[January]

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Thyroid Function
People with bipolar disorder often have abnormal thyroid gland function.5 Because too much or too little thyroid hormone alone can lead to mood and energy changes, it is important that thyroid levels are carefully monitored by a physician.

People with rapid cycling tend to have co-occurring thyroid problems and may need to take thyroid pills in addition to their medications for bipolar disorder. Also, lithium treatment may cause low thyroid levels in some people, resulting in the need for thyroid supplementation.


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[Azalysa]

Thanks for posting this, Jan!

Absolutely true!! Before I was diagnosed with depression, I was feeling very lethargic and went to an endocrinologist who diagnosed extreme hypothyroidism and to date I am on the highest dosage of synthroid that is made. This also runs in my family.

Then I didn't have time to keep seeing endocrinologist so pdoc prescribes my synthroid and does periodic bloodwork to make sure my thyroid levels are adequate.

I read a book where a man was admitted to the psych ward of a hospital and after indepth tests, found that the only thing wrong with him was his thyroid...no mental disorder at all!

Something to think about and check into!!

[Daonnachd]

My psychiatrist told me that at that point in time where they could test for proper thyroid functioning, but couldn't produce synthetic replacement, doctors had to simply lock up hypothyridic patients because they slowly went mad.

The normal TSH range is 4-16. I once let mine get to 92, but I'm already being treated for bipolar, so who knows where the symptoms for one begin and the other end.

[krzyk101]

I did not even know I had Hypothyroidism (low thyroid) until I went into the Psych Ward about 7 years ago and my Pdoc tested and found it while my MD/GP had missed it all together. Since the Pdoc found the underactive thyroid I have been on Synthroid for all the years since. I know they test my TSH level and My T3 and T4 about evey 6months to monitor the dose between refills of the Synthroid.

[darkeyes]

Good timing with this, I went through this, all docs said "your function(s) are within normal range", yeah till it wasn't. Being put on Synthroid for hypothyroidism, helped address a lot of symptoms, that docs insisted were due to my depression, hogwash I say. Still need meds, but addressing the thyroid situation helped minimize so much I had been going through that the GP's insisted it was my depression and bi-polar. Grrrrrrrrrr!
I stress to all, have a thyroid function blood screening, while under pdoc care for bipolar or any mental disorders.
Thyroid function/dysfunction plays a huge part in our mental and physical well being.

[DaveyJones]

Most good docs will do a thyroid screen before they proceed with bipolar treatment. And of course, since lithium can mess up your thyroid function, they need to check from time to time. It's pretty common to prescrescribe lithium and synthriod together.

DJ

[darkeyes]

When on Lithium, it is definately a must to have a "before and after" thyroid function blood work, plus tests should be done once to twice a year,minimum. Doctors prescribing this med. do that.
I also suggest if a person hasn't had such bloodwork, and feel runned down,depressed,etc. to have it done. I say this because so often the symptoms are very much like the symptoms of depression, and many GP's hand out scripts so often for AD's, when actually it was the patient's thyroid function/dysfunction causing the depression and/or fueling the depression.

[Dolfin]

Thanks for the heads-up Jan for those who don't know already how some BP meds can adversely affect our current treatment regimes.

My doc doesn't mess around when it comes to my bloodwork - chem 21, CBC, blood sugar, Lithium, cholesterol, and thyroid...EVERY 3 MONTHS!!! (Thank God for insurance!)

It was because of his thorough testing we discovered my migraine triggers - hypoglycemia. One less "headache" to deal with.