Posted by Noa on May 27, 2000, at 15:33:28
In reply to Re: Atypical Depression, posted by CarolAnn on May 27, 2000, at 13:01:19
Brenda, 2.8 or so is sort of on the low end of "normal" range, although one article I read said that anything over 2 is highly predictive of developing overt hypothyroid. The psychiatric symptoms usually come first. Still, your TSH numbers don't scream hypothyroid. I would keep in mind, though that for psychiatric purposes, a small dose of thyroid hormone, usually T3, but also sometimes both T3 and T4, can often help people respond better to meds, the strategy keeping the TSH in the hyper range. This, of course, is something that psychopharmocologists do all the time but that your average family doctor is unfamiliar with. So, if you get partial results from the wellbutrin, but not enough, ask your pdoc about adjunctive thyroid hormone treatment. Someone else mentioned stimulants as an adjunct, and I have found that helpful. Especially if you continue to have fatigue, etc. But first, see how the WB does.
"Brain Chemistry"---If it were your thyroid, that would not get you "off the hook" as far as brain chemistry. Thyroid hormone is indeed a brain chemical in the sense that it is required for brain cells to function normally, and it interacts closely with serotonin and norepinephrine.
poster:Noa
thread:34727
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000526/msgs/34902.html