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theewilliams · 01-14-2002, 05:56 PM

I didn't expect much else but I was hoping for something. TSH test results came in at 1.71. The same ol' word from my doc's voice "Normal". Then he asked me how I wanted him to treat my symptoms....Boy! who is paying who? His suggestion is prozac, It would help with the anxiety and he feels I'm mildly depressed so that if we could get over that then the rest of me would begin to feel better. Told him I really wasn't wanting to go that route and i wish I knew what my levels for t3 and t4 were. He assured me they would be "normal" too. I have a month and a half before I see the endo. I'm not sure what to do. Will the prozac make me atleast feel normal? Will it cover any symptoms, will it hurt to be on the prozac if my levels are indeed not "normal" for me?

ArtfulD · 01-14-2002, 09:29 PM

Hi theewilliams. Trust your instincts. Antidepressants don't mix well with thyroid disease. In fact, one of the lesser known side effects of prozac, zoloft and other antidepressants and antianxiety medications, is increased TSH levels and worsening hypothyroidism. Once started, mood-changing medications take a long time to eliminate from the body. And their effects may make a thyroid diagnosis more difficult, as so many thyroid symptoms are mood-related.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>According to Henry Ford Health System, "The product information of Prozac reveals that infrequently Prozac may cause or worsen preexisting hypothyroidism. As hypothyroidism is known to cause depression, it is important to have your thyroid function checked." According to Mary Shomon, author of Living Well With Hypothyroidism, "Taking thyroid hormone replacement while taking the popular antidepressant sertraline -- brand name Zoloft -- can cause a decrease in the effectiveness of the thyroid hormone replacement, and make your TSH rise. This same effect has also been seen in patients receiving other selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors such as Paxil (paroxetine) and Prozac (fluoxetine). If you are on an antidepressant or thyroid hormone and your doctor wants to prescribe the other, be sure to discuss these issues."<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

While your TSH level is in the "normal" range, we each feel well at varying levels. Hopefully, your Endo will treat your symptoms rather than your blood levels.

In our Information Archive, there is a useful list of questions to use when interviewing a new doctor to qualify their treatment protocols:
<A HREF="http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/Forum118/HTML/000005.html" TARGET=_blank>http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/Forum118/HTML/000005.html</A>

Scroll down to Meep's post of 2Nov01.

Depression/Anxiety and thyroid levels are definitely connected, and many of us find that our depression and anxiety are relieved when our levels are adjusted properly.

Hang in there, and let us know what the Endo says.

Meep · 01-15-2002, 09:14 AM

ArtfulD beat me the punh on this and is right on target. Run this by your doctor. Say something like:

"Humor me on this, I realize that my TSH is 'normal', but if it were at 1.0, it would STILL be normal. Can we adjust my meds and aim for a little lower in the normal range to see if that alleviates some of my symptoms?"

Along with that, present him with the checklist of hypo symptoms from the information archive ( <A HREF="http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/Forum118/HTML/000005.html" TARGET=_blank>http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/Forum118/HTML/000005.html</A> ) with the symptoms you are having now checked. It can't hurt anything, right?<p>[This message has been edited by Meep (edited 01-15-2002).]

theewilliams · 01-15-2002, 01:05 PM

Thank you both Artful and Meep! And Meep those were the words I was looking for! Thanks!

Meep · 01-15-2002, 01:43 PM

Thanks, I am glad that helped. I hope it works for you! <IMG SRC="http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif">

Tree Frog · 01-16-2002, 01:08 PM

I hope so too!
Please be sure to let us know how it goes! TF

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