Depression or symptoms similar to depression can be a signs of (and caused by) hypothyroidism.

If your family physicians hears you talk in ways that makes him or her think you are depressed (and they mention somthing for your mood, or sleep like Prozac), ask them whether instead the symptoms could be signs of low thryoid. That way you won't get medicated for depression when the real cause maybe something like low iodine, or Hashimoto's autoimmune disease.

Not too many Doc's who prescribe for depression think to have a patient's thyroid checked (meaning starting with a TSH test). I don't know what percent of depression is caused by low thyroid. If anybody knows that figure I would like to know what they've heard and the source, if possible.

But many psychiatrists pretty routinely check a depressed patient's TSH, especially after asking other questions that could be symptoms of hypothyroidism.

Here's something I would like to know more about. On the list of signs of hypothyroidism, you'll find depression. You will also find many individual symptoms of depression like those of depression, like fatigue (lethargy), difficulty with sleep, weight gain, low motivation, decreased memory, and decreased sex drive. If you are depressed you can see these symptoms as well.

Does hypothyroidism cause symptoms that mimic depression ---- but it is not real depression? Or can hypothyroidism cause both: symptoms that mimic SOME of the symptoms of depression, and at other times depression itself.

The latter is what I think.

Yeah, that is very interesting...

I have a nasty combo of pathologies inducing depression

One of those is hypothiroidism....

I am sure sorry to hear that

I assume you are on meds for the hypothyroidism. Can I ask a question? Have the meds diminished your hypo symptoms in general and did you notice any improvement around the specific depression symptoms?

Hey there Diogenes !

You are right, Im on "Euthirox" from Merck every day... it is levothyroxine, and I take 50 micrograms every day...

To be honest, I dont see any effect on my depression... not even on my weight...

Thanks for letting me know. Every symptom of hypothyroidism can also be a symtom with other possible causes. It looks like the depressive symptoms in this case are not caused by the hypothyroidism.

With one small cavaet. Is your doctor adjusting your meds to try to reach a particular TSH number or is he or she adjusting your meds with an eye on your symptoms first and not going into HYPER.

Some doc's shoot for a target, and then the symptoms you're left with are "well, that's just the way it is". There are some doc's in the U.S. (not a lot) who say going for a particular generally accepted TSH number really ignores the individuality of people and their response to medication. They say, lets go right up to the borderline of Hyper, and see what disappears. Then maybe back off a little. At least we will know what is caused by hypo and what it takes to minimize it.

Hello again !

My doc just check for my symptoms... not the TSH number...

He put me in antidepressives too, after seeing no effect of the levothiroxine on my depression....

Firstly he thought it was just my thyroid, but, I kept feeling bad after starting my Euthirox, so, that's why he put me in fluoxetine...

Now, it seems I have progesteron/estrogen imbalance too which seems to affect depression too !!! Im a case !

What about you ?

Measuring by TSH alone could leave you still hypothryoid. It is an old standard. Endocrinoligists that know their stuff also measure by Free T4 and Free T3 and RT3.

If you are ok on TSH but your Free T3 is low you could be a bad converter and still be hypothyroid.

Thanks for that Shelley !!

Will better have those tests done !

Your lucky. It sounds like you have a good Doc. Here is a tidbit that I am sorry I can't give you the reference to. I can't find it on my computer and I just stored it there the other day.

It said that when working with the thyroid in connection with depression, some psychiatrists found that a hormone supplement that contained more than simple T4 was often more effective than T4 alone in impacting depression.

I am so sorry I can't give you the source, but you might discuss it with your doctor. The source was not like "the Mayo Clinic" but it wasn't bad either, like a single doctor's exprience (although that isn't bad, its is not often authoritative enought to influence a physician's willingness to try something different.(

Sorry I can't give you the direct quote and the source.

Be aware that persons living in colder/Northern parts of the world are impacted by low Vit D and depression .

http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/depression.shtml

I happen to be both hypothyroid and needful of Vit D.
My winter SAD is not manifesting this winter with 5000 IU of D3.
I haven't used my light visor once yet!