Question:
Anyone using thyroid hormones T3(triiodothyronine) or T2(diiodothyronine)
for treating
depression or bipolar disorder?
Answer:
So far, all the evidence seems to show that thyroid hormones, esp. T3 can a
valid treatment.
In cases of patients taking anti-depressants, T3 levels drop. Which tends
to make people feel more depressed, causes physical problems, etc. Taking
supplemental T3 potentiates the SSRI's, etc.
I have the URLs, and will incrementally post them where I see they can
provide elucidation.Did you have your T3 and rT3 tested? From my experience...
rT3 can produce hypothyroid symptoms, in spite of normal range results of
T4 and T3.
rT3 blocks the cellular receptors, so that T3 cannot get connected to the
cell.
rT3 may be due to a subclinical illness - retrovirus, etc. So my doctor
tells me.
Thyroid levels become a complex issue when depression and bipolar
medications enter the picture, because some of these drugs directly
influence thyroid levels, SSRIs and lithium for example. Subclinical thyroid deficiency is well defined and has been understood
for decades. Subclinical thyroid deficiency is elevated TSH levels but
normal T3 and T4 levels. The only question is whether subclinical
thyroid deficiency contributes to emotional problems, and all of the
sources I have seen emphatically believe that it does. The jury is still
out on whether synthetic hormone is inferior to natural. Two very recent
studies I have seen state that there was no discernable difference in
outcome between patients using synthetic and natural hormones. What is normal is hotly debated. As recently as March 2003 the American
endocrinologist society issued a statement that the acceptable TSH range
should be narrowed and more people should be on thyroid supplements.
Many thyroid patients believe that even this new range is too wide and
that they don't feel well until they are at the peak of the bell curve
for thyroid hormone levels. If you are toward the deficient end of the
'normal' range, you may well benefit from some supplementation. Some
doctors apparently believe that elevated levels of thyroid hormone to
the point where the patient begins to show symptoms of hyperthyroidism
(Grave's disease) gives benefit to mood, hence the T3 supplementation
for mood disorders. Myself, I just want to feel normal, and I wouldn't
want to try such a crude and dangerous method to make me feel better.
