Posted by Ritch on April 11, 2002, at 15:17:27
In reply to Re: Rapid cycling and thyroid disorders » Ritch, posted by HMK on April 11, 2002, at 10:53:27
> I got my TSH levels back and they were in the normal range- 3.98! Now I can't figure out why I'm on this roller coaster. Do individuals with depressive illness need to have different thyroid functioning levels than the general populace? I was so sure that my rapid cycling was due to my thyroid functioning!
>
> Can't take trileptal (blurred vision so bad I couldn't drive, nausea), Depakote (weight gain), or lithium (hypothyroidism). What mood stabilizers are left besides Neurontin which I already take?That TSH level would be considered to be "sub-clinical hypothyroidism" by the endocrinology people nowadays. Anything above 2.0. I wouldn't say you are finished with the idea of thyroid augmentation unless you were down closer to 1.0 anyhow. Some folks have went lower than 1.0 with good results and minimal side effects (Noa-from what I remember).
There is still Lamictal which lots of people seem to like (I haven't tried that one myself). There's Topomax and Gabitril. Hey, they are worth a trial IMO. I had some bad cognitive sfx from TOP and tiagibine, but I have some fairly prominent ADHD symptoms. You didn't mention Tegretol-there's another one. Zonegran and Keppra are newer AED's that might be worth trying (I haven't tried those yet). Have you tried adding one some Klonopin? That settles down agitation significantly. Depakote has been the one to get my temper under control the best. Maybe if you could add a tiny dose of Depakote (125mg) and get some T4 added on (bringing your TSH down to about 1.0)-you wouldn't gain any extra weight?
hope this helps,
Mitch
poster:Ritch
thread:102498
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020408/msgs/102775.html