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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Susan Jane on September 14, 1999, at 15:22:26
Hello, everyone!
I've been playing the medication "merry-go-round" since last December. Am now on a low dose of Lithium and a moderate dose of Nuerontin. I was fine for almost 2 weeks when the vertigo side-effect of the Nuerontin kicked in... Bleh! Having got off Depakote, my regular doctor tells me I'm hypothyroid. I've read that some pharmaphychiatrists do thyroid meds as part of their treatment. I hate the idea of treating a side-effect with another med. Anyway, I'm looking for good, preferably readable, information on thyroid problems, manic-depression, and Lithium, Depakote, and/or Nuerontin.Thanks! SusanJane :)
Posted by Bob on September 14, 1999, at 20:31:48
In reply to Thyroid problems via meds?, posted by Susan Jane on September 14, 1999, at 15:22:26
Did your GP check your thyroid levels from the start? If not, you could have it backwards -- the thyroid condition could have existed prior to your starting meds.
Cheers,
BOb
Posted by Susan Jane on September 15, 1999, at 12:47:42
In reply to Re: Thyroid problems via meds?, posted by Bob on September 14, 1999, at 20:31:48
> Did your GP check your thyroid levels from the start? If not, you could have it backwards -- the thyroid condition could have existed prior to your starting meds.
Yes. It was fine last December when all this started. I realize that there might be no connection, but would rather be properly informed then not.
SusanJane :)
Posted by anita on September 16, 1999, at 2:49:33
In reply to Re: Thyroid problems via meds?, posted by Susan Jane on September 15, 1999, at 12:47:44
> > Did your GP check your thyroid levels from the start? If not, you could have it backwards -- the thyroid condition could have existed prior to your starting meds.
>
> Yes. It was fine last December when all this started. I realize that there might be no connection, but would rather be properly informed then not.
>
> SusanJane :)Hi SusanJane,
Lithium can make one hypothyroid. Every doctor knows this. Happened to me. If this is the case, you could lower the thyriod dose, add thyriod augmentation like T4 and/or T3, or do nothing if you're only mildly low.
Adding the thyriod meds might not be too bad, considering they are purported to raise the effect of antidepressants.Occasionally, antidepressants alone may lower T4 a bit, but not usually significantly.
anita
Posted by Susan Jane on September 16, 1999, at 15:32:16
In reply to Re: Thyroid problems via meds?, posted by anita on September 16, 1999, at 2:49:33
> Lithium can make one hypothyroid. Every doctor knows this. Happened to me. If this is the case, you could ...add thyriod augmentation like T4 and/or T3....
What's T3 & T4? Are these different meds or different aspects of thyroid?
> Adding the thyriod meds might not be too bad, considering they are purported to raise the effect of antidepressants.> Occasionally, antidepressants alone may lower T4 a bit, but not usually significantly.
I'm totally afraid of antidepressants. They're pretty dicey with rapid cycling, and the one time I tried Prozac I went into a horrible mixed state.
I'm doing o.k. on a low dose of Lithium and a moderate dose of Neurontin (if this vertigo side-effect goes away like it should).
I guess my question now is, does hypothyroid go away when you stop taking Lithium? Or if you drop the dosage?SusanJane :)
SusanJane :)
Posted by anita on September 18, 1999, at 21:28:09
In reply to Re: Thyroid problems via meds?, posted by Susan Jane on September 16, 1999, at 15:32:16
Hi,
The hypothyroidism should go away once lithium is discontinued, if that was the cause, and sometimes when the dosage is just reduced. T4 is thyroxine (Synthroid), which is often used for
hypothyroidism. T3 is triliothyronine (sorry, forgot how to spell this!), also given for hypothyroidism (brand name Cytomel). T3 tends to feel activating. I don't know how these meds affect rapid
cycling, but maybe searching Dr. Bob's site will turn up something.Have you gone to an endocrinologist? That should help w/ pinpointing your thyroid problem. If lithium is working for you, I wouldn't be in a hurry to give it up, especially if you don't have any hypothyroid symptoms.
I had a friend who got hypothyroid on lithium, but didn't have any symptoms, so she decided to wait it out, and after a few months she wasn't clinically hypothyroid anymore. Just my 2 cents :-).anita
> > Lithium can make one hypothyroid. Every doctor knows this. Happened to me. If this is the case, you could ...add thyriod augmentation like T4 and/or T3....
>
> What's T3 & T4? Are these different meds or different aspects of thyroid?
>
>
> > Adding the thyriod meds might not be too bad, considering they are purported to raise the effect of antidepressants.
>
> > Occasionally, antidepressants alone may lower T4 a bit, but not usually significantly.
>
> I'm totally afraid of antidepressants. They're pretty dicey with rapid cycling, and the one time I tried Prozac I went into a horrible mixed state.
> I'm doing o.k. on a low dose of Lithium and a moderate dose of Neurontin (if this vertigo side-effect goes away like it should).
>
>
> I guess my question now is, does hypothyroid go away when you stop taking Lithium? Or if you drop the dosage?
>
> SusanJane :)
>
>
> SusanJane :)
Posted by Susan Jane on September 21, 1999, at 12:02:50
In reply to Re: Thyroid problems via meds?, posted by anita on September 18, 1999, at 21:28:09
> Hi,
>
> The hypothyroidism should go away once lithium is discontinued, if that was the cause, and sometimes when the dosage is just reduced. T4 is thyroxine (Synthroid), which is often used for
> hypothyroidism. T3 is triliothyronine (sorry, forgot how to spell this!), also given for hypothyroidism (brand name Cytomel). T3 tends to feel activating. I don't know how these meds affect rapid
> cycling, but maybe searching Dr. Bob's site will turn up something.
>
> Have you gone to an endocrinologist? That should help w/ pinpointing your thyroid problem. If lithium is working for you, I wouldn't be in a hurry to give it up, especially if you don't have any hypothyroid symptoms.
> I had a friend who got hypothyroid on lithium, but didn't have any symptoms, so she decided to wait it out, and after a few months she wasn't clinically hypothyroid anymore. Just my 2 cents :-).
>
> anitaThanks for the info. My psychiatrist and I decided to start the Synthroid. She says I'll know one way or another in a week or so. I do have symptoms that could be hypothyroid, the blood test numbers certainly say I am. At the same time they could be due to the Neurontin.
My regular doctor did suggest an endocrinologist. I'll have to call and find out if he/she has worked with manic-depression before. I also have talked with a specialist in rapid cycling and my psychiatrist did suggest that I call him. I guess it's time, since a phone call is cheaper then an appointment.
Thanks again.
SusanJane :)
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