Posted by BGB on July 18, 2008, at 23:21:15
Well, it turns out that the manic/psychotic episode that I had was probably just due to hyperthyroidism. My p-doc cranked up my Cytomel to 75mcg/day to augment my antidepressants, which are not working. He said my baseline thyroid levels, without any thyroid medication, were just slightly under optimal levels, and that he was trying the Cytomel to make me hyperthyroid because some recent study showed that throwing someone into a state of hyperthyroidism could help them out of a severe depressive episode.
Unfortunately, not only did my depression probably get worse, I went totally and completely insane for a few weeks. I couldn't sleep, eat, think or have a meaningful conversation. I have never felt such anxiety in my life; Valium did not even touch it. I thought I was loosing my mind for sure. It was scary.
I have been off of the Cytomel (went cold turkey, on doc's advice) for 3 days now and am already feeling much, much calmer. I can eat and sleep again. I am still going to keep my increased doses of Trileptal (1200mg to 1800mg) and Lamictal (200mg), and lowered doses of Cymbalta (120mg down to 60mg) and Wellbutrin SR (600mg to 400mg). I also discontinued Remeron 60mg and don't feel any worse for it. I don't think it was doing much of anything.
The moral of the story, children, is that thyroid is the master hormone of all other hormones and it can f*** you up if you're not careful with it. If your doctor is changing around your dose of a thyroid hormone, ASK him or her WHY! I wouldn't have given him my permission to be his personal thyroid guinea pig had I realized what he was doing.
Strike 9, you're out, doc! I've had enough, finally. We're changing insurance companies at work on August 1, and as soon as they give us access to the physician directory I am finding myself a new psychiatrist! Wish me luck! And please, be careful and cautious with your thyroid! Many people reap great benefits from thyroid augmentation, but it has to be done right! =)
poster:BGB
thread:840647
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080718/msgs/840647.html