diananoelle

I was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism this year. I have been struggling with depression, brain fog, lack of concentration/focus/motivation, fatigue, and lethargy for a very long time. It even caused me to fail out of this entire year of university.

I have been taking 50 mcg of Synthroid since March and my symptoms haven't improved at all. I went to the doctor a couple of weeks ago and he told me that my levels were normal and that I should simply continue on my current dosage.

I'm still struggling with all of the same problems though. I am even considering the idea that I may have A.D.D. because of my complete inability to concentrate, comprehend, or focus on material. I even tried 15 mg of Adderall to see what the effect would be and the day that I took it, it was like a lightbulb went on in my brain. I felt completely normal, my thoughts were not jumbled, I was talkative and energetic instead of lost in a fog, and it was an eye-opener for me. There were negative side effects though (a crash, irritability, dry mouth, lack of appetite) and I'm apprehensive about getting a prescription. I would never take it again without going to the doctor first - it was a one time experiment.

Anyways, I'm desperate for a solution. My doctor does not seem to think there are any problems left with me after doing a blood test and Thyroid uptake scan, but I feel as awful as ever.

I was doing research online and read about the supplement L-Tyrosine. I'm not even kidding when I say it's used to treat depression, A.D.D., fatigue, thyroid problems, and more. Why I didn't know about this before baffles me, but of course there's a catch. I read that you should never take an L-Tyrosine supplement when you're taking thyroid medication. It was like a had a beacon of hope for exactly five minutes before it all came crashing down.

The Synthroid is not making me feel better. My physician may say that my TSH levels are normal, but I do not feel normal. I am considering stopping the Synthroid and taking L-Tyrosine instead. I know everyone is going to tell me to talk to my doctor first, but what doctor would ever approve of stopping thyroid treatment? I already know what the answer is going to be.

My brain literally does not work anymore. My thoughts are disorganized, I'm restless, distracted, unfocused, and cannot remember or pay attention to simple things. I'm constantly tired and feeling down. This is ruining my life, from isolating myself socially to failing school. I just do not have the physical or mental energy to deal with life anymore.

Last Fall, before I was diagnosed as Hypothyroid, I was put on Prozac for a few months and then Zoloft and neither of those helped me. In fact I felt even worse. So I have already considered anti-depressants. I would be open to trying Wellbutrin because I have heard that it's a stimulant but from what I read online, I'm much more hopeful about the L-Tyrosine.

I know this is turning into a novel, so here is the question.

Should I stop taking Synthroid and try the L-Tyrosine? How long do I need to be off of Synthroid before it is safe to start L-Tyrosine supplements? Has anybody had any success with L-Tyrosine?

Has anybody taken L-Tyrosine while on a Levothyroxine medication? Also, if you have any other insight, general advice, tips, or feedback please help me. I'm in such a state of hopelessness, I will take any reassurance or suggestions I can get.

Oh and here are my levels/information:

T3 - 111
T4 (Thyroxine) - 8.7

Thyroglobulin AB - 134
Thyroid Peroxidase AB - 186

I'm 21 years old, 5'7" inches, and 120 pounds exactly.