Cytomel for depression
Common Questions and Answers about Cytomel for depression
cytomel
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 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.
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.
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!!!
Even though cytomel is a fast acting med, it still takes time for your levels to even out. I was on it for several months before my labs caught up. In addition, when on more than 5 mcg cytomel/day, it's best to split it into multiple doses (some people even split 5 mcg, but I found that 2.5 mcg/dose did nothing for me). Just make sure you space it throughout the day to stay steady and take the last dose early enough in the day/evening for it to be worn off by bedtime.
I have slowly tapered off of Zoloft, and have been depression med free and depression free for a few weeks now.
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.. one other thing - the cytomel was added to increase the effectiveness of antidepressents.
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?
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 T3 in Cytomel has a half-life of less than a day, so it only takes 4-5 days to see the full effect on serum levels. Symptoms are another matter. Changes in symptoms tends to lag somewhat the changes in serum thyroid levels. So, be a bit patient and give it some time and see how the new dosages work for you, before considering further increase.
Without looking back through prior posts, have you any test results for Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin?
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).
I began to feel really awful. Totally exhausted, achy, and puffy. I tried some cytomel for a couple of days to see if there was a difference and I felt so much better. My doc wants me to raise my levo dosage now, so I will have more T4 in my system. But I seem to be having difficulties with T4, so I am really worried about doing this. I don't think I can function this way for too much longer.
Ask for the cytomel in 5 mcg tabs - then you can split the dosage much easier.......Mine are 5 mcg, which worked out perfectly when I was on 10 mcg/day - I could take one first thing in the morning, then another later in the morning, without having to split pills. Now that I'm down to 5 mcg/day, I still don't have to split the pills - they just last twice as long.........
To get the 12.5, you will have to go with 1.5 pill twice/day, unless you can get it dropped to just 10 mcg/day.....
Depression is a known symptom of low thyroid. Is it the only cause for depression? certainly not.
But it is AWEFULLY coincidental that when you have half of your thyroid removed and you then become depressed that it would seem at least possible that the depression could be related to insufficient thyroid.
T4 only does not work for everybody. But it is also possible that you simply were under medicated with the T4 only dosage.
I should add that I am currently not on an antidepressant. I have a Xanax (PRN - which I actually went two weeks without a panic attack...) and Requip for restless leg (I've been on that for over six months - the Cytomel only two months).
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