Synthroid & Lexapro & Xanax ER

[halojd]

I had a total thyroidectomy in October 2008 for papillary thyroid cancer.   For the most part everything went pretty well  -  in April 2010 while being on 137 MCG of Synthyroid and experience a personal crisis I suffered from the worst depression and anxiety in my life.   My PCP checked by thyroid levels and said my TSH was a little high and suggested the does be lowered.   I said I would speak to my endocrinologist and let him decide.   He said that the TSH would not cause the anxiety I was experiencing but he did lower the dosage to 112mg.   The anxiety and depression continue and worsened, Wellbutrin, Zoloft and Xanax only worked for short periods of time.   I recently saw a psychiatrist who has put me on Lexapro and Xanax ER.   Does anyone have any information they could share with me about this.   I searched the web but came up with litte.  I researched Lexapro and what I saw concerns me.   Also I have lost 30 lbs since mid April which I attribute to Zoloft and Xanax.    

[dalimar]

Hi, I'm new here. I was reading your health condition and they are all similar to mine. I been diagnostic with low  thyroid for the past 10 years, on and off I been taking levothyroxine 112 mg a day and My regular doctor has never pay any attention to my complains of not feeling good. So I decided to get checked by other doctor.  On May I had something really bad inside of my head I thought that I was loosing my mind, I was so depressed and had stared to experience anxiety attacks,severe head aches,loosing weight and no appetite what so ever. 2 weeks ago my new doctor lowered my med to a 100, and today I can say that I'm coming back to life. I also tried several antidepressants and none worked for me. I would just give time to the medication to start working. I hope you feel better.Dalimar      

[dalimar]

Hi, I'm new here. I was reading your health condition and they are all similar to mine. I been diagnostic with low  thyroid for the past 10 years, on and off I been taking levothyroxine 112 mg a day and My regular doctor has never pay any attention to my complains of not feeling good. So I decided to get checked by other doctor.  On May I had something really bad inside of my head I thought that I was loosing my mind, I was so depressed and had stared to experience anxiety attacks,severe head aches,loosing weight and no appetite what so ever. 2 weeks ago my new doctor lowered my med to a 100, and today I can say that I'm coming back to life. I also tried several antidepressants and none worked for me. I would just give time to the medication to start working. I hope you feel better.Dalimar      

[halojd]

Thanks Smilerdeb.   I felt great and the anxiety started after a personal crisis but my PCP was wise enough to check the Thyroid levels.   My Synthroid was lowered from 137 to 112 on May 10th.  My endo said my levels were not high enough to cause the anxiety I was experiencing.   I was put on Wellburtirn (stopped working), Zoloft (stopped working) and for the last two days Lexapro.   I have had no appetitie since starting the antidepresants.   I was eating normally and my level of activity was normal prior to and when the anxiety started (around April 27).   Two weeks later on May 10 was when my thryoid blood work was done showing I was hyper.  I was started on the antidepressants on April 27 and here it is June 10 and I've lost 32 pounds.  I still have no appetitie.  

[Smilerdeb]

You are drug induced HYPER.
The Lexapro and xanax would NOT make you lose the weight....most probably the TSH being low would do that and being HYPER.
The anxiety comes from HYPER or HYPO in most cases.
Anxiety is part of the package when levels are 'out of whack' so to speak.
It should start to ease with the decrease of meds.

Anytime you feel anxiety bad....you will now know yr levels are 'out'.
Log down yr symptoms, doseages and labs in a notebook and then you can look back on these from time to time and see things happening BEFORE they get bad,

I am 2 years post RAI and I STILL keep a journal.
I found it to be invaluable.

[halojd]

meant to say my T4 was 2.2 (H)

[halojd]

THS reference range is (0.50-5.20)        mine was <0.03 (L)
T4 is (0.8-1.8)                                      mine was 2.2 (L)
T3 is (2.3-4.2)                                      mine was 3.5

[magpieannie]

Can you please post the lab reference ranges for freet3 and freet4?

[halojd]

Hi maglieannie,

I got the results and I was mistaken about TSH being high.   They are:  TSH <0.03 (L),
Free4 2.2(H), Free3 3.5.   Can you tell me if this would cause the depression and anxiety?   When these labs were drawn on May 10 I was on 137mcg of synthroid.   I am now on 112 mcg of synthroid and I stand 5'6" and weigh 169 lbs.   Any information you can give would be so appreciated.

[halojd]

I'm going to get the lab results this morning and post.   Will you help me figure this out as I am at my wits end.   Back soon with the results and thank you.

[magpieannie]

Well, if your TSH was high then your Synthroid should have been increased not decreased-thus the reason that the depression (a symptom of hypothyroidism) to continue on and even get worse. All these other meds. are not fixing a thing and can make things worse when the real issue is depression from being left hypothyroid. Do you have your latest labs with reference ranges and date taken so that we can comment on how your Freet3, and Freet4 and TSH look. Please post them and we will give our honest opinion.