Take the sertraline or not?

[Loopnova]

I’m not doing so well and have nobody to talk to who knows about this stuff.

After ongoing problems, the dr has now given me Sertraline. I’m not convinced as I’m sure the whole problem is my thyroid (mentioned before on here, looks like I’m not converting well).

I’m seeing a private Endo in three weeks with the hope of getting T3.

I’m not a fan of trying multiple new meds at once as I won’t know which is working. But I’ve got the next few weeks to get through, and the Endo might not even agree/give me what I want.

But I took one sertraline and felt nauseous. Plus I read the levo dose should be increased and the doc hasn’t done that.

I’m so tired. I’ve been off work but due to start a new job in two weeks. I have to go back, it won’t look good to be turning up with medical problems, so that’s stressing me. I’m going to be so tired and ill.

Should I take the sertraline for now?

if I don’t, I’ll have to explain to the doc at some point

Should I increase my own levo dose? I have spare meds.

Should I just hold off and wait for the Endo?

[TiggerMe Ambassador]

Looking back at your last results...

TSH 0.939 (0.27-4.2)

Free T3 3.6 ( 3.1-6.8)

Free T4 20.1 (12-22)

Ferritin 200 (30-207)

Folate Serum 20.7 >7

Vit B12 145 (37.5 - 188)

Vit D 141 (50-250)

As previously pointed out what you need is some T3 rather than anti depressants... I should add I have zero knowledge of Sertraline 🙃

[Loopnova in reply to TiggerMe]

yeah I’m pinning all my hopes on this Endo.

I’m starting to think the antidepressant is pointless for the sake of three weeks, when it’s going to make me ill before better. Kinda worried about going back to the doctor and explaining it though. He’s expecting me back in three weeks to review.

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Loopnova]

He's trying to treat you inappropriately so I would have no qualms telling him that!

[Sparklingsunshine in reply to Loopnova]

If you can hang on I would, Sertraline will take at least a month to start working anyway, not sure why your GP wants to see in 3 weeks. A month is normally the minimum time an antidepressant takes to get into your system.

Plus it can have unpleasant side effects. I tried it as a migraine preventative and couldnt tolerate it at all.

As you say its best to start on one thing at a time, if you take an anti D it will mask the effects of starting T3, if you get that prescribed, and you wont know which one, if any, is helping. It will just confuse things.

[Brightness14 in reply to Loopnova]

Don't worry about what the doctor thinks how will he know that you are not taking it. Keep quiet about it.

I have 5 things listed on my prescription, I always cross out three and just have the two Levo plus T3. My GP never ever listens to what I am saying just looking at his computer for answers, which are usually wrong. Good luck with your Endo appointment.

I do know that I need a GP but I always just keep quiet about what I am doing, he is non the wiser. I have gone from a very honest person to a very devious one but if I didn't I might not be here now.

[Sparklingsunshine in reply to Brightness14]

Sometimes you wonder if we need GP's at all. Due to the fact they are glued to the computer and patient interaction is very minimal, an IT worker could do the job easily, or a monkey. Its all AI, algorithms and test results these days.

The way things are going I can imagine doctors being replaced by robots in the future. Mind you they might have better people skills 🤣

[Brightness14 in reply to Sparklingsunshine]

Exactly right on.

[Buddy195 Administrator]

I was in a very similar situation to yourself; GP saying health anxiety/ pushing anti depressants but after following advice here, I found out that I too was a poor converter and needed combination treatment for optimal results. Personally, I didn’t need the anti depressants, just better thyroid medication (and optimal key vitamins).

Do let us know how your endo appointment goes 🦋

[greygoose]

You cannot replace a missing hormone with a mind-altering drug. And it's time doctors understood that. Been there, done that...

[arTistapple]

See the advertisement on this forum for the Wren Project. Free counselling for times when you are having problems with all this Sh1t we have to deal with.

Any counselling can help move you along. We really need that sometimes.

[Loopnova in reply to arTistapple]

I hadn’t seen that, I’ll have a look. Thanks

[pennyannie in reply to arTistapple]

Excellent idea - why didn't I think of that !!

[pennyannie in reply to pennyannie]

Loopnova - the anti depressant does not solve the issue of your very low T3 -

I'm afraid NHS doctors can only prescribe T4 and seem to always prescribe anti depressants as the second line option when people are not well on T4 monotherapy -

and I've been there - before I knew enough to say no - they don't work anyway - all that happens is you get this sort of sympathy prescription and feel it's all your fault anyway -

it's a waste of time placebo :

I sincerely hope this endo you are seeing has been recommended to you and you already know you will be treated as you deserve - professionally and with no bias.

[Loopnova in reply to pennyannie]

Thank you. The Endo is off the Thyroid UK list, so trying to be positive.

[pennyannie in reply to Loopnova]

You could start a new post asking for Private Messages regarding ....... Joe Bloggs ...

and hopefully get some replies with some thumbs up as to his opinion to treating with a T3 / T4 combo ?

Fore warned is fore armed - and it's expensive if things have changed in his world :

[Loopnova]

Thanks everyone. You know what it’s like when you’re physically and mentally feeling rubbish, getting worn down by doctors too, I just needed some support and reassurance. At this point I feel like I’ll take anything if it’ll help me feel better but my rational mind says hold off and wait to see the Endo.

Counting down the days😬

[Brightness14]

I wouldn't personally take it at all, but at least wait until you see your endo. You are not alone, at all we are all here for you. You have very low T3 that's what you require.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

you have Hashimoto’s

Are you already on strictly gluten free diet

If not ….recommend you try that instead of antidepressants

Ideally get coeliac blood test first

Buy online if don’t want to ask GP

If already gluten free, look at dairy free too

[Loopnova]

I went gluten free last year for six months and it didn’t seem to make any difference. Did wonder about trying it again - maybe it needs even longer than that. I’ve been diary-free recently which seems to help in some ways.

[Hidden]

Personally i'd avoid taking sertraline and in fact any antidepressants like the plague. Anxiety/depression/ mental health issues are commonly resolved when FT3 is where it needs to be in the range. Personally i'd hold out for your appointment, trial T3 first and do all the other things to support mental health holistically such as circadian rhythm, gut health, breathing correctly etc x

[humanbean]

I wouldn't take an SSRI if you paid me. In 15 years during the 1990s and the early 2000s I was prescribed four of them (and one of them was sertraline aka Lustral), and not one of them did any good at all. I spent a lot of time trying to convince myself they were helping but they really didn't.

If you want to do your own research be aware that sertraline has the brand name Zoloft in the USA. Another brand name is Lustral (in the UK). There are lots of articles on Sertraline / Zoloft/Lustral to be found here :

madinamerica.com/?s=sertraline

I have actually fixed my own depression. In my case the biggest help was fixing my nutrient deficiencies, mainly B12 and iron/ferritin (iron stores).

I do still take an anti-depressant at a very low dose : 50mg 5-HTP. It is an over-the-counter drug sold as a supplement, no prescription required. Unfortunately, more and more manufacturers are producing this product with enormous doses - it's like they are in competition with each other. 5-HTP raises cortisol in many people which is why the dose needs to be cautious if you try it. I've been taking 50mg since 2011, mostly every day of the week, but in recent years I have reduced the number of times I take it to 3 or 4 times a week.

Despite the length of time I've been taking 5-HTP, when I ran out of it recently I didn't get any withdrawal symptoms.

This is the one I bought last :

dolphinfitness.co.uk/en/now...

[humanbean in reply to humanbean]

This is another article you might find interesting :

madintheuk.com/2023/12/stop...

[Simplyred57]

Please hold off till you see the Endo , my old GP just kept saying your depressed take these and you will feel better, they didn’t help ,and through the forum I knew it was my thyroid and I had terrible problems with withdrawal when I tried to come off them after a short time. , My appointment with an Endo from the list was the answer and T3 solved my problems, I pay for a private prescription and I’m happy doing that to stay well , and if you increase your Levo you won’t get the correct results if he does bloods, stay strong 💪🏻your nearly there x

[Loopnova]

Thank you. It’s so hard to imagine ever being better again but got to try and stay positive. Hope you’re managing.

[Blissful in reply to Loopnova]

Can I recommend something that you might like to try for (say) ten minutes a day until you have your appointment - IMAGINE you are well - (never mind for now you are the road to being well), IMAGINE in the NOW - maybe in the ten minutes repeat the mantra "I AM WELL" (versus I want to be well).

[Loopnova in reply to Blissful]

I’m trying it 😀