Do I take the AD's or sort out thyroid probs?

[Glassofwine]

Firstly I did post last week about this, but didn't get much response on a general thread. So here goes, I've been feeling a bit down for a few weeks and went to the Dr last week to be honest in the hopes she'd prescribe AD's - I thought it would be a quick fix. The first thing she said was well we'll have to check if you have any thyroid problems (not my normal doc). I do have an underactive thyroid and had recently had a blood test, which I'd had a call to say needed a slightly increased dose of thyroxine. So GP said, well once that's kicked in after a few more days, you might start to feel better. I asked what my thyroid level was and she said 8.something and it should be under 5 - I don't really know what all this means.

Anyway she went to to offer either going onthe waiting list for counselling or AD's - I went for AD's and got a prescription for something called somthing like Citroplam. I got the tablets from the chemist and the info about possible side effects and problems int he first two weeks really scared me.

Then I got to thinking, well if her initial reaction was to discuss thyroid shouldn't I sort that out first and make sure it's properly balanced before taking AD's.

I do feel a lot better now, partly I think because the side effects and everything made me feel that I wasn't that bad ie. I can face the world, I don't feel suisidal (sp). I don't feel like my normal self though and still a bit 'fragile' - I've had a few tough few years and with hindsight I'm sure I had pnd after DD2 (now 4).

So, sorry for the rant, but am I right in sorting out the thyroid or should I just get on with it and take the Ad's and go back to being me. Is there a link between depression and thyroid?

I take thyroxine and have done for about 20 years now. Undoubtedly, too low a dose could leave you feeling depressed. My advice would be to sort out your thyroxine first and give it a few weeks or so before resorting to AD's. It's not that I have a problem with people taking AD's, it's just that they can have numerous side effects. If the underlying cause of your depression is that you're not getting enough thyroxine then it makes sense to sort that out first rather than masking the symptoms by taking AD's. Hope that helps. x

Sort the thyroid out first if you can manage to wait- too little can make you feel tired, run down, depressed

I was diagnosed with low thyroid at the beginning of this year, and having suffered from depression in the past(which was treated with Prozac) I assumed I was depressed. The symptoms were exactly the same. Luckily I had a good GP who tested my thyroid and iron levels and put me straight on thyroxine. I now take 150mg a day and feel absolutely fine. I was also told that my TSH level (the one they look at) should be below 5 but ideally under 2.

I would definitely go and sort out your thyroid first, it's amazing what a difference it makes when it's functioning pproperly. Give it 6 weeks for the change of dose to take effect (that's what I was told) and then you can always take the ADs if you still feel like you need them.

Thank you, thank you, thank you all of you. Am suffering from real brain fog at themoment and have been finding it hard to work out what best to do. You've all made me feel that I was right to hold off and am now waiting to get to see GP.

Hypothyroidism definitely causes depression. IT can cause very severe depression indeed. Definitely get your thyroid sorted before you resort to anti-depressants.

Indecision is also a HUGE symptom of hypothyroidism.