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Cookie14 Posts: 98
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So this week I went into my primary doc for a follow up on an appt a month ago. I made that appt because for some months now my hair has been thinning, and for over a year my weight has been dropping w/o an effort on my part. (I've lost 30 lbs over the past 2 years for no reason. I'm happy about that of course, but the hair loss thing was kinda weird.) Primary doc says it could be peri-menopause, but tests my thyroid to be sure. This week he told me my TSH was a little low, indicating an over-active thyoid, and offers synthroid (sp?) to treat that. (I guess to stop the hair/weight loss.) "Oh, but that can cause insomnia," he says, remembering my struggle with it all summer. (Not anymore since I switched to lithium  ) He wanted to check my thyroid levels again, and I mentioned my pdoc did that when he checked my lithium, so we're gonna do that at the same time in a couple weeks. Meanwhile, I've been thinking about the lithium and thyroid function, and I started googling it. Turns out there's a connection between bipolar and thyroid problems. Apparently bp people have a higher occurence of thyroid disease, especially rapid-cycling/mixed epi's, like yours truly... Does anyone else have thyroid problems? Bipolar II
Lamictal - 150mg
Lithium - 300mg
Ativan as needed
pdoc - pill doc, psychiatrist
tdoc - talk doc, psychologist
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ASO1979able Posts: 6985
VIP Member
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I've never taken lithium, but after I was diagnosed Bipolar I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism. I gained alot of weight and my thyroid levels are very high. There is a connection between Bipolar and thyroid problems but I don't think they know why yet. I am not a professional, any and all advice that I give is based solely on personal experiences and is not intended to take the place of a medical or mental health professional.
My diagnosis:
Bipolar I Extreme rapid cycling, General Anxiety disorder, Social anxiety disorder, PTSD, Fibromyalgia
My meds:
Equetro 800mg
Klonopin 1mg as needed for anxiety
Celexa 40mg
Atarax
Lyrica 100mg x 3 a day |
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hedap Posts: 2009
Senior Member
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Cookie I think I've heard that before, which is interesting bc thyroid levels themselves can cause depression, aside from other brain chemicals. Had a thyroidectomy last year, but depression whole life. Heather Savella 50 mg 2x daily
Lortab 10's 4x day
Tramadol 50 mg 4x day
Nuvigil 123 mg day
Klonopin o.5 mg 4 doses daily
Aplenzin 348 mg 2x day
Abilify 5 mg day
Lamictal 50 mg 2x day
Misc.
Levothyroxine 150 mcg 1x day
Vitamin D 50000 IU's 1x weekly
Pravastatin 10 mg day |
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Imnutz Posts: 312
Member
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I have heard that too, I am a personal trainer and I have seen medical histories of clients who have had both. I am having a allergic reaction to lamactil and i have lymph nodes and swollen glands. I am having bloodwork done to make sure it is not my thyroid or anything else for that matter. Good Luck to you. "Happiness is a state of mind not a destination"
My name is Cassie.
I am Bipolar II
Trazodone 100mg
Ambien 12.5mg
Vistaril 25 mg as needed for anxiety
Zoloft 50mg
Lithium 600mg |
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NicoleLynn Posts: 784
Member
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This is actually something I haven't heard, but it is definitely interesting to know. It is amazing how the chemicals throughout our body affect and are affected by our moods and mood disorders. As far as I know my thyroid is fine, but I have never been on lithium. Serenity and Peace
Nicole
Schizoaffective Disorder - Bipolar rapid cycling type
Panic Disorder
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Panic Disorder
Borderline PErsonality Disorder
Self-injury
Alcohol abuse
Current Medications:
Risperdal 3 mg 2x a day
Abilify 15 mg daily
Wellbutrin 300 mg daily
Remeron 15 mg @ bedtime
*Never be ashamed of the scars that life has left you with. A scar means the hurt is over, the wound is closed, you endured the pain and God has healed you.*
"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."
-Maya Angelou |
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Cookie14 Posts: 98
Member
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MissHildy, That's a bummer! Were you able to lose the 20 lbs? Will you always be on the thyroid meds? able - you're a bp/thyroid person who hasn't taken lithium. Interesting... hedap - has your thyroidectomy helped? Was it a lobectomy? (I was reading about it last night, and the term reminded me of lobotomy - thankfully totally different procedures!) Imnutz, I hope you're soon better! I really liked lamictal. I only switched from it to lithium a couple months ago, because I thought I needed the calming effect of lithium. I thought the lamictal was too activating, though it had been fine for 18 months before I started having a lot of nervousness and insomnia. Turns out that hyperthyroidism causes those 2 symptoms. And if lithium isn't good for my thyroid, I don't know what my pdoc will do next. It will be interesting to see what your bloodwork shows... Bipolar II
Lamictal - 150mg
Lithium - 300mg
Ativan as needed
pdoc - pill doc, psychiatrist
tdoc - talk doc, psychologist |
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JulieMarie46 Posts: 53
Member
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My doc told me that was one of the reason they check Lithium levels was Lithium toxicity and thyroid; my Lithium is actually still quite low and thyroid is ok. My mom developed thyroid problems about two months before she died and I wonder if I will get it too? Time will tell. I did notice that mom's personality changed and she became angry and had outbursts. Anybody else experience this? |
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hedap Posts: 2009
Senior Member
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Cookie, Mine was total thyroidectomy. They had cultured some abn cells and I had growths that kept getting larger. Was dx'd as autoimmune thyroiditis, lucky for me no cancer. I definitely think the thyroid issues made my depression go into overdrive. heather Savella 50 mg 2x daily
Lortab 10's 4x day
Tramadol 50 mg 4x day
Nuvigil 123 mg day
Klonopin o.5 mg 4 doses daily
Aplenzin 348 mg 2x day
Abilify 5 mg day
Lamictal 50 mg 2x day
Misc.
Levothyroxine 150 mcg 1x day
Vitamin D 50000 IU's 1x weekly
Pravastatin 10 mg day |
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wisedogmom  Posts: 22
New Member
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Yeah, I have serious thyroid issues these days. My endocrinologist thinks its from being on lithium. |
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Cookie14 Posts: 98
Member
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Thanks for the continued replies. Julie Marie, I'm sorry for your loss. How old was your mom? I do get angry and have outbursts, but I always blamed it on bp... Can thyroid disease cause that? wisedogmom, what are you on now? Do you have hypo or hyper-thyroid disease? Heather, what does having no thyroid mean for you? Do you take replacement hormones? I have a relative (prob un-dx bp) who has weight loss/gain off and on for no reason. I wonder if she has thyroid problems. Of course, because of her personality problems - blows hot/cold, is paranoid - I can't really ask about it. She'd get cagey... Post edited by: Cookie14, at: 11/22/2010 01:05 PM Bipolar II
Lamictal - 150mg
Lithium - 300mg
Ativan as needed
pdoc - pill doc, psychiatrist
tdoc - talk doc, psychologist |
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