Posted by Noa on January 6, 2003, at 14:17:36
In reply to Update: Today's pdoc appt, posted by nmk on January 6, 2003, at 13:11:18
Straterra is brand new--just approved, so you will be our informant! An earlier thread started by Jim is about his just having started Straterra, too. He had given us several installments in a log of his reaction to it.
As for hyperthyroidism--not only the anxiety, but if you become hyperthyroid, you could get quite sick. However, fwiw, here is the approach my endo has taken: First, my pdoc had added a T3 med (cytomel). Later, the endo had me increase the synthroid in tiny increments and certain intervals, and monitor how I feel. He had me keep going with this until I noticed no new benefit. At that point, he had me drop back to the amount at which I last experienced improvement in how I felt.
I also get my TSH and other thyroid tests done every few months to monitor. My endo is comfortable with me being at a TSH of under 1.0, and he told me that with hypothyroid and depression, this can be necessary. He told me he is not worried about me becoming hyperthyroid, as long as I monitor for signs of it, and also get my blood work done regularly (if my TSH is low AND I have overabundant amounts of Thyroid hormone in my system, that would be an indicator). I asked about risk of osteoporosis, and he said it is not the thyroid meds that causes bone loss, it is when one actually has hyperthyroid symptoms that I would be at risk. Most doctors are not comfortable with such an aggressive approach, though.In any event, you should probably stick to one new intervention at a time, to see how the Straterra works. Good luck and keep us posted.
poster:Noa
thread:134602
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030106/msgs/134722.html