Interacting medications

[Suzanneharb]

Hi,

Are we allowed to take antidepressants (or any mental health meds)? I have hashimotos hypothyroidism and take T4/T3 combo. I'm concerned that any mental health meds may affect my thyroid, but can't find information about it. For example, setraline may effect absorption of T3 into cells (allegedly). Doctors always say meds are ok, but I can't find proof. I really need good reassurance. Having my thyroid levels messed up certainly won't help my mental health.

Just need to know in advance as I have a review with a psychiatrist. I'm not currently taking anything, but suspect it may be advised.

Thanks!

[Anthea55]

There is a known link between thyroid and depression. Googling for depressed and thyroid produces various links - for example

health.harvard.edu/diseases...

Dr Myhill's page about diagnosing hypothyroidism includes 'depression'

drmyhill.co.uk/wiki/Hypothy...

Learn as much as you can and have your arguments ready for the psychiatrist.

Post your thyroid results on here for advice about them too. People here are better at interpreting thyroid results than most GPs.

[Suzanneharb in reply to Anthea55]

Thanks.

I do genuinely have a mental health issue, so it is just a query about meds. Wanted to get a heads up.

I've been in treatment for anorexia for 2 years. Sometimes meds help balance thinking/emotions for those with severe, long-term eating disorders.

Never have I ever met a Dr who understands how horrendous it is to be a hypothyroid anorexic. I wish someone understood my fears.

[Anthea55 in reply to Suzanneharb]

I hope someone else can give you more help. Still worth posting your thyroid results here.

Best wishes.

[DeeD123]

When I was prescribed antidepressants I had to take away from levo. As it was only one a day I did opposite ends of the day.

[humanbean]

Depression is frequently an effect of being hypothyroid. If you are incorrectly medicated it is likely to make depression worse.

Another effect of hypothyroidism is that we end up with low stomach acid. This then leads to low levels of nutrients because the body can't extract nutrition from food very well. Since various nutrient deficiencies can reduce conversion of T4 to T3 it is important to optimise as many as possible.

Note that nutrient deficiencies, although treated as unimportant by most doctors, actually have immense numbers of symptoms and drastically reduce quality of life, so they shouldn't be ignored.

But if you are determined to take anti-depressants then I would just suggest that you take them at least four hours apart, and as one of your other replies has said, it might be a good idea to take thyroid hormones and anti-depressants at opposite ends of the day.

[DeeD123 in reply to humanbean]

I havnt needed them since I understood my blood results and fought for correct dose of levo. GPs are useless

[Suzanneharb in reply to humanbean]

I don't have depression.I nearly died from anorexia 2 years ago. I'm still struggling now and meds can sometimes help, but I don't know which ones are safe. Hence my post.

I'm determined to get better, not determined to take meds.

Thanks though.

[humanbean in reply to Suzanneharb]

Low nutrient levels can cause lots of unpleasant symptoms.

If your doctors have tested them and told you your levels are fine, bear in mind that there is a huge difference between having a nutrient which is just over the bottom of the range and having it optimised.

I'm determined to get better, not determined to take meds.

Sorry, I didn't mean to annoy or upset you. Unfortunately, there have been people who come to the forum and who have asked about anti-depressants and it turns out that they are determined to take meds, even if people suggest there may be other options.

If you want to look up info on different meds and possible interactions before they are even prescribed or dispensed, these are the best reference websites I know of :

EMC - Electronic Medicines Compendium

medicines.org.uk/emc/

This site allows people in the UK to read huge numbers of "Patient Information Leaflets" and also "Summaries of Product Characteristics". This database isn't 100% complete, although it is very extensive. Some PILs and SPCs can only be read on the manufacturers' websites.

...

drugs.com/

US site which provides similar information to the EMC, but in greater detail, and has separate sections for doctors and patients. Is open to everyone, not just those in the US.

Drugs.com also has an interactions checker. You have to enter a list of all the drugs you want to check interactions for e.g. sertraline and levothyroxine.

drugs.com/drug_interactions...

...

BNF - British National Formulary

bnf.nice.org.uk/

This is another website from the UK which (I think) is restricted to only people in the UK. Search for a drug, and you can look up dosing information for prophylactic use and therapeutic use (if applicable), side effects, warnings, manufacturers supplying the NHS, drug dose sizes, and other useful info.

Good luck.

[Suzanneharb in reply to humanbean]

Thanks so much for the links! Much appreciated. x