Query about taking fluoxetine and levothyroxine

[Lulu_65]

Hi all

I'm on levo and also take fluoxetine . I take them about 12 hours apart to ensure no interference of absorption. However, reading through lots of posts on here I've come across posts where people have been advised not to take anti depressants when on levo. I can't find anything on the drugs information leaflets about a contraindication between the two ...... Does anyone know??

Many thanks

Xx

[Lulu_65]

Can you post a link to where this is stated? I can't find anything when I do a search. I want to discuss this with my doctor . Many thanks

[puncturedbicycle in reply to Lulu_65]

Lulu_65 I've heard this before too re fluoride. Most studies show some correlation but often aren't really conclusive: webmd.com/women/news/201502...

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

Of course if you're undertreated you may find your depression lifts when adequately medicated, but hypothyroidism isn't the only cause of depression. I think the feeling here is that you mustn't be fobbed off w ADs while remaining undermedicated. For some people ADs are lifesavers.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

You say in previous post your last TSH was high above range?. Have you had increase in Levo?

Also see you recently gave up smoking. Well done. Did you know that Hashimoto's and smoking/stopping smoking have noticeable links. Research seems undecided as to what is going on there. Lots on goggle.

As you have Hashimoto's then you may find adopting 100% gluten free diet can help reduce symptoms, and lower antibodies too. Selenium supplements help lower antibodies too.

Ask your GP to check levels of vitamin d, b12, folate and ferratin. These all need to at good (not just average) levels for thyroid hormones (our own or replacement ones) to work in our cells.

If you can not get GP to do these tests, then like many of us, you can get them done privately

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Blue Horizon - Thyroid plus eleven tests all these.

[Lulu_65 in reply to SlowDragon]

SlowDragon thank you so much for your response. I had absolutely no idea that quitting smoking was linked to exacerbation of hashimoto. I knew I felt exhausted after quitting and assumed it was because smoking is a stimulant. Then I had blood results last week (first lot since I'd quit) and found my tsh has gone up to 14.63. I didn't know wht it has gone up, but now I think I do know, thanks to your post. Last week, following the blood results, my levo was increased to 100 (from 75)

I am starting gluten free today.

I have an appointment tomorrow to test vitamin b12. I know my ferritin is low so have started on iron on Friday. I started taking vitamin d 2 weeks ago with an improvement in some of my symptoms within 24 hours! I am using the spray, taking fish oils which contain some d3 and also just started taking k2

Thank you so much.

[Marz in reply to Lulu_65]

I have read that taking VitC helps the absorption of Iron. Hope that goes well for you ..... Oxygen sticks to the iron in the red blood cells for transportation around to all the cells of the body - including the brain. So when Iron is low there is not enough to go around all the cells. The brain needs good levels of oxygen

[Clutter in reply to Lulu_65]

Lulu_65,

Tobacco smoking lowers TSH which can mask a hypothyroid problem.

Taking antidepressants may reduce absorption and uptake of Levothyroxine a bit but raising Levothyroxine dose will compensate if it does. As PuncturedBicyle said, antidepressants are not an alternative to being adequately medicated on Levothyroxine but antidepressants have their place either until a patient is optimally medicated or to relieve non-thyroidal depression.

Ps congratulations on quitting smoking. It was probably the hardest thing I ever did.

[Lulu_65]

Thank you. I did find some studies and I will discuss with my doctor this week.

[Marz]

Have you found Kelly Brogans website and Newsletters ? Her latest book - A Mind of Your Own - is a best seller.

kellybroganmd.com/article/f...

Just one of her many articles above ..... after many years of being a psychiatrist she feels the drugs are not always the answer. She is now thinking outside the box. Worth a read. I have not read the book - but enjoy her approach in her Newsletters - ie looking at the whole body.

As others have said being optimally treated for the thyroid and all the supplements - can be a huge step towards wellness. Hope you soon feel stronger.

[annie-7]

Hi Lulu_65 , here's a blog about Prozac/Fluoxetine. thelittleshamanhealing.word...

Some info about interactions. Seems it decreases the effects of Levothyroxine.

gatmedicele.org/733_thyroid...

[tom210]

Hello Lulu, like you i was prescribes Fluxotine and took it alongside Levothyroxine [100mg] it did not have any effect on me as far as i could tell and after a few months the GP decided to stop the Fluxotine. Hope it works out for you

[puncturedbicycle]

reallyfedup123 I think it's brilliant that there are people whose depression/anxiety disappears when they find the right thyroid meds and dose. There are people who are depressed and/or anxious for all kinds of reasons, sometimes for reasons they can't change or control, sometimes due to what may have happened a long time ago. Uat is only one thing that can cause mental ill health, but there are many others.

To say ADs 'dull the senses' is just not correct. If your senses are dulled by your meds then you're not on the right meds or you're not on them for the right reasons, but the intention of ADs is not to make you insensible.

At the age of 18 I had relentless depression and a battery of physical tests (incl cortisol, thyroid) showed nothing awry. At 25 ADs made a bright spot in my life and helped me know who I might be outside my illness. I will forever be encouraged when things look bleak because that experience taught me that nothing is forever.

I also was privileged to have excellent treatment, which seems to be a bit thin on the ground now.

If you're on ADs and feel numb or dulled, or if the only improvements are minor, that isn't considered a satisfactory result.

[puncturedbicycle]

PS. Lulu_65 well done for quitting smoking. It was one of the best things I ever did for myself, and once you're over the difficult bit you're likely to view it as a perplexing habit. I still sometimes have nostalgic thoughts about enjoying it, but I know I'd find it so repulsive now I couldn't ever take it up again even if I wanted to. Good luck staying quit.

[Missa9827]

I just started my levo 2months ago, I didn't know I had Thyroids issues, I thought menopause, but my tsh levels were 900 and my dr said he never seen it as high,, I had family members pass away and been very depressed, just got prozac 20mg its low dose, I was reading post about who has taken the two together