Help family member has bipolar and borderline personality disorder. I believe Hashimotes but listed thyroid and diabetic meds useless

[Ziggi22]

Need advice on meds interaction Quetiapine 550mg Lamotrigne 200mg levothyroxine175mg Venlafaxine 75mg Venlalic 150mg Desogestrel 75mg Metformin 500mg Ramipril 2.5mg atenaltol 100mg. Worried as meds not working and think the swing in thyroid is impacting on meds. Has high blood pressure and skin itching bruise's easily not sleeping or wanting to eat moods up and down crying and needs help? Mental health Dr not available till March 2018. Thanks Ziggi22

[Marz]

Am sure some of those drugs will be contra-indicated with the Levo. I think that needs checking and could be why it seems thyroid meds are not working. I am guessing LOW T3 - so obtaining results with ranges would be good.

Also B12 - Folate - Ferritin - VitD all need testing - Iron Profile too. Metformin affects the uptake of B12 & other vitals.

All those drugs must be causing some toxicity. Home Testing Kits are available from Blue Horizon & Medichecks through Thyroid UK - see link below ....

thyroiduk.org

Click onto ABOUT TESTING on the menu 😊

T3 is sometimes still used for mental issues.

Magnesium may help blood pressure - which also indicates low T3 in some cases. Perhaps poor conversion from T4 into T3 if vitals are low ....

Hope all goes well ....

[Ziggi22 in reply to Marz]

Has recently had blood test with Blue Horizon's B12 was high and it did indicate Hashimotes or Graves. Was previously on Lithium which killed Thyroid and not doing much to help. Have the problem the GP and Physic doctors do not talk and GP will not alter any physic meds. I have doubts T4 is being absorbed as another family member has this problem, but GP's wont listen. Has been on these meds for over 10 years or more and really struggling now. Thanks for your advice.

[Marz in reply to Ziggi22]

Can you post the test results with ranges ? - how was the FT3 ?

Kelly Brogan has a good website and has written a book - A Mind if Your Own. She believes gut issues are behind mental issues and is aware of the damage done by meds. She is from the US.

So awful docs not communicating to join up the dots.

[Ziggi22 in reply to Marz]

Which is the FT3 is that the free T3 was (4.2) OR free Thyroxine (19.0) the Thyroglobulin Antibody 264.0 and Thyroid Peroxidase antibodies were 272.0 hope that helps? will look out for book you suggested Thank you

[Marz in reply to Ziggi22]

FT3 is Free T3. Do you have ranges ? -as labs do vary and I am in Crete. Your family member has Hashimotos so going gluten free could help to heal the gut. I know the least of your worries at the moment.

You can read on Kelly's website about her protocol as a Psychiatrist. The book is on Amazon. She has a lot to say about Big Pharna 😊

[Clutter]

Ziggi22,

For maximum absorption Levothyroxine should be taken with water 1 hour before, or 2 hours after, food and drink, 2 hours away from other medication and supplements, and 4 hours away from calcium, iron, vitamin D supplements, magnesium and oestrogen.

Quetiapine is known to have adverse effects on thyroid function so if Quetiapine has recently been added to your relative's list of medications she may need a thyroid function test to see whether Levothyroxine dose needs adjusting.

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

Google "Levothyroxine + Lamotrigne interaction" etc. to see what interactions there may be.

[Ziggi22 in reply to Clutter]

They are taking Levothyroxine as you say as family member did advise as they have Hashimotes and trying to help. Quetiapine have been taken for 10 years at least has also had Depakate which caused adverse reaction with legs like jelly and a bad fall with a back injury sustained. A & E doctor confirmed it, yet physic doctor upped it to 1000mg which was refused. Blood pressure though the roof even on 2 lots of blood pressure tablets to lower it. Seem Thyroid is a specialist subject and we have little or no specialist in it in midlands. Plus lack of mental health specialist it took 15 years to diagnose bipolar and a further 2 years for the boarder line personality disorder. Heath system useless in both departments and failing. Appreciate your help thanks.

[Clutter in reply to Ziggi22]

Ziggi22,

If you can get a copy of your relative's recent thyroid results and ranges and any results for ferritin, vitamin D, B12 and folate write a new post and members will advise. Being undermedicated will exacerbate depression and anxiety.

Click on My hub on the HealthUnlocked title bar > + view all your communities > +Browse Communities and type "Bipolar" into the Search Title because I think you may get more help on communities dealing with depression and anxiety.

[Ziggi22 in reply to Clutter]

Appreciate all the help its the first time have posted and been a bit daunting for me will try and do as you advise its so good to know other people do care and help and understand with these problems and health, just feel its an ongoing battle with the health service.

[Clutter in reply to Ziggi22]

Ziggi22,

NHS is wonderful for acute care and accidents but it can fall down with chronic conditions and mental health treatment is often dire.

[Ziggi22 in reply to Clutter]

You are right just feel helpless in getting real help to improve mental health and it affects the whole family, Seems we have too many grey areas which are not being taught about and knowledge is being lost at a rate of knots, with older doctors now leaving and no one replacing them or have no even half the knowledge or wisdom and if there are a few they are worked to death with demand.

[Hidden in reply to Ziggi22]

why don't you start one at a time the thyroid and healing the gut first.

[Hidden in reply to Ziggi22]

Believe me, we do care!

[Ziggi22 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you have already tried to suggest to family member about the gut etc, however they may have an ulcer as keep bleeding from the stomach and has had investigations just a shame did not do a test for Celiac while having colon etc looked at. Its not always easy to get person to act in there own best interests when have mental health problems as well. So far having Thyroid meds before any other food or meds and with water is an achievement. Can but keep trying to work with them to improve health. Best wishes, its good to know we are all trying to paddle the same boat just keep hitting rapids not prepared for. Thanks

[Ziggi22 in reply to Clutter]

Did look at Communities but could not find anything of help for family problems hun but thanks for suggestion.

[marigold22]

I don't know as much about your relative's condition as many here.; so will leave it to others to advise you. I would simply like to say - you are an extremely kind, caring & generous relative to the person you are helping. There have been copious numbers of posts & replies on this wonderful forum about family members & friends turning a blind eye. Mostly they are unable to even begin to 'get their brains around it'. Good luck

[Ziggi22 in reply to marigold22]

I can well understand why having lived with ongoing depression and first hand experience of what mental health is or was available it is a mine field. Also having family member's with Thyroid problems and mental health patience is a must. Most people will experience mental health problems one way or another, from grief of a loved one to anger or abuse by someone in there life. I only know its by talking and helping each other we can survive and keep going, by being a candle in a dark room is how I feel to express it. Knowing you are not alone no matter how bad it gets from whatever illness or suffering you feel. Thank you Marigold 22 for your kind words we just have to keep plodding on and hope for answers.

[overnighthearingloss]

Google B3 Mental Health. You may find some useful information

[Ziggi22 in reply to overnighthearingloss]

Never heard of B3 but will investigate and thank you for reply

[Hidden]

I would go to a good local pharmacy with the list i.e. cocktail of drugs and ask for information and give details of the problem. They can help and know more about drugs mix than Doctors who prescribe them.

Try more than one maybe.

[Ziggi22 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks will have to investigate this further and hope I get some useful information from it.