Depression and levothroid

[magentagirl]

I have recently been diagnosed with hypothyroidism and taking Levothroid 50mcg. the drug makes me very depressed, irritable, and hysterical feeling. I know others have had this problem but I am wondering how people got relief? I don't want to take antidepressants to counteract the side effects of another drug. Did anyone find that switching drugs was helpful? My doctor says there are no other medecines. I know this is not true and they are even in the Kaiser formulary.

[terri thyroid]

I had to go to Osteopath not covered by my insurance to get natural thyroid like Armour or Westhroid - my Levoxyl is pre scored so it can be split for taking only half or if you want to take half in the morning and half later - mine doesnt crumble and I just split by hand - they are made this way for that purpose - most docs will tell you it takes 4 months at least to get balanced on a certain dose and so on - I've gone that route but now know that I can tell pretty quickly if I don't feel well so now I just watch how I feel and manage much better that way - good luck to you

[magentagirl]

I took it for a week at half the dose and then took the full dose the doc had recommended for three days when i started to feel horrible. That is helpful to know that it may take awhile to get used to it. The doctor didn't mention that. In fact, he had his office worker (not even a nurse) call me to say that I could switch to Syntroid. Now I am thinking I should stay on the Levothyroid for a month or so (on the reduced amount) and then get tested. I don't particularly want to make these decsions myself, but it is hard when the doc obviously has no interest. I am dealing with Southern California Kaiser. I wonder if anyone has found a good, listening thyroid knowledgable doctor within the system? My doctor told me there are only 2 meds for hypothyroid and they are the same (Synthroid and Levothyroid). With a little research I found that to not be true and found that Kaiser does offer Armour Thyroid on its formulary. I am not confident this doc would consider it.

[magentagirl]

Thanks for your support. I am trying to cut the pills as small as possible too. The little boogers are very crumbly. i am amping up the exercise.

[pjgovitz]

How  long have you been taking it? Sometimes it takes a few weeks for our bodies to adjust to it. I don't see why your dr would not allow you to change brands to see if you feel better on another, that doesn't make sense. He may just want you to wait the  6 to 8 weeks to see what happens with your TSH. My Dr prefers synthroid brand and makes no bones about it, but he has given me the option of others because my insurance won't pay for it.

[terri thyroid]

I absolutely get bad reaction from all repeat all thyroid meds for hypo and I've tried them all and in every dose, schedule etc - I get relief by taking it as little as I can - I've been on Levoxyl the longest but may go back to Armour or Westhroid if I can get it here - we are all different - I run, rollerblade, swim, lift weights etc - I do everything I can to take as little as possible and it keeps my mood much better - we are all different so if you feel yucky on meds don't let anyone tell you you're crazy - thank you for confirming what I too have felt for past 6 years on meds - I'm active and eat very healthy so I'm no couch potato sitting around whining -

[GravesLady]

I personally find this not to be true and I am 11 years with levoxyl.

Antidepressants are not suggested forever, just until we get over the rough spots of thyroid, evidently you are not.  Sometimes there is a delayed reaction to symptoms where we might think its the meds when its actually the disease. Just a thought.

You might contemplate in taking a different brand, they are not all alike in their ingredients.

[magentagirl]

Thank you for responding, but I don't agree. i have been Hypo thyroid for at least three years, now that I look back at the test results and it was untreated. I used to be on antidepressants and went off them about 6 months ago to good result. Through exercise and change of life styles i was able to feel okay. But as soon as i started on the Levothroid-well within 4 days I became very depressed, panicky and easily angered. Seems worse then the disease, frankly. I'm just wondering if  people found this to be true and then found an alternative. I am pursuing it with the doc.

[GravesLady]

Yes there are other brands of meds.  

However I rather tend to think its your hypo condition rather than the meds., in which case antidepressants would help.  But if you don't want to take antidepressants and doctor doesn't want you on another brand (I'm sure he has his legit reasons) nothing you can do but live with it.