Cytomel depression
Common Questions and Answers about Cytomel depression
cytomel
I have been taking 75mg of Cytomel for 4 weeks now to help with my depression, I do not have a thyroid problem. I am alslo taking 300mg of Welbutron and 75 of Effexor. How do I know if it is working? I sweat allot, I and I am not losing any weight (doctor told me I would)
Can anybody answer my question.
My question is whether having a very low free T4 is harmful when taking Cytomel? About a year ago I was started on Cytomel by my psychiatrist as an adjunct for resistant depression. I had my TSH tested in the past to screen for thryoid problems, but they had always been "normal" (lab range 0.27-4.20 mIU/mL, results = 2.61 in 2010 and 2.87 in 2013).
The Cytomel worked really well for my depression and my energy increased.
I am current taking 25mcg Cytomel daily in attempt to help with my depression, I had blood taken from my OBGYN this week b/c I was complaining of constant hot flashes and sweating so she wanted to check my hormone levels...my T4 free was 0.32, she has referred me to an endocrinologist. I tried telling her med tech that I was on Cytomel and asked if that would be why it was low but I was just told to see the specialist. I placed a call to my psychiatrist to ask him and still have not heard back.
My psychiatrist suggested that Cytomel may help some with depression and also with the tiredness and sleepiness I have had for years.I went to internet and read about hypothyroidism and how it often is undiagnosed due to normal blood test. Well I was uneasy about the Cytomel at first but when i saw how many of the symptoms of hypothyroidism I have I wondered if that isn't my problem. I have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia also and wondered if that has anything to do with the thyroid.
I never had a problem with cytomel, it did help me with my depression. I am on the max of synthroid and for the past 13 mo, I have endured 19 surgeries and 5 life threatening infections. My thyroid levels are so bad and I have had so many horrible symptoms. I will tell you that I purchased 2 books that were so helpful, the Thyroid Solution and Thyroid and Depression, both books are fantastic. I also got Thyroid for Dummies, another good resource book.
Can I come off cytomel cold turnkey without side effects? My primary doctor put me on cytomel for chronic fatique/depression. He started me on 25mcg. I felt better so he increased to 50mcg. I said to him at my last appt that it didn't seem to be working and he said we'd go to 75mcg. He said "we can go to 100mcg and then we'll check your thyroid sometime".
//www.drmirkin.com/morehealth/G171.htm
http://thyroid.about.com/cs/thyroiddrugs/l/blt3depression.htm
When I can find my other (GREAT one)---I'll post it too!!!
I just got my most recent labwork back:
TSH = 0.06
Free T3 = 284 (Normal Range 240 - 420)
Free T4 = 1.3 (Normal Range .8 - 1.8)
I currently take 100mcg of Synthroid and 10mcg of Cytomel per day (that was upped from 50mcg of Synthroid & 10mcg of Cytomel 3 months ago). Still have major hypo symptoms of depression/anxiety which have been consistently the same even on old dosage. I understand that Free T3 needs to be in the upper 1/3 of range in order to get rid of depression/anxiety.
After that I was put on 50 mcg Synthroid for a year and that was when I started having severe depression. I have been on 150 mg zoloft for close to a year now. My psychiatrist basically said that my depression has nothing to do with my hormones or lack of it. I decided to dose myself recently with 112 mcg Synthroid and after about 3 weeks into it my brain fog cleared and my depression is 90% better.
2 mg levothroxine but recently my doc. added 25 mcg of cytomel. My T3 levels went extremely high and TSH less then 0.5. I have been extemely ill - headaches, chills, sweats, light head, dizzy, naseau, anxiety. My doc has stopped the cytomel. My questions are:
1. How long does it take for the thryoid levels to return back to where they were. And how long do these symptoms last.
2. Was 25 mcg of cytomel a normal amount to add to 0.2 mg of levothroxine..
She has had me taking various levels of Synthroid and one Cytomel tablet daily for the two years I have been seeing me. She requests that I get my TSH tested nearly every 5 weeks and nearly every time the dosage needs to be adjusted. My sister and my dad both have hypothyroidism also, but they only have the levels checked about once a year. My question is: Does it seem normal that my thyroid meds should need to be adjusted constantly?
s for a couple years and am on 75mcg levothyroxine and 10mcg Cytomel. The Cytomel seems to help with depression and irritability. I am frustrated with this disease for many reasons but the most troublesome is the lack of sexual desire. My endo has said it's a symptom and I have read it is on many sites but I don't see much talk about it in forums. Is anyone else experiencing this and what have you done to improve it? My husband is understanding but frustrated (as am I).
Of course the depression can be due to other causes, but personally I would not give up on your hypothyroidism being a contributor until you have been adequately medicated to get your FT3 into the upper third of the range and your FT4 to around the midpoint of its range, or as necessary to relieve your hypo symptoms. If that still leaves you with depression then that can be addressed as a separate issue.
The Endo only went by the test and not how I feel.
Here is a current one in July 2013
88 mcg synthriod with no cytomel
FT4 1.79 range 0.82-1.77
TSH 0.131
I still feel brain fog, lack of emotion, angry, aggressive. I figure it was too high.
Now I just started on 88mcg once every 6 days and 75mcg on other days. 5 cytomel. Only been a week so far. also on Antidepressant.
Hope I am on the right track.
Lupo
I have been on 15 mcg for about 6 years due to slightly low thyroid function and depression. Overall the meds have worked well, but I tend to get sweaty sometimes. I have been seeing a new doctor and have discovered that I have hashimoto's thyroiditis (high thyroglobulin antibodies). My T4 is low and my T3 is borderline low. My doc has switched me to a combination of levo. and armour instead of the cytomel.
New labs. Could anyone offer any insight? Still having symptoms of fatigue, depression and anxiety. TSH 2.19 (.2 - 4.2) Free T3 2.7(2.1 - 4.2) Free T4 1.4 (.8 - 1.8) Endo wants TSH suppression for thyroid cancer. On Synthroid 112 mcg daily and 6.25 mcg of cytomel twice daily.
like I mean it was so close to starting when I went in for my checkup there was blood in my urine, I am more tired now than ever before, notice more hair loss, depression seems worse, and have gained about 7 pounds. When I went in today for my results I was told my thyroid showed NO change....so he took one the next baby step and upped my synthroid to .75. Here is where the "crazy" part comes.... I have a friend who started cytomel and saw almost immediate results....
Had you been diagnosed with a thyroid issue prior to being placed on the cytomel; or did your psych give it to you simply because of the depression issue?
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