Hypo and Effexor

[ando35]

Ok, so I am hypothyroid with hashimoto's, I tested positive for antibodies which harm the thyroid.

I am currently on Effexor and I noticed that a rare side-effect is hypo and hyper thyroidism.

So is it possible that effexor is what cause my hypothyroidism? Or does the fact that I have hashimoto's rule out the possibility that it is the effexor?

Or could the effexor cause the hashimoto's?

[gimel]

If you had Graves', I would expect that your TSH was low, not your thyroid hormones, Free T4 and Free T3.  Is that correct?  Fatigue/low energy is typical of hypothyroidism, not Graves'/hyperthyroidism.  Please post your last couple of sets of thyroid related test results and reference ranges shown on the lab report, especially those you said were normal, and let's see how you are doing now.  

[Westie93]

I started Effexor xr in 2003. Anxiety and depression. Worked great. Then in 2005 was diagnosed with Graves' disease. I thought I was pregnant I had no energy and was sluggish. My thyroid levels were extremely low. It's now 2016 and I'm still on my Effexor 150. I've been off them tho for almost 14 days. The withdrawal is terrible. I am vomiting and having brain zaps and also have become Dr Jekyll and mr Hyde. Crying, angry, excited. My thyroid was normal until this past year again and i had re started the Effexor after my son was born in August 2011. I always wondered if the Effexor and graves was related. Now I'm sure.

[Barb135]

Right - your body is what produces the antibodies because, for some reason it sees the thyroid as foreign and thinks it must be destroyed.  

[ando35]

I am asking because i am upping my levo dosage to bring down my tsh as I am coming off the effexor. And if the effexor is causing the high tsh then coming off the effexor will lower it at the same time. So it is like a catch-22.

[ando35]

I agree. It seems that Effexor would just slow down the thyroid not cause antibodies.

[Barb135]

I'd have to research the effects of Effexor, but in my opinion, the fact that you have Hashimoto's would rule out the possibility of Effexor being the cause of your hypothyroidism.

Hashimoto's is often present long before we know it, or have any effects from it.  It can take many years for the antibodies to do enough damage for us to become ill and seek treatment.