Dr. Bob's Psychopharmacology Tips

Thyroid augmentation of antidepressants

Date: Fri, 09 Feb 1996 13:25:20 -0500
From: Stephen Sokolov <sokolovs@fhs.csu.mcmaster.ca>
Subject: Thyroid augmentation of antidepressants

There is one double-blind (but not placebo-contolled) trial of T3 vs. T4 augmentation. In that study, approximately 60% of patients augmented with T3 responded within three weeks but only 15-20% of those treated with T4. The response rate found with T4 is similar to that seen in the placebo group of other augmentation trials.

Joffe RT, Singer W: A comparison of triiodothyronine and thyroxine in the potentiation of tricyclic antidepressants. Psychiatry Res 32:241-252, 1990.

Date: Sun, 11 Feb 1996 23:42:28 -0800
From: jgmd@mindlink.bc.ca (Jane Garland)
Subject: Thyroid augmentation of antidepressants

One theory is that T4 to T3 conversion is one of problems in mood disorders. Hence the logic of T3 instead of T4 for augmentation.

I have mainly used T3 for antidepressant augmentation.

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