Re: Real dark depression

[Guest guest]

Hi Jane

Could low vit D3 be a possible cause?

best wishes

Bob

>

> Hi All,

> For the last week I`ve been in an almost catatonic depression, it is slightly

better today, but has really scared me. I was house bound, barely able to move

(not through pain, but feeling dead), hating the world and everyone in it.

[Guest guest]

Hello Jane

Sorry you are suffering so much. It is a hard time of year, long nights.

Some questions for you:

What antidepressants were you on?

Were you better when you were on them?

When did you come off them?

It may be that for now if they help you, you need them. If you need them you

need them. It doesn't sound like you can function as you are.

Have you suffered with seasonal winter depression before?

>For the last week I`ve been in an almost catatonic depression, it is slightly

better today, but has really scared me. [...] I hate that I don`t see or speak

to anyone for weeks on end yet I couldn`t bear to see people anyway as I hate

everyone.

Can you clarify if you've felt like this for a week or weeks?

>> I haven`t changed any meds recently so don`t know what caused it. I have

been on 75mcgs of Levo for 7 weeks after having been on 50mcgs since August.

How were you on this?

Did the 5-htp help at first? 5-htp, as you know, boosts serotonin. sometimes

people need more noradrenalne, from tyrosine. How much 5-htp do you take?

That's why i'm interested to know which AD you were on and if it helped.

http://www.moodcure.com/Questionnaire.html -- what does this indicate you're

low in?

Could it be you need some T3 too? do you still have lingering thyroid symptoms?

Jane I think that if you feel this bad and anti depressants help that you should

consider reaching out to your doctor. Maybe your other treatment isn't quite

right yet and while you're getting it sorted maybe you need these anti

depressants. that is for you and your gp to look at. perhaps they can give

you a different one that isn't so hard to come off. in my experience, some are

harder to come off than others.

chris

[Guest guest]

Hi and thanks for replying. Have answered in blue.

Jane

>> Hello Jane> > Sorry you are suffering so much. It is a hard time of year, long nights.> > Some questions for you:> > What antidepressants were you on? Citalopram 20 mg for about 5 yrs.> Were you better when you were on them? Yes, they enabled me to work and I was better on them, but gradually came off them when I started getting muscle pain.> When did you come off them? Probably abt Nov 2010 finishing abt March 2011.> > It may be that for now if they help you, you need them. If you need them you need them. It doesn't sound like you can function as you are. > > Have you suffered with seasonal winter depression before? Never thought about when it specifically comes on but I suppose it could be a factor.> > > >For the last week I`ve been in an almost catatonic depression, it is slightly better today, but has really scared me. [...] I hate that I don`t see or speak to anyone for weeks on end yet I couldn`t bear to see people anyway as I hate everyone. > > Can you clarify if you've felt like this for a week or weeks? I am always depressed and low functioning but have put it down to hypothyroid, but in the last week it has been really really black. Since retiring with ill health a year ago I`ve lost contact with the world and my friends and family. I usually manage to keep afloat ok courtesy of my lovely dog, its only the last week its been really bad.> > >> I haven`t changed any meds recently so don`t know what caused it. I have been on 75mcgs of Levo for 7 weeks after having been on 50mcgs since August. > > How were you on this? I saw an improvement when I first went on Levo then it tapered off. Doc increased it to 75 and I felt an initial improvement, i.e. am not sleeping in the day, slightly less muscle pain and am able to turn over in bed more easily, slightly less burning in hands and feet. These last few improvements have remained - just the depression snuck in.> > Did the 5-htp help at first? 5-htp, as you know, boosts serotonin. sometimes people need more noradrenalne, from tyrosine. How much 5-htp do you take? That's why i'm interested to know which AD you were on and if it helped. I take 2 per day, started with 1. Yes I remember it did on the first day (but could that have been placebo affect?). I took it cos I know I`ve always had low dopamine levels as my GP told me this years ago (my Mum and Auntie both had Parkinsons and my brother has suffered depression all his life).> > http://www.moodcure.com/Questionnaire.html -- what does this indicate you're low in?> > Could it be you need some T3 too? do you still have lingering thyroid symptoms?> Yes I do still have symptoms. I probably need T3 but am waiting until after my 8 week blood test at GPs. I have bought some Cynomel with a view to starting it should I need to - doc has made it clear he won`t prescribe it.> > Jane I think that if you feel this bad and anti depressants help that you should consider reaching out to your doctor. Maybe your other treatment isn't quite right yet and while you're getting it sorted maybe you need these anti depressants. that is for you and your gp to look at. perhaps they can give you a different one that isn't so hard to come off. in my experience, some are harder to come off than others. > Yes, I`m coming to this conclusion myself but so reluctant.> > > chris>

[Guest guest]

Hi Bob and thanks for the suggestion. My last D3 result on 7th Nov was 26.5

ug/L (6-40). Seems ok but there was still plenty of sunlight around then. I

suppose its worth trying a supplement.

Jane

>

> Hi Jane

>

> Could low vit D3 be a possible cause?

>

> best wishes

> Bob

>

>

[Guest guest]

hi Jane

> > What antidepressants were you on? Citalopram 20 mg for about 5 yrs.

> > Were you better when you were on them? Yes, they enabled me to work

> and I was better on them, but gradually came off them when I started

> getting muscle pain.

Did the muscle pain stop when you came off them? 'They' also do escitalopram

don't they (supposed to be more effective?), did you try these?

> > >> I haven`t changed any meds recently so don`t know what caused it. I

> have been on 75mcgs of Levo for 7 weeks after having been on 50mcgs

> since August.

> >

> > How were you on this? I saw an improvement when I first went on Levo

> then it tapered off. Doc increased it to 75 and I felt an initial

> improvement, i.e. am not sleeping in the day, slightly less muscle pain

> and am able to turn over in bed more easily, slightly less burning in

> hands and feet. These last few improvements have remained - just the

> depression snuck in.

Perhaps you need more thyroid hormone? TSH isn't that relevant as you know. It

is interesting that your symptoms initially got

better. Have you tried any kind of T3 containing med before?

> > Did the 5-htp help at first? 5-htp, as you know, boosts serotonin.

> sometimes people need more noradrenalne, from tyrosine. How much 5-htp

> do you take? That's why i'm interested to know which AD you were on and

> if it helped. I take 2 per day, started with 1. Yes I remember it did

> on the first day (but could that have been placebo affect?).

Could be placebo, but these nutrients can work very fast. It's important not to

take 5-htp with citalopram if you do go back on it. You could end up with

serotonin syndrome.

>I took it

> cos I know I`ve always had low dopamine levels as my GP told me this

> years ago (my Mum and Auntie both had Parkinsons and my brother has

> suffered depression all his life).

5-htp is to boost serotonin though, not dopamine? Tyrosine may boost dopamine,

so might fish oils?

> > http://www.moodcure.com/Questionnaire.html -- what does this indicate

> you're low in?

What does this indicate?

> > Could it be you need some T3 too? do you still have lingering thyroid

> symptoms?

> > Yes I do still have symptoms. I probably need T3 but am waiting until

> after my 8 week blood test at GPs. I have bought some Cynomel with a

> view to starting it should I need to - doc has made it clear he won`t

> prescribe it.

have you looked into your adrenals too?

Thyroid Hormones

I'm sensitive to cold

My hands and feet are always cold

In the morning my face is puffy and my eyelids are swollen

I put on weight easily

I have dry skin

I have trouble getting up in the morning

I feel more cured at rest than when I am active

I am constipated

My joints are stiff in the morning

I feel like I'm living in slow motion

Cortisol

My face looks thinner

My friends call me skinny

I have eczema, psoriasis, urticaria (nettle rash), skin allergies, or other

rashes

My heart beats quickly

My blood pressure is low

I crave salt and sugar (to the extent of binging)

I have digestive problem

I have allergies (hay fever, asthma, etc.)

I'm stressed out

I'm easily confused

DHEA

My hair is dry

My skin and eyes are dry

My muscle are flabby

My belly is getting fat

I don't have much hair under my arm (0 = plenty of hair/4=hairless)

I don't have much hair in pubic area (0 = plenty of hair/4 = hairless)

I don't have much fatty tissue in the pubic area (flat " mount of venus " in

women) (0=padded/4=flat)

My body doesn't have much of special scent during sexual arousal

I can't tolerate noise

My libido is low

> > Jane I think that if you feel this bad and anti depressants help that

> you should consider reaching out to your doctor. Maybe your other

> treatment isn't quite right yet and while you're getting it sorted maybe

> you need these anti depressants. that is for you and your gp to look at.

> perhaps they can give you a different one that isn't so hard to come

> off. in my experience, some are harder to come off than others.

> > Yes, I`m coming to this conclusion myself but so reluctant.

Well it sounds like you need to do something, be it take t3 or take these

antidepressants. will the t3 blood results change what you do? ie if they look

ok will you still try t3 or not bother?

can you discuss with your gp about other antidepressants? there are lots,

though if you found citalopram to be helpful before....

are you talking with anyone else like dr peatfield?

chris

[Guest guest]

It

could be that the thyroid hormone just isn't doing the job it is supposed to be

doing Jane, and that it is this that is causing you depression. You need the

mainly INACTIVE thyroid hormone T4 to convert into the ACTIVE thyroid hormone

T3 and it is T3 that every cell in your body and brain need to make them

function. Not everybody can convert T4 to T3, in fact, the majority of our

members are here looking for support because they are not getting their health

back on levothyroxine only.

There

are MANY reasons and many medical conditions associated with thyroid disease

that stop thyroid hormone from getting into the cells and I know it can be

difficult and frustrating, and when you are depressed, it can be difficult to

set your mind to actually doing it, but if you want to regain your normal

health, you have to make yourself go through this list by way of a process of

elimination Jane, to find exactly what the culprit is, and then go about

putting it right. We can help you with this, so you are NOT alone, even though

you feel you are right now. You just need to take some baby steps and not take

on too much all at once.

First,

read the following, but take in only ONE PARAGRAPH AT A TIME.

1. The main condition

responsible for stopping thyroid hormone from working is, quite simply, a

patient’s thyroxine dose is too low because the doctor or consultant

refuses to increase it, because the serum thyroid function test results appear

OK. Sometimes, the thyroxine dose is too high, yet patients still don't feel

well. They continue to suffer. Some reasons for this:

2. They may be suffering

with low adrenal reserve. The production of T4, its conversion to T3, and the

receptor uptake requires a normal amount of adrenal hormones, notably, of

course, cortisone. (Excess cortisone can shut production down, however.) This

is what happens if the adrenals are not responding properly, and provision of

cortisone usually switches it on again. But sometimes it

doesn’t. If the illness has been going on for a long time, the

enzyme seems to fail. This conversion failure (inexplicably denied by

many endocrinologists) means the thyroxine builds up, unconverted. So it

doesn’t work, and T4 toxicosis results. This makes the patient feel quite

unwell, toxic, often with palpitations and chest pain. If provision of adrenal

support doesn’t remedy the situation, the final solution is the use of

the active thyroid hormone, already converted, T3 - either synthetic or

natural.

3. You may have low

levels of specific minerals and vitamins so ask your GP to test your levels of

iron, transferring saturation%, ferritin, vitamin B12, vitamin D3, magnesium,

folate, copper and zinc - all of which, if low, stop the thyroid hormone from

being utilised by the cells - these have to be treated. When you get these

results, post them to the Forum together with the reference range for each test

done and we will help with their interpretation.

4. Then, we have

systemic candidiasis. This is where candida albicans, yeast, which causes skin

infections almost anywhere in the body, invades the lining of the lower part of

the small intestine and the large intestine. Here, the candida sets up

residence in the warmth and the dark, and demands to be fed. Loving

sugars and starches, candida can make you suffer terrible sweet cravings.

Candida can produce toxins which can cause very many symptoms of exhaustion,

headache, general illness, and which interfere with the uptake of thyroid and

adrenal treatment. Sometimes the levels - which we usually test for - can

be very high, and make successful treatment difficult to achieve until

adequately treated.

5. Then there is

receptor resistance which could be a culprit. Being hypothyroid for some

considerable time may mean the biochemical mechanisms which permit the binding

of T3 to the receptors, is downgraded - so the T3 won’t go in. With

slow build up of T3, with full adrenal support and adequate vitamins and

minerals, the receptors do come on line again. But this can be quite a

slow process, and care has to be taken to build the dose up gradually.

6. And then there are

Food allergies. The most common food allergy is allergy to gluten, the protein

fraction of wheat. The antibody generated by the body, by a process of

molecular mimicry, cross reacts with the thyroperoxidase enzyme, (which makes

thyroxine) and shuts it down. So allergy to bread can make you

hypothyroid. There may be other food allergies with this kind of effect, but

information on these is scanty. Certainly allergic response to certain

foods can affect adrenal function and imperil thyroid production and uptake.

7. Then we have hormone

imbalances. The whole of the endocrine system is linked; each part of it needs

the other parts to be operating normally to work properly. An example of

this we have seen already, with cortisone. But another example is the

operation of sex hormones. The imbalance that occurs at the menopause

with progesterone running down, and a relative dominance of oestrogen is a

further case in point – oestrogen dominance downgrades production,

transportation and uptake of thyroid hormones. This is why hypothyroidism

may first appear at the menopause; the symptoms ascribed to this alone, which

is then treated – often with extra oestrogen, making the whole thing

worse. Deficiency in progesterone most especially needs to be dealt with,

since it reverses oestrogen dominance, improves many menopausal symptoms like

sweats and mood swings, and reverses osteoporosis. Happily natural

progesterone cream is easily obtained: when used it has the added benefit of

helping to stabilise adrenal function.

When you have been

quite unwell for a long time, all these problems have to be dealt with; and

since each may affect the other, it all has to be done rather carefully.

The

above problems must be eliminated if thyroid hormone isn't working for you.

One

step at a time Jane, but these steps you must take if you want to regain your

health. The first step is to follow your temptation and phone the doctor, but

not to ask for antidepressants, but to ask for the tests mentioned above to be

done.

Luv

- Sheila

I am very tempted to phone the docs and go back on anti-depressants.

I haven`t changed any meds recently so don`t know what caused it. I have been

on 75mcgs of Levo for 7 weeks after having been on 50mcgs since August. I have

Hashis. For the last 2 weeks I have been taking 5-HTP to help with depression

and am wondering if this has actually caused the slump. I have also been taking

Adreno Max for a couple of months and a zinc supplement from the doc.

[Guest guest]

Hi - done answers in red this time.

Jane

>> hi Jane> > > Did the muscle pain stop when you came off them? 'They' also do escitalopram don't they (supposed to be more effective?), did you try these? Now that`s interesting, cos the muscle pain didn`t stop - perhaps it wasn`t a side affect of the citalopram after all !> > >> Perhaps you need more thyroid hormone? TSH isn't that relevant as you know. It is interesting that your symptoms initially got > better. TSH is ok, it went down from 4 to abt 1.3 since being on 50mcgs levo.

Have you tried any kind of T3 containing med before? No> > > > Could be placebo, but these nutrients can work very fast. It's important not to take 5-htp with citalopram if you do go back on it. You could end up with serotonin syndrome. ok, my son had that - nasty.> > > >> 5-htp is to boost serotonin though, not dopamine? Tyrosine may boost dopamine, so might fish oils? ok, didn`t know that, thanks Chris.> > > > http://www.moodcure.com/Questionnaire.html -- what does this indicate> > you're low in?> > What does this indicate? Serotonin, Norepinephrine and GABA/Cortisol were very low. Thanks for the link Chris.> > > >> > have you looked into your adrenals too? Yes, had test and clapped out - have been taking Nutri Adreno Max for a couple of months.> > > Well it sounds like you need to do something, be it take t3 or take these antidepressants. will the t3 blood results change what you do? ie if they look ok will you still try t3 or not bother? Not sure - will think again when I get this depression sorted. Tend to think depression is the main culprit at the moment.> > can you discuss with your gp about other antidepressants? there are lots, though if you found citalopram to be helpful before.... Yes, and thanks for your help - you`ve helped get things in perspective. I think depression and low dopamine levels may be the root cause of the hypothyroid (not the other way round as it is for most people). The depression gene seems to be the culprit in my family.> > are you talking with anyone else like dr peatfield? I spoke to him on the phone some weeks ago but was put off a bit because he seemed to dismiss my concerns about TH1/TH2 balance in Hashis.> > chris

Thank you - this has really helped.

Jane>

[Guest guest]

Hi Jane,

My endo told me that I must never go below 75, and I try to keep mine about 90. You will not feel good with it this low. I am taking 4000 D3/day to keep mine at this level.

Val

My last D3 result on 7th Nov was 26.5 ug/L (6-40). Seems ok but there was still plenty of sunlight around then. I suppose its worth trying a supplement.Jane

[Guest guest]

Dear Sheila, thanks for the info. I have checked most of the possible causes

listed and had the tests done. Zinc and Ferritin were low and I`m supplementing

those now. Also supplementing adrenals that were low. Am also on a gluten free

diet and am also treating my THelper1 cell dominance in the auto-immune problem.

I`m pretty sure the root cause of everything is depression, i.e. low dopamine or

serotonin levels and has been all my life. I feel that the hypothyroidism came

after the depression. I`m still trying to decide between trying T3 or going

back on anti-depressants. I have some T3 in the cupboard ready but don`t want

to start it until after my next thyroid blood test (after Xmas) as it will

confuse the doctor.

The recent dark days may have had a bearing as well so I have re-started some D3

drops.

Depression has been the real bug-bear of my life (and many others in my family).

Aunt and Mum with depression and Parkinsons, brother with life long depression,

son with mental illness - We`re all such a delicate lot!

Thanks for your thoughts,

Love, Jane

>

> It could be that the thyroid hormone just isn't doing the job it is supposed

> to be doing Jane, and that it is this that is causing you depression. >

> One step at a time Jane, but these steps you must take if you want to regain

> your health. The first step is to follow your temptation and phone the

> doctor, but not to ask for antidepressants, but to ask for the tests

> mentioned above to be done.

>

> Luv - Sheila

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> I am very tempted to phone the docs and go back on anti-depressants.

>

> I haven`t changed any meds recently so don`t know what caused it. I have

> been on 75mcgs of Levo for 7 weeks after having been on 50mcgs since August.

> I have Hashis. For the last 2 weeks I have been taking 5-HTP to help with

> depression and am wondering if this has actually caused the slump. I have

> also been taking Adreno Max for a couple of months and a zinc supplement

> from the doc.

>

[Guest guest]

Goodness Val, that`s way above the top reference range of 40. I was thinking

mine was pretty good. Well I have just started taking a couple of drops - it

says take 1-5 drops daily. I`ll see how it goes.

I`m wary of taking too much of anything.

Thanks.

Jane

>

> Hi Jane,

>

> My endo told me that I must never go below 75, and I try to keep mine about

90. You will not feel good with it this low. I am taking 4000 D3/day to keep

mine at this level.

>

> Val

>

> My last D3 result on 7th Nov was 26.5 ug/L (6-40). Seems ok but there was

still plenty of sunlight around then. I suppose its worth trying a supplement.

> Jane

>

[Guest guest]

Jane, do read all about vitamin D3 in the FILES SECTION of our

forum under 'Vitamins and Minerals'. You will see all about the recommended

dosing recommendations there. At least 4000 D3 daily is what is recommended for

those who have symptoms of hypothyroidism and other associated conditions who

have low levels.

Luv - Sheila

Goodness Val, that`s way above the top

reference range of 40. I was thinking mine was pretty good. Well I have just

started taking a couple of drops - it says take 1-5 drops daily. I`ll see how

it goes.

I`m wary of taking too much of anything.

Thanks.

Jane

-

___

[Guest guest]

Hi Jane

I have been on Citalopram from years and i agree its horrible to come off; not

that i have come off it intentionally but its normally when i run out and dont

have more to collect from dr for a week or so.

Similar to you I also went thru a bout of depression a couple of weeks ago but

what i found really helped was talking to the samaritans. I know that sounds

cheesey but they said all the right things to make me feel ok. Of course they

cant fix things but the empathy and understanding was a huge help.

Reading your post I think that you need to get to the Drs quick and get some

more antidepressants. Surely feeling better comes first and then when you feel

better you will be more prepared to takle the problems that you face.

This is just my pennys worth and it may be nothing compared to what you are

going through but you sound like you and your doggy need help. x

>

> hi Jane

>

> > > What antidepressants were you on? Citalopram 20 mg for about 5 yrs.

[Guest guest]

Hi Tara, Thanks for your kind words. Thankfully the depression has lifted a bit

and I`ve been out for a walk with my dog and played ball with him in the park. I

was almost on the point of going back to docs for ADs but have managed to stave

that moment off - I would rather find other ways. I don`t know what the cause

was this time, but am now taking extra VitD in case its to do with the dark

weather.

I did use the Samaritans once years ago but found them a bit pointless - the

person at the other end said hardly anything and actually made me feel worse.

Love, Jane

>

> Hi Jane

>

> I have been on Citalopram from years and i agree its horrible to come off; >

> > This is just my pennys worth and it may be nothing compared to what you are

going through but you sound like you and your doggy need help. x

>

>

[Guest guest]

Well I am glad you have been out with the dog, that is always a guaranteed

cheer-upper! Dogs being stupid cant help but make you smile.

With regards to the samaritans, I didnt ring them but in the way of the modern

world I emailed them! It wasnt an instant response but it did actually help.

Anyway chin up and keep walking the dog x

>

> Hi Tara, Thanks for your kind words. Thankfully the depression has lifted a

bit and I`ve been out for a walk with my dog and played ball with him in the

park. I was almost on the point of going back to docs for ADs but have managed

to stave that moment off - I would rather find other ways. I don`t know what

the cause was this time, but am now taking extra VitD in case its to do with the

dark weather.

>

> I did use the Samaritans once years ago but found them a bit pointless - the

person at the other end said hardly anything and actually made me feel worse.

>

> Love, Jane

>

[Guest guest]

Hi there , I get some mild depression some times. i feel sorry for my self and low and blue. it dosen`t last to long and i think it is due to the hashi`s.it may be displacing other hormones in the body . you get a temp hormonal inbalance and as their are many of them it is difficult to say which one`s or one is involved.or it could be just the attack which fluctuates up and down . which in inturn knocks others from the norm. if you find out what is the cause is please pass it on.have you tryed a natural treatment.? angel.who is alone in this big wide world, have no

brothers or sisters, other relatives are not in touch. mum , dad and step dad, already dead. both my sons have learning problems, and hubby is now 70 years old and it is hard work to motivate him. i am, coming up to 65 in Jan, no one understands what it is like to have hashi`s and friends are hard to come by. thats my rant over with (sorry) ....

[Guest guest]

I sympathise as I was in your position with horrendous brain fog and

unrelentlessly dark depression for a number of years. The antid's I resorted to

taking made the whole thyroid thing worse. The solution for me was to get my T3

levels tested privately. These showed my T3 to be off the lower limit of the

range (in spite of in range T4 and TSH)I was diagnosed with Myxoedema and

started on T4 instantly. T4 however did not provide the relief I hoped so

eventually having tried T4 with T3 I was changed onto T3 only. This was like

flicking a switch in my body. Restoring T3 levels to the top 1/4 of the range

has had dramatic effects on my brain clarity and the depression has evaporated

and to date(18 months since starting T3)has not returned.

I have also done some online reading about T3 being used in treatment resistant

depression with good results when the T3 level is elevated into the top 1/4 of

the range.

During my dark years I also made a huge effort to walk the dog daily and get the

good Vit D to my skin. You are doing the right things, hang on in there and

insist on getting your T3 tested citing my case as an example.

> >

> > Hi Tara, Thanks for your kind words. Thankfully the depression has lifted a

bit and I`ve been out for a walk with my dog and played ball with him in the

park. I was almost on the point of going back to docs for ADs but have managed

to stave that moment off - I would rather find other ways. I don`t know what

the cause was this time, but am now taking extra VitD in case its to do with the

dark weather.

> >

> > I did use the Samaritans once years ago but found them a bit pointless - the

person at the other end said hardly anything and actually made me feel worse.

> >

> > Love, Jane

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi there,

I too sympathise with you and all others - I get times when I feel like the

world is against me and the anxiety can be overwhelming. I worry what people

think about me and I get too scared to just stop and let myself rest in case I

cannot start again.

Like others I have no family but I do have a partner who now just about

understands me and some good friends I know I can turn to. I have a lovely dog

who keeps me going and i am so glad to have - I make myself walk her and it does

help to wrap up and walk in the air even for just 15 minutes.

I can go from low and flat to feeling extremely well and peaceful and at one

with the world - and boy I wish I could capture that feeling to have more often.

Be kind to yourself and wiat for it to pass because we all know that it does

eventually.

Stacey

[Guest guest]

This is so true. Here are some studies that have demonstrated

the positive effect of T3/-only treatment, including psychiatric researchers

whose patients use T3 and point out that it is generally well-tolerated.[4]Moreover,

psychiatrists report that dosages of T3 higher than replacement dosages augment

the depression-relieving effects of antidepressants.[1-5]

1.

, I.C., Prange, A.J. Jr., and Lara,

P.P. “L-triiodothyronine alone and with impramine inthe treatment of

depressed women.” In The Thyroid Axis, Drugs, and Behavior. Edited by

A.J. Prange. New York, Raven Press, 1974, pp.49-62.

2.

Altshuler, L.L., Bauer, M., Frye, M.A.,

et al. “Does thyroid supplementation accelerate tricyclic antidepressant

response? A review and meta-analysis of the literature.” Am. J.

Psychiatry, 2001; 158:1617-1622.

3.

Cooke, R.G., Joffe,R.T and Levitt, A.J.,

" T3 augmentation of antidepressant treatment in T4 replaced thyroid

patients " .J.Clin.Psychiatry, 1992. 53 (1) 16-19

4.

Joffe, R.T. and Singer, W. “A

comparison of triidothyronine and thyroxine in the potentiation of tricyclic

antidepressants.” Psychiatry Res., 1990, 32:241-251.

5.

Stern, R.A., Nevels, C.T., Shelhorse .M.E.

et al " Antidepressant and memory effects of combined thyroid hormone

treatment and electroconvulsive therapy: preliminary findings.” Biol.

Psychiatry, 1991, 30:623-62

Luv - Sheila

I have also done some online reading about T3 being used in treatment resistant

depression with good results when the T3 level is elevated into the top 1/4 of

the range.

> >

> > Hi Tara, Thanks for your kind words. Thankfully the depression has

lifted a bit and I`ve been out for a walk with my dog and played ball with him

in the park. I was almost on the point of going back to docs for ADs but have

managed to stave that moment off - I would rather find other ways. I don`t know

what the cause was this time, but am now taking extra VitD in case its to do

with the dark weather.

> >

> > I did use the Samaritans once years ago but found them a bit

pointless - the person at the other end said hardly anything and actually made

me feel worse.

> >

> > Love, Jane

> >

>