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Q: Concerned about Lithium & TSH Level
dx. depression1992, bipolar 2, 1998. on lithium for 11/2 yrs. i am
very
sensitive to medications, and have been tried on quite a few. I have had
thyroid
studies for years and all normal until Lithium. My TSH was 110, so synthroid
increased to 50 mg. tsh level 6 weeks later 80. bumped up to 100mcg.
synthroid,
which I could not tolerate. Went back to 50mcg. and now titrated up to 75.
I am
feeling very irritable. My doc said if tsh does not come down, will have
to see an endocronoligist. This concerns me as is Lithium induced
hypothroidism.
I question
going, or changing meds. I am still not "stable" but functioning. I
will discuss
this seeing a specialist when I see Dr. Warren june 13, however I would
appreciate
your input into this so i can make a more informed decision. I am a
Registered
Nurse(not worked since march though) and able to understand medical language.
Thank
you.
p.s. sorry I rambled on, is 3.10am and not sleepy despite my meds.
Dear Debi --
With apologies for the shortness of my reply, as I just lost about an hour of
work and got that nice little message from Microsoft: "sorry for any
inconvenience"...
Ask your doc' about trying T3/T4 in combination, as
described somewhat on my site under
Thyroid
and Bipolar. Otherwise it looks like you'd be junking lithium, and
there might be something worth saving there.
Dr. Phelps
Published July, 2003
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