Thyroid and Withdrawal Symtoms
Has any anyone noticed a change in their withdrawal symptoms upon treating their thyroid?
While I can’t be sure, it seems while taking levothyroxine, and correcting my thyroid numbers, it definitely can affect my mental health. Physical symptoms that seem akin to withdrawal symptoms emerge such as a weird sensations in my limbs. Yes, I’ve tried different brands and now take a liquid and while some symptoms I attribute to thyroid resolve these limb sensations always appear. And, more recently, I am not sure it was a coincidence that when I increased dose I seeemd to have experienced a hypotonic episode followed by a depressive one. Which, despite my diagnosis of bipolar isn’t how I’ve experienced my mental health before.
I don’t know but I can’t shake the feeling that my nervous system is reacting badly and even increasing at withdrawal symtoms.
I hope I’m making sense. Feel free to ask any questions as I’d love to work this out.
- Fluoxetine 10mg (liquid) - Holding since 2018 after taper from 20mg Paroxetine (tablets). On and off Paroxetine for over a decade. During taper, intense withdrawal symptoms of pain at 10mg and psychiatrist and I agreed to swap to 10mg fluoxetine.
- Quetiapine 25mg (tablet) - Taking this since 2023 as aid for sleep.
- Diazepam various doses between 5mg - 20mg (tablet) - Take this may 3 days in a 6 month period usually. Since circa January 2026, use has increased to 3 doses per month. So, still quite infrequent but more regular.
- Lamotrigine (tablet) - Tapering rapidly. 4mg October 2026. Now 2mg, also October 2026. Holding here for now.
Started 25mg circa June 2026, titrated to 100mg, intense pain developed, possibly side effects/withdrawal symptoms from original Paroxetine taper. Abrupt withdrawal due to the pain, resumed at 25mg 3 weeks later in September 2026. Began rapid tapering 2 weeks later due to intense pain. Started this medication as developed persistent depression with distressing suicidal type thoughts from circa February 2026.
- *Levothyroxine (liquid) - Adjusting dose for hypothyroidism (October 2026). So you have an accurate picture, I have a strange autoimmune thyroid disease where I naturally oscillate between hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, though of course at times it can be with due to over medication of levothyroxine or anti thyroid drugs. Allegedly, this have antibodies for both Graves and Hashimoto diseases. Diagnosed circa 2023. Given my family is riddled with the disease it’s possibly I had this all along and was misdiagnosed with bipolar. I remain open minded including that psychotropic drugs caused this harm to me too.
- OTC - Omega 3, Nac, Coq10, multivitamin. These I take regularly. Occasionally, I also take folate, b12, iron with vitamin c when I need to increase my levels. There are a few others I take very occasionally such as CBD and feverfew for pain.
- Others - As per bio, I have been taking, and at times misusing, and come off other psychotropic drugs as well as sleeping tablets throughout the last two plus decades. For a fuller drug history, see SA website under the same username here https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/forums/topic/28665-weliveinhope-not-there-yet/
I am based in England UK and my tapers are largely self managed without clinicians, though I tend to keep clinicians informed about my tapering decisions.
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