Lithium and T4 level

So I was having the strangest tingly/ “pins and needles” feelings, especially in the evenings after dinner, mostly in my arms and legs and sometimes in my face.

Went to GP, complete blood panel, comes back as low T4 and high calcium.

I have heard from others on here that Lithium can be a thyroid killer. What would you do? I am going to talk to pdoc and make sure he receives the blood work results. I’m thinking about asking to try a different mood stabilizer than Lithium if my thyroid might be going bad.

But I have had bad reactions to Lamictal (allergic) and Topomax (confusion). Depakote is a weight-gainer and I’m already obese. I’m already on a high dose of Trileptal. Are there any other mood stabilizers even out there???

Tegratol. What do you mean by "allergic" to Lamictal?

I developed hypothyroidism about 11 years ago and took Lithium for a good 6 years while taking Synthroid. My thyroid will never recover, but it's just one little pill to take. I think some doctors believe that if Lithium is very helpful without too many side effects that it can be worth it to continue even with thyroid issues, if they can be managed. That would be something to discuss with your prescriber.

I'm a fan of Tegretol XR, but I doubt a person would take that with Trileptal. I've read Tegretol can be more efficacious than Trileptal for some people. Tegretol does have more medication reactions than Trileptal and usually does require blood tests, though I've had many fewer than I did Lithium, and I don't believe there is as much of a risk of toxicity as Lithium.

Many people take antipsychotics as moodstabilizers. That's always an option. Not all moodstabilizers are weight gainers.

My thyroid is dead too. I take synthroid. Talk about weight gain.

Lithium takes years to affect the thyroid.
My wife takes Sinthroid since was a kid and weights 118lbs. at 5'5".

I don't want to use the word hypochondriac, but you definetely over worry.
We are here one day, and gone the next. Enjoy today, as if it was your last day here.

I went borderline toxic on lithium years ago , tossed it in the bin. I refuse to destroy a body parts that IS important I like my thyroid and kidneys.

There are AP’s that are not weight gainers ..... Invega worked well for me in the past.

Exactly! Just 3 weeks ago I was hospitalized for lithium toxicity. It was "sky high". My poor kidneys. I was delerious.

Developed a bad rash all over my body, especially on my thighs. I ended up hospitalized due to the mania caused by the high dose of steroids I was taking for the rash. The itching was HORRIBLE, like hives. The mania was worse (quite scary). Thank God my pdoc brought me out of the mania in 3 days in the hospital.

I’ve been on Lithium since 2011. I don’t think I’m exaggerating my symptoms or being overly aware of my risks with taking Lithium.

Yes, I worry too much, but I think one day my hypochondriac nature will help me catch an early onset of something and maybe get it treated in time.

Sorry. That's a few years. My bad.

Keep an eye on not only your calcium levels but your PTH levels.
I had both levels elevated and it turned out to be benign growth on my parathyroid gland.