Hashimotos and mood disorders?

[limez]

I'm on 2 different meds right now, 0.1mg levothyroxine for my thyroid (TSH was finally normal on my last blood draw) and 36mg concerta, which I take for problems concentrating on everyday things (if you don't know, it's a stimulant to help ADHD symptoms). Recently, though, I learned that Hashimoto's (on top of all the other wondrous things it does) has been linked to psychological as well as physical problems, like borderline personality and depression.

Well ain't that the damndest thing, I just so happen to be borderline too!! Small world, huh?? =p

Well anyways, I was wondering if anyone would think that in light of this it would be better to stop taking the concerta, since all the problems with concentration may very well just be a product of moodiness brought on by Hashimoto's. It was about the same time I started taking concerta that my TSH levels got down to normal, so my focus improving may have just been the levothyroxine at work, and concerta is actually doing nothing.

I'm asking this, because anybody who's ever been on an ADHD med before knows that the both the withdrawls from stopping dosage, and the side effects from reintroducing it afterwards, are particularly nasty...like, suicidal depression nasty =/ so I'm wary of stopping until I'm fairly certain I won't need to touch concerta ever again. Thanks for helping!

[EmpatheticJenny]

Utahmomma and Thyroid Man are on-target: There are big correlations between hypothyroidism and depression, concentration, and so forth. Thyroid Man put it very well when he said that the thyroid has a huge effect on the mind.

Borderline personality, though...? Did you read that somewhere, and if so, where?

[utahmomma]

My daughter was diagnosed as bipolar (fast cycling manic) and ADHD.  Her symptoms have nearly disappeared following a TT three years ago for precancerous nodules.  She also had hashi's.

My sister was also diagnosed as bipolar (major depressive) and her symptoms, while not completely gone, are much better following TT for thyroid cancer.  She is Hashi's too.

However depression has been much worse following TT for me and the other three of my sisters. (all three of them have Hashi's - I do not)

I'm no medical expert but from personal experience, OH YEAH - BIG CORRELATION.

[thyroid man]

yes, low thyroid can cause problems with concentration.
i had a hard time remembering what i read and even following a tv show before i finally went to the doc. now since on thyroxine my concentration is a lot better and u should talk with your doc about getting off the other drugs and see how u feel. also the symptoms of hypo throidism slowly go away once u are on the right dose. so your concentration would slowly get better if it was because of your thyroid. the thyroid has a huge effect on the mind.