There are many reasons why thyroid status is important in a clinic treating people with mood disorders. For one thing, hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can mimic some of the symptoms of mood disorders. For another, lithium, a medication we often prescribe, is associated with hypothyroidism in a significant minority of patients taking the medicine. One of the questions we wrestle with …
Lithium Associated Hypothyroidism May Be Reversible
People who develop hypothyroidism while using the mood stabilizer lithium may return to normal thyroid function after the drug is discontinued, according to a study in the Journal of Psychopharmacology. Hypothyroidism—a condition in which the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone—has long been known to be associated with the use of lithium. Recent studies have clarified the nature of this association. …
Lithium Thyroid Effects
A young woman who has had a relatively good response to low dose lithium treatment has labs that suggest she may be developing hypothyroidism (low thyroid) and asks what her options are. What can be done to treat the problem? What risks are there for developing it? And what would happen if she decided to taper off the lithium, would …