Setraline and Levothyroxine

[jaxie28]

Hi I'd like to know if anyone is on this combo and if so, how is it working for you. I do not have depression but do have OCD and anxiety.

I'd be grateful to know about weight and any other issues or anyone who can give me some information please.

[Clarrisa]

I took Sertraline with Synthroid for about two months but discontinued it because I found it dehydrated me. The Harvard Mental Health Letter article "When depression starts in the neck" July 2011 (that was referenced on this site recently) stated: "Antidepressant Sertraline (Zoloft) may reduce the effectiveness of levothyroxine." That was most definitely my personal experience.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Depression can be symptom of inadequately treated hypothyroidism

If you add you thyroid test results and ranges members can advise

TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus thyroid antibodies and vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

All thyroid tests should be done as early as possible in morning and fasting and don't take Levo in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take straight after. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results

Link about antibodies

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/tuk/testing/t...

Print this list of symptoms off, tick all that apply and take to GP

thyroiduk.org/tuk/about_the...

Always take Levo on empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after. Many take on waking, but it may be more convenient and possibly more effective taken at bedtime

verywell.com/should-i-take-...

Many people find Levothyroxine brands are not interchangeable. Once you find a brand that suits you, best to make sure to only get that one at each prescription.

[jaxie28 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you SlowDragon. As I have just had a thyroidectomy, I will post my results when I get them in the next couple of weeks. Thanks again

[Naomi8]

I resorted to Sertraline a year ago,after trying everything else I was recommended.I have suffered from chronic anxiety all my life(from a toddler)with periods of acute prolonged anxiety leading to two bouts of depression.The first in 2011 leading to two years of living hell while I tried everything except antidepressants,having had a very bad reaction to 4 weeks of Cetalopran.

After my second "overnight crash" into panic disorder with depression in 2016,I started on Sertraline,which I asked my GP for.I had been doing very well on T3-only for two years.

I started on a very low dose of 37.5(by alternating one tablet with a half tablet) & after 3 weeks of nausea & feeling sleepy & spaced out I started to feel the benefits of greatly reduced anxiety.(I am hyper-sensitive to drugs so need low doses)

I am now down to half a tablet daily & hope to wean myself off at some point,mainly because of the possibility that it interacts with thyroid replacement,but also,because I am not happy taking powerful drugs.

I think this drug may have saved my life,not just my sanity.I don't think I could have coped with another long bout of panic disorder with depression.

Mentally I have felt the best I have ever felt,due to the lowest levels of anxiety I have experienced in 68 years.

I was on thyroxine for 17 years,then T3-only for 2.Now on NDT with adaptogens(holy basil,ashwaghanda,siberian ginseng & rhodiola,plus all the recommended vitamins dosed individually in good amounts.

[jaxie28 in reply to Naomi8]

Thank you for your response. Very helpful x

[Naomi8]

Just started tapering off Sertraline,following a protocol of 10% per month,from my reduced dose of 25mcgs(my niece has just upped hers to 100mcgs)

Am tapering off to zero hopefully,as I have gone up a dress size over 18months.When I crashed into depression caused by panic disorder,i quickly lost a dress size.I went from a 16 to a 14.Now I'm an 18.I believe this is due to Sertraline interacting with thyroid replacement,but I may need to adjust my thyroid replacement after blood tests,as i have only been on NDT a few months.(Switched from T3-only followed by T4/T3 combo)

I have chronic anxiety,plus OCD traits & PTSD.

I would not hesitate to use Sertraline again to reboot my brain if I crash overnight again a third time.

[jaxie28]

Hi thank you for that. That is my worry about Setraline as it really does cause weight gain. I have had that experience with it in the past and I am on 100mg as that is what works for me. I too suffer from extremely bad anxiety and sometimes depression.

May I ask what dose of T4/T3 you were on and if that had an impact on your weight when combined with Setraline? Also, what dose of T3 were you on when doing that only and were you using Setraline at the same time with that? Do you think it might be the NDT and Setraline combo that is making you gain weight?