On BBC breakfast today discussion about rising numbers of prescriptions for depression. They need to look into the reasons for this. Should we help them out and let them know about all the hypothyroid patients who have been given anti d's because they are merely worrying about nothing!? (hope you detect the sarcasm- I'm known for it) A lady (Tabitha) was prescribed anti d's for severe migraines and depression, they did nothing for her and made her symptoms worse. Some of the symptoms sounded very much like low Vit B12 to me! A lot of people have serious problems trying to get off the medication, even when gently tapering the dose.
Spokesperson for PHE never mentioned the Yellow Card system!
Ps in yesterday's Daily Express the headline was about too many people being prescribed statins unnecessarily!! Ironic really isn't it, too many folks getting stuff they don't need/makes them feel worse and poor old thyroid patients left to suffer with insufficient /inappropriate meds!!!!!!!!!
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crimple
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And then they wonder where the money goes and why it often takes 2/3 weeks to get a doctors appointment, unnecessary prescriptions and misdiagnosis comes to mind - bonuses indicate to me someone is doing a 'good job' - more like they should deduct any doctors pay who prescribes either antidepressants or PPI's.
It would be good to know how much monies are given to Associations from Big Pharma (world wide) for the prescribing of levothyroxine alone. I'd also like to know where the rumours about NDT (false statements made by the BTA and RCoP) when it had been in use safely from 1892 when no blood tests were avaialable and we were diagnosed upon symptoms alone. No internet connection then but people stopped going into myxedema comas from which they died. Only this week a member went into a myxedema coma - now this is modern 2018 and someone under a doctor's care is rushed as an emergency into hospital for immediate treatment.
I'd also like to know if monetary rewards are given to doctors/endos for the prescribing of levo only.
Just like T3 recently - which made many patients well and improved a lot of patients health - removed without warning and the patient being told that levo alone was satisfactory when the patient has already had bad esperiences on levo and the distress caused.
Excerpt:
What causes myxedema coma?
Myxedema coma is a loss of brain function as a result of severe, longstanding low level of thyroid hormone in the blood (hypothyroidism). Myxedema coma is considered a life-threatening complication of hypothyroidism and represents the far more serious side of the spectrum of thyroid disease.
This person, I believe was under the doctor's care.
I agree with you. I also have personal experience of not having a blood test for thyroid hormones and being given other diagnosis for things I didn't have. If all doctors knew symptoms they could at least diagnose without blood tests but the reliance on the TSH is faulty.
I also know, from the forum, how many are never given a test for FT3 and FT4. Even more worrying is the UK's guidelines that a person's TSH has to reach 10 before being diagnosed, despite disabling clinical symptoms.
They also have a blanket ban on prescribing T3 at all to patients not improving on T4 only and they did it without warning and leaving many high and dry and desperate.
Instead of making sure that blood test results are optimal, the medical profession are happy when TSH reaches somewhere 'in range' and prescribe other meds for the 'symptoms' instead of saving money for the NHS by prescribing optimal thyroid hormones and relieving all clinical symptoms. We know many doctors whose patients who have a TSH around 4 or 5 as not requiring an additional increase to enable them to have a TSH of 1 or lower.
We are not medically qualified but through personal experiences we know the guidelines are futile when they do not take into account clinical symptoms and ensure patient is on an optimal dose or a combination.
We know of many members offered statins when cholesterol can be reduced by optimum thyroid hormones. They are also offered pain relief for crippling pain and, of course, anti-depressants to keep them quiet when they desperately need FT4 and FT3 tested and prescribed T3 to their T4.
crimple have you seen this? GPs aren't to blame though!!
Absolutely appalled by the comments under the article. Since when has the complaints process been "heavily weighted in favour of demanding patients"? And another claiming that patients are to blame for not taking "responsibility", as if people beg for these awful drugs.
What vicious, narrow people we have to go to for help when we're ill.
Whilst they keep being paid for prescribing statins and antidepressants and other drugs, the abuse of patients will continue. I exploded when I read " whilst we are a world leader in dealing with addiction" really! so that's why so many people are NOT being helped with drug, alcohol and gambling addictions as they come under mental health umbrella and we all know how poorly funded they are! No doubt the medications and treatments prescribed for addiction are just as useless as the ones for depression, but they keep the Pharmas and docs rich!
I can't understand why they even need to look into it. You offer someone money for finding something and they'll find it - oh, yes. Stop giving funding points for prescribing antidepressants and the number of prescriptions will fall. Betya!
We should write to the BBC telling it could be due to too low a dose of thyroid hormones being given to patients to keep their TSH 'somewhere' in the range when it should be 1 or lower. Do they ever check the depressed patients' FT3 and FT4 - I doubt it.
I have just been listening to the Broken Brain Episode 7 and it emphasised that dysfunctions of thyroid hormones can be the cause of dementia and other brain problems. As well, of course all of the essential vitamins/minerals they are not always optimal and doctors are happy if they are just in range. B12 for instance and Vit D are essential pro-hormones and B12 can lead to dementia if the homocysteine levels rise which cause brain shrinkage. B12 helps to keep homocystein levels lower.
Shaws ~ "do they ever check the depressed patients FT3and FT4" ~ well my GP doesn't! My youngest daughter (20) went to her a while ago complaining of anxiety/depression ~ she was IMMEDIATELY given sertraline ~ no tests for anything and no questions asked!
Outrageous considering the family history ~ autoimmune/thyroid conditions on both sides of the family ~ seven women on my side ~ and she's a vegan! GP knows all this, she even treats my daughters paternal grandmother, who had a TT as a result of Graves!
Daughter has increased her B12 and is having private tests, the results of which I will post, should they show anything untoward. I'm sure there are many with 'doctors always right' syndrome who are stuck on these drugs, with no clue as to WHY they're feeling that way. Surely they should at least run all tests to check first?
The system is corrupt ~ there should be NO financial advantages for prescribing or administering anything at all ~ incentives should be earned from successful treatments and patient satisfaction scores ~ it is still, after all, a public service, although judging by the appalling posts on here of late, one wonders what sort of SERVICE is actually being provided!
People are being seriously damaged ~ such a waste of life and so sad, and so unnecessary! x
I think, initially, they should run all of the tests then we know where we stand as it is a rude awakening when we find doctors and endocrinologists, seem to the be worst trained. In other countries they diagnose if patients' TSH is above 3 but in the UK, we have to wait till it is 10. Many people have troubling symptoms around 5 (the top of the range usually).
Neither do they check vitamins/minerals to make sure everything works in unison. I believe most professionals have no idea about the function of the thyroid hormones and we aren't given an optimum of thyroid hormones replacements. As you say, people are seriously damaged. Just this week a member was admitted to the A&E as she was in a myxedema coma - which should be a rare occurrence. I believe she was under the care of a doctor!!!
I too could of easily gone down the depression pill route if I had not known, thankfully I was on here, (thyroid UK) and had learned from other members that depression pills were wrongly being pushed onto Thyroid patients, I shouted back at my Doctor that I was NOT depressed, I just needed more Levothyroxin otherwise I would never get well again.
Yes I agree with you crimple, low thyroid, low/deficient vitamin B12, vitamin D, (for the winter blues/SAD,) and now these dangerous statins can all cause anxiety depression, brain fog, mental illnesses and no doubt more.
Not forgetting that chemo and radiation treatments can lead to b12 deficiency as can other prescription pills, which in turn can cause depressions/anxiety etc..
Also I am noticing people we personally know having heart attacks, strokes and dementia's, some at a young age, oddly coinciding with far too many dangerous statins being prescribed to younger people now, though I might be wrong to be assuming this ?
Thankfully my husband refused to take his prescribed statin, (for his supposed diagnosed Angina he never had,) he knew the dangers, he had high cholesterol of 8 and coincidentally his T3 bloods were at the time under half way through the range.
Thankfully I am on board with Dr Kendrick and The Great Cholesterol/Statin Con, Hillswoman, thank you for asking, (cos I might not have known,) many are unaware of this brilliant Scottish Doctor and really need to know the truth about the dangerous side effects of statins.
It was Dr Peatfield who first put me on to Dr K's cholesterol book when it first came out. It completely changed the way I thought about diet, nutrition and general health, but it took quite a long time for me to untangle myself from 35 years of rotten public health advice, so that I could make the necessary changes.
Wow! I expect it did take you a while to untangle yourself Hillwoman 35 years of medical (wrong,) advice is a long time to put right again. I have just got off the phone now to a lady of 77 who has had enough of Doctors treatments, she just told me that the statin she took has caused her muscle weakness, now she struggles to do anything. Shocking, the way we are all treated.
Awful, I agree. I hope your friend begins to feel a bit stronger before too long. Good muscle strength, balance, and so on are essential in one's later years.
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It was Dr Peatfield who first put me on to Dr K's cholesterol book when it first came out. It completely changed the way I thought about diet, nutrition and general health, but it took quite a long time for me to untangle myself from 35 years of rotten public health advice, so that I could make the necessary changes.
Been given 50mg Sertraline for depression and anxiety and worried about effects on Levothyroxine and worsening of mental health.
Help please with test results
Help with relative’s results and symptoms please
NHS prescribed record number of antidepressants last year
Liothyronine T3
