Thyroid and the link to Depression

[dwt7let]

Hi Hope someone out there can shed some light on my question. I suffer depression as a result of my throid not being in balance.
I have heard that if your TSH gets to 0.50 or 1 then the depression would go? I am on 100 mg's thyroxine, 400mgs
x 2 of progesterone leading up to monthly cycle, 20mg's of cipramil, minocycline as i have developed acne which I
am sure is due to hormonal inbalance.
I used to be on tertroxin - T3 to convert the thyroxine but the Dr took me off, he says he may try me on it as they are bringing out a lower dose.
Has anyone had depression and been able to get thyroid in balance and come off anti-depressants and if so how?
Many Thanks
Lorraine

[needie53]

We are definitely on the same page. I was on antidepressants for 14 years before they discovered, Oh, we have new TSH levels which are now .1-2.5 in the United States, and more important is the t4 CONVERTING to t3, which mine was not. Fourteen years and they finally put me on a t3/t4 combo, and I was able to go off antidepressants for a very long tme. Until my Mom passed in January. But I am weaning back off very slowly b/c I still need it. But most important were the thyroid hormones and the vitamin D and the testosterone and progersterone balancing. Happy Easter everyone!

[redheadaussie]

I have had depression being hyper and when gone hypo but my goodness it's the hypo depression that does me in! For me when my levels of TSH are above 2.00 I am living in Pitsville. One of my first symptoms of having Hashimoto's was severe depression but it was overlooked as just being 'anxiety' Had they paid attention I would never have ended up on triple dose of Effexor for over 8 years! Grrrrrrr
  I think once you get your own personal levels to where YOU feel ok, then there may be no need for anti-depressants. I have had Post Traumatic Stress Disorder for many many years, and I have had to sit myself down and work out what is the depression from that, and figure out the difference in my depressive state of the thyroid medication not working. It is very important to journal your day, as Smilerdeb says. You will then be able to see the differences and work out if it is a cyclical event. (I always get weepy the day before my period, which can come at any time these days!)
By the way, I am sure you meant mcgs, NOT MGS for your dosage! Hee hee

I'd like to know what your TSH is at the moment, and if you have had a Free T3 and Free T4 done recently?  

I find for me that taking 1,000 mgs of Evening Primrose Oil works for me to help with the lead up to my period. It acts as wonderful stabliser for my depression that I get before my period starts.
  Have you had your female hormones tested? It would be worth while.
Cheers

[Smilerdeb]

Depression and anxiety can be felt at BOTH ends of the scale.
I found I suffer with anxiety with BOTH.
Just unstable levels cause it ....which to some degree makes sense considering the thyroid regulates every organ in the body including the mental status.

[alfonsina]

I agree with Annamae and Smilerbed. When thyroid medicine has been working for me, all those blue thoughts and crying go away. I smile more and I am, overall, a happier person.

Everybody  is different. That is why we need diferent doses to adjust. I personally think about having good numbers (ths, ft3, ft4) and listening to my symptoms. You can read  in this forum about people who feel better at different levels. There is no "standard" TSH where everybody is going to feel okay.

Some people have had a THS of 10 and never had any symptoms, until their doctors bring the issue up.

My TSH is 0.00 and still do not feel okay.

And yes, depression and hypothyroidism are related. At least for me.

[annamae26]

when i am hypo i have many symptoms and one of them is that i get suicidal- i start making plans to end it and cry all the time. when my levels are better i never think that way or cry much. when i was first diagnosed i was crying all day every day and i was in a very dangerous mindset. so i know that the levels make a difference in my mental status.

[dwt7let]

Hi
Thanks so much for the reply!
I will take note of all you said and will do a journal, Dr has just done TSH, T3 and T4,
so will come back on and share this info and perhaps you would be so kind to help again.
I am so glad you were able to come off your medication it gives me hope.
Thanks
Love
Lorraine xx

[Smilerdeb]

I gisagree with the the TSH level being between 0.5 -1.0 for optimal wellness.
This may be the case for many but not for everyone.
Some function well on a tsh of over 5.0....some like myself need the tsh at around 2.3-2.5.
We all have different DNA so therefore you may have to find your ;comfort ' level.

I find if my tsh is high...over 4.0 I get teary and depressed but if under 2.0, I get very agitated and 'hit out at people'.

So please try and find the best levels for you , keeping in mind that the FT3 and FT4 are more important thatn the TSH.
Get the FT3 and FT4 levels at a comfortable level (no symptoms) and the TSH should fall into place.

I came off the xanax after RAI and TT in 2008 and even though have had a year I wanna forget stress wise.......I am still off them.

I sufferred with agoraphobia and panic attacks for 26 years.
I have not had one panic attack since RAI on 2008 when the radioactive iodine killed off the thyroid (Graves and HYPER).

It does take a while to balance the meds and levels and this is where you have to learn to 'recognise your symptoms".
Keep a journal...logging everyday, your dose, your symptoms etc.
I used this many time to look back at the pattern.

Hope this helps.
(((hugs)))