Anxiety???? » Phillipa, posted by 10derheart on August 29, 2011, at 13:48:41
In other words, if you are overdosed with Synthroid, it's going to effect the CNS as well as result in other symptoms of **hyper**thyroidism, naturally. Probably some peope are super-sensitive to the tiniest changes is dosage? Which must make it really hard to arrive at the "perfect" dose.
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on August 29, 2011, at 18:44:09
In reply to Synthroid Causes Depression/Anxiety????, posted by Phillipa on August 29, 2011, at 11:23:27
Too much synthroid can definatly cause anxiety - the idea is to get the level to what your body would naturaly produce... if you're anxous, have tremors, or are losing weight, it might be worth trying a lower dose.
Synthroid is very long acting (half life measured in weeks) so it would take quite a while to notice the effect of any dose change.
Posted by Phillipa on August 29, 2011, at 19:41:18
In reply to Re: Synthroid Causes Depression/Anxiety????, posted by jono_in_adelaide on August 29, 2011, at 18:44:09
I most definitely agree with both l0der and Jono. I've wondered since the endos are into numbers being correct and not how the patient feels if having a higher TSH might be better as felt better years ago when TSH wasn't in normal range for endos which has lowered to 1-2 when used to be higher. I wonder what would happen if went back to original dose as once was on a higher dose and was lowered here? They say endos should go by how the patient feels. Seems mine doesn't. Never had a goiter or any of that stuff. Or the weight gain. And two neurologists tested my lower extremitie reflexes years ago and recently and said strange as they are hyper as almost kicked the docs in the face. Anyone know of a good resourse other than Mary Shoman? Thanks Phillipa
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on August 29, 2011, at 19:52:04
In reply to Re: Synthroid Causes Depression/Anxiety????, posted by Phillipa on August 29, 2011, at 19:41:18
I'd mention this to your doc, and ask if you can drop the dose back a bit, and keep a watchin brief on it for 3 months....... if you feel better at the end of three months, keep the dose where it is and keep watching for weight gain and tiredness etc, the symptoms of lack of thyroid.
Posted by Phillipa on August 29, 2011, at 21:21:44
In reply to Re: Synthroid Causes Depression/Anxiety????, posted by jono_in_adelaide on August 29, 2011, at 19:52:04
Jono this is rather crazy as the endo always says if problems with it go to a pdoc they don't listen been complaining for years now. Ugggg. Love Phillipa
Posted by alchemy on August 31, 2011, at 21:14:36
In reply to Synthroid Causes Depression/Anxiety????, posted by Phillipa on August 29, 2011, at 11:23:27
I have been on Synthroid for a couple years as an add-on to other meds. My thyroid is in range, but at the low end. I don't really know if it was helping.
I went to a naturopath who gave me Armour - which has T3 as well as T4. She has had great success with treating bipolar. It wasn't helping, so I increased the dose. I wasn't feeling any of the rapid heart beat, anxiety, hyperactivity, etc. I was just feeling more depressed.
She had never heard of anyone having that reaction. I also could not find anything on the web.
I DON'T GET IT! I have the rapid-cycling bipolar II type of depression that is one of the most treatment resistent. It is also one of the types that is very successfully treated with thyroid meds. It makes me feel like the odds are even more against me.
Posted by Phillipa on August 31, 2011, at 21:48:40
In reply to Re: Armour increased my depression - WHY?, posted by alchemy on August 31, 2011, at 21:14:36
I didn't know bipolar was treated with thyroid meds might go to Mary Shoman's page on thyroid the expert and sign up for her weekly newsletter and also look and see if you can find anything on it? Phillipa
This is the end of the thread.
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