[Moose72]

why-hashimotos-thyroiditis-can-be-mistaken-for-bipolar/

This is very interesting! I have hypo thyroid and never did before being diagnosed bipolar!

[~Christina]

Likely in the past you took lithium, it’s known to kill off your Thyroid.

I stopped taking it because I wanted my thyroid and kidneys to stay healthy.

Are you on meds for your thyroid now?

[winter loneliness]

One of the first things my Psychiatrist did, was test my thyroid.

[BipolaRNurse]

I'm on two thyroid medications for psychiatric reasons only. My thyroid function is WNL for general purposes but my pdoc subscribes to Dr. Phelps' theory, and so far it's worked pretty well. No depression at all last winter. I went on the second med when my depression came back this winter, but I'm pulling out of it so I have to give the liothyronine some credit. None of my other meds have changed in almost three years except for the Zyprexa, which went up a bit last summer.

[HALLIEBETH87]

Lithium killed mine

I read of the possible links (at least in some cases) between bipolar disorder and thyroid function several years ago. According to an old book "Surviving Manic Depression" by Torrey, it has been looked at for quite a while.

I read that before any firm bipolar diagnosis, a person should ideally have a thyroid function test, maybe others, a physical, and be asked many questions about any substances (including OTC stuff) that are/were taken. These in addition to the usual questions.

I had all of the above during my first hospitalization, but had received a bipolar diagnosis a couple years before. My thyroid function was normal at the time. I only developed hypothyroidism after taking Lithium for a while, though I had a grandmother who had thyroid issues without bipolar meds. She like almost 50% of middle-aged to elderly people develop thyroid issues, though not necessarily Hashimotos, whose stats are more 1-2% of population, with more women than men.

I would definitely not jump to any conclusions that a bipolar diagnosis is inaccurate due to thyroid issues!

I also personally know of a couple people treated with thyroid meds for their bipolar, without clear thyroid issues. I think as referenced in the article, it's commonly used in some people with rapid (or more ultra rapid) cycling. At least the two people I reference said that's why theirs was prescribed.

I take 150 mcg Synthroid/Levothyroxine and have taken it for at least 11 or 12 years. It doesn't stop my episodes, nor does it obviously prevent them (or that I know). I am not an ultra rapid cycler generally. Whether my Synthroid makes any difference in that, I don't know. Generally the only time I ever experienced ultra rapid cycling was when I was on an antidepressant, with or without a moodstabilizer and antipsychotic.