Depression

[AAJS]

does anybody know what you can take for mild depression if you're on levothyroxine ?

Thank you

[greygoose]

An increase in levo, I should imagine.

[MissGrace in reply to greygoose]

You took the words out of my mouth greygoose. Thank you for always saying it like it is. Happy Hypothyroid Christmas! 🎄

[greygoose in reply to MissGrace]

Thank you. And to you.

[Saya85]

Lol @gg's reply

Yep that may just do it

However given its winter and I'm assuming you've been on levo for a while if it's mild depression that's crept on it may be vit D levels if you're not in a sunny country. Known to cause depression fatigue amongst hundreds of other symptoms

Are you supplementing at all?

Worth getting checked first if possible

Make sure you add in magnesium and vit k2mk7 co factors with it

Normal RDA is 400iu but most hashis patients take 1-3000iu per day

Testing will let you know what dose is required

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Depression is common symptom of being hypothyroid

How much Levothyroxine are you currently taking?

When were levels last tested?

Do you have any recent blood test results and ranges to add?

Suggest you get full Thyroid and vitamin testing after Christmas

Low vitamins can significantly affect Thyroid function. If you feel worse during winter, low vitamin D is possible culprit

What supplements do you currently take?

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also extremely important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if Thyroid antibodies are raised

All thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. Do not take Levothyroxine dose in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take immediately after blood draw. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

Is this how you do your tests?

Ask GP to test for you after Christmas

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or vitamins

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

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have special offers, Medichecks usually have offers on Thursdays, Blue Horizon its more random

If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).

About 90% of all hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's.

Low vitamins are especially common with Hashimoto's. Food intolerances are very common too, especially gluten. So it's important to get TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once .

Link about thyroid blood tests

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

Link about antibodies and Hashimoto's

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

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

List of hypothyroid symptoms

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

[G2G2]

Psychotropic drugs are serious medicine & have many risks despite doctors doling them out like candy. For mild depression, please follow the wise advise above.

[Heloise]

Maybe an addition of T3 or NDT would work if you can't get your level of FT3 high enough on Levo alone. Antidepressants hinder thyroid hormone.

[silverfox7]

I think we are in agreement on this so testing your thyroid levels and minerals etc are needed. Then I would increase the vitamins and minerals first as they can improve your thyroid readings but remember it can take time if anything low. May be better to just tests bitsetc first and my doctor will do mine once a year so worth asking then later when thingsxhave improved then take a look at the Thyroid readings. If you can run to testing both twice then that would be great but I appreciate it can work out quite expensive.