What Causes Depression While On Thyroid Medications?

Posted on Mon, 29 Dec 2014

Question: I am hypothyroid and I've responded badly to three thyroid medications. I'm sixty one and female. I've gained weight and I really need to get my hormones in balance. The problem is I get horrible bouts of depression with all three medications, some of which I tried more than once. You can understand I'm hestitant to try again but I need to. I eat a healthy diet, no simple carbs or sweet and low fat- lots of good nutritious veggies and legumes- no meat or dairy. I have a generally happy and productive life and a good spouse- so I am not usually depressed although I have depressive tendencies that run in my family and I certainly can be depressed if there's a reason. Do any of your doctors have experience with people who reacted badly to thyroid medication? What can I do? I am open to holistic suggestions also, but I would love to be able to take a medication so I could start a weight loss program. I've already consulted my GO and Gynecologist.

Please help.
Thanks

Answered by Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Last Thyroid blood test reports

Detailed Answer:
Good day,
Noted your concern. Sorry to hear about your symptoms. Depression can be endogenous or part of hypothyroidism itself. May I know your last thyroid blood test reports whilst on thyroid medications? . That, would help me to assess your symptoms better. I would appreciate if you could attach a recent thyroid blood report if you have any.
Regards
Binu

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (14 hours later)

I've had my blood tested regularly and thyroid is always low. I get depressed when I take medication for thyroid. My last blood test was a few weeks ago. I saw my doctor yeasterday and she said I needed to keep trying to find a medication that worked in order to address my other symptoms like weigh gain on a healthy diet. She said my thyroid had gotten a little bit lower sine my last test. I don't have the levels.
She prescribed a pure T3 medication for me at a very low dose because this is the only kind I haven't tried yet.

TSH 7.95

Answered by Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (11 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Few suggestions

Detailed Answer:
Okay. Got it.
I agree that people can respond in different ways to medicines. Synthroid is a medicine which e prescribe commonly for thyroid. It get converted to T3 in body.
Where as, Cytomel is a T3 preperation.
Armour thyroid is a natural thyroid ( animal extract) which is a mixture of T3 and T4, but is not preferred by many doctors.
Since you have been started on T3, we shall wait atleast 2 to 3 weeks to see the difference.
Your TSH of 7.9 is not that bad for the age.I presume your T4 levels are normal. This is called subclinical hypothyroidism. Not everyone with this condition need treatment if the T4 levels are normal. I typically treat subclinical hypothyroidism if there is infertility, abnormal cholseterol profile, a thyroid swelling or if TSH more than 10. You may only need a very small dose.

Try to reduuce cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, radish, and limit your intake of green tea. These contains chemcals which prevent idoine uptake by your thyroid. This may improve your natural thyroid hormone production.

By the way, have you ever had a thyrioid antibody test done ( anti TPO) ?

Note: For more information on hormonal imbalance symptoms or unmanaged diabetes with other comorbid conditions, get back to us & Consult with an Endocrinologist. Click here to book an appointment.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar