I have reduced my Levothyroxine as gone hyper. ... - Thyroid UK
I have reduced my Levothyroxine as gone hyper. Does the reduction affect Lyrica or Nortriptyline. Eirher make them stronger or less effectiv
Hi
Levo can affect how well Nortriptyline works as an antidepressant but I don't know about its pain relieving properties. Levo tends to enhance the effects of this class of antidepressants and can cause them to start working much sooner than expected when you first take them. Before I was diagnosed hypo, I was prescribed thyroid hormones to make amitriptyline more effective. Amitriptyline is also a tricyclic antidepressant like Nortriptyline.
Nortriptyline can also enhance the effects of levo, causing you to experience hyper symptoms. This is worth bearing in mind.
I'm afraid I couldn't find any information about interactions between lyrica and levo. It seems the only side effects were those of the Lyrica.
I do think you should discuss your worries with whoever has prescribed the Lyrica and Nortriptyline. At the very least they should be aware that you are reducing your dose of levo. I'm sure they will be able to advise if you need to adjust the dose of either of them.
Sorry I couldn't be more help
Carolyn x
Thanks Carolyn. I have replied in more depth on the thyroid page on FB PAGE.
Hi Ive been wondering about this as im on Armour and Amytriptyline. I was wondering if it slowed down the effects of Armour because im on 2.5 grains and T3 5.9 and still feeling tired and very little weight loss. where did you get the info Carolyn?
When I was on Amitriptyline, which wasn't working, my psychiatrist tried adding liothyronine (T3) and I had a miraculous recovery. I later found out I was borderline hypothyroid so I suspect that had a lot to do with it, but the psychiatrist said that thyroid hormones enhance the effect of tricyclic antidepressants. There are papers about this.
I don't know if amitriptyline affects absorption of Armour.
Although I was greatly improved on NDT, I still wasn't right when I got up to 4.5 grains so I have now reduced to 2 grains and take some T3. I was very well on T3 only in the past and I am thinking I might have to go that way again. I seem to have a real problem with T4.
Carolyn x
Ive improved so much on Armour but ive just upped to 3 grains and feeling "urgh" and "grr" Im wondering why my weight loss is so poor too. 1 pound a week 1200 cal diet and 1/2 hour step aerobics. I thought maybe im not optimal but an adrenal saliva test a long while back showed low adrenal function. So thinking im weight loss resistant cos of this. Of course its hard to lose on amytriptyline so wondering if this causes problems and im on progesterone contraception pill
ARGHHHH dont know what best to do next 
xx
The amitriptyline might not be helping. Depending on your size, 1200 calories might not be enough. There is some evidence to suggest that trying to lose weight more slowly has less of a negative effect on thyroid hormone levels (dieting reduces T3 and increases rT3 - a perfectly natural process). Also it can help to eat at a maintenance level (1800-2000 cals or so) for a few days every couple of weeks, or one week a month. Still logging the food, just eating more. It tends to cause a couple of pounds of weight gain that is just water and this goes as soon as the diet is started again.
Another thing that tends to work well for hypothyroid patients is intermittent fasting because it doesn't allow the metabolism to slow down in the same way as continuous dieting. You might want to look into the 'Fast diet' as investigated by Michael Moseley, or search 5:2 intermittent fasting on Google.
I know it is very frustrating. I am still struggling to lose weight but I do feel very much better.
Hi Ive been wondering about this as im on Armour and Amytriptyline. I was wondering if it slowed down the effects of Armour because im on 2.5 grains and T3 5.9 and still feeling tired and very little weight loss.
