Affect of lithium on levothyroxine (synthyroid?) dose

[hose]

Good afternoon boys and girls,

 

I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism at the age of 19 (I'm now 38) and have been taking levothyroxine (I think it's known as synthyroid in the US? I want to cater for all comers ) ever since. I was started on lithium as adjunct to my antidepressants a couple of months ago.

 

My question is this: can lithium have an effect on the dose of levothyroxine needed for pre-existing hypothyroidism, i.e. might I find that I need to take more? Has anyone ever found this? I know that lithium can knacker the thyroid gland right up and cause hypothyroidism, but since mine's pretty much buggered beyond belief anyway I'm not sure that this is an issue.

 

Grateful to hear from all you hypothyroid chaps.

 

Best wishes

 

Jo

[vanderk]

There was a thread about this very topic a few years back.  You may want to do a search of the boards.  If I recall correctly, there is nointeractive problems with Lithium and Levothyroxine, so it really should have no negative bering on you serum levels.  If in doubt consult your pharmacist or look into a drug interaction checker.

Edited February 12, 2014 by vanderk

[yellowlovesgray]

I found this in a search because I have treatment resistant Major Depressive Disorder - and all that have TOUCHED it are Geodon and Lithium. I want to go back on Lithium but was just diagnosed with hypothyroidism. Actually, I have Hashimoto's. I just started Armour for it.

I'm curious about depression symptoms and if treating the thyroid helped them. I've read some CRAZY medical papers this week about psychiatric manifestations of hypothyroidism, but I'm having such a hard time about wrapping my brain around treating my thyroid helping the depression SO MUCH. 

[lavender fairy]

I have found that I have had to treat both my hypothyroid symptoms and my depression symptoms simultaneously.  When my thyroid was first being treated, but I wasn't taking meds for my MI, I was depressed and suicidal.  When my depression was treated, but my thyroid was under-medicated, I was happy enough, but I didn't have the energy to get out of bed to do anything. 

[yellowlovesgray]

Interesting. While you treated them simultaneously, were you taking any drugs that had the possibility to interfere with your thyroid? I'm getting real close to asking my pdoc to just put me back on Lithium. I need this to lift - I have to start working again. Lithium didn't affect my thyroid that I know of back then and I didn't get the weight gain side effect either. In fact I lost about 10 lbs.

[lavender fairy]

I wasn't taking any meds that affected my thyroid.  My thyroid just went hyperactive all on its own, and I had to have it removed. 

 

Since having it removed, I have experienced depressions like never before.  I believe its because I was so depressed about not being able to function well enough to do the things I wanted to do/needed to do to take care of myslef.  It has taken a long time and several docs for me to find adequate treatment for my thyoird, but I believe that I am finally on the right path with a doc who is committed to putting me on enough thyroid meds to function. 

[yellowlovesgray]

Oh wow. Thank you for sharing that.

Geodon, Lithium and Abilify all worked in some way for my depression, but Abilify gives me CRAZY uncontrollable limb movements and my doc's advice to that was "drink some water." OK then. lol. 

I seriously need something more than an SSRI or SNRI to function. Cymbalta feels like it's throwing a pebble at a big stone wall.