11 replies to this topic

[stolpioni]

Hi,

I have hypothyroidism that started after I started on SSRI's about 2 years ago. I am off the SSRIs since over a year.

 

My cortisol levels and Prolactin levels are both 20-40% above the maximum reference ranges, and have been so

for the last year at least. Now I think that by lowering them, I could stop my thyroid medication as my T4 is already

above maximum, but TSH is still not down.

 

I am taking SAM-e, perhaps this is lowering dopamine which in turn increases prolactin and cortisol?
So perhaps I should just increase dopamine and I'd be fine?

 

Anyway, any tips on:

 

1. Lowering cortisol (without herbs like Ashwagandha where I cannot think straight)

2. Lowering prolactin

 

Thanks

[BlueCloud]

Actually it could be the Sam-e that is augmenting your cortisol. Sam-e is an important co-factor for the PNMT enzyme that converts norepinephrine into epinephrine ( also known as Adrenaline) . Too much constant adrenaline can make you more stressed than you should, and therefore chronically raises your cortisol levels.

Try lowering your Sam-e doses for a while and see.

 

I tend towards hyperthyroidism myself, and can't stand Sam-e , it shoots my anxiety levels through the roof.

 

PS : on the other hand, if you're feeling perfectly fine right now and just worrying because of those numbers , there is no reason to mess up with things just on the basis of those numbers and their reference ranges . Some people have slightly higher/lower margins.

Edited by BlueCloud, 26 March 2016 - 10:13 AM.

[stolpioni]

Actually it could be the Sam-e that is augmenting your cortisol. Sam-e is an important co-factor for the PNMT enzyme that converts norepinephrine into epinephrine ( also known as Adrenaline) . Too much constant adrenaline can make you more stressed than you should, and therefore chronically raises your cortisol levels.

Try lowering your Sam-e doses for a while and see.

 

I tend towards hyperthyroidism myself, and can't stand Sam-e , it shoots my anxiety levels through the roof.

 

PS : on the other hand, if you're feeling perfectly fine right now and just worrying because of those numbers , there is no reason to mess up with things just on the basis of those numbers and their reference ranges . Some people have slightly higher/lower margins.

 

I'm actually the complete opposite. I only take SAM-e because I can't live without it. It replaced my SSRI's when I quit that.

Without it get anxiety.

[aconita]

If you don't fix your thyroid properly everything else can't work as it should, T4 and TSH do mean something but don't tell the whole story, to rely only on those values can be misleading.

 

Did you ever tried supplementing some form of iodine (Lugol's or SSKI)?

[stolpioni]

If you don't fix your thyroid properly everything else can't work as it should, T4 and TSH do mean something but don't tell the whole story, to rely only on those values can be misleading.

 

Did you ever tried supplementing some form of iodine (Lugol's or SSKI)?

 

Yes, I actually did supplement a bit with iodine about a year ago. Had bottle of liquid and dosages were quite high.

 

Was this good or bad?

[sativa]

http://www.muscle-he...-inhibitor.html

This source lists the following as prolactin inhibitors:

Primary Prolactin Inhibitor Supplements:
1) Vitamin B6
2) Vitamin E
3) SAM-e

Secondary Prolactin Inhibitor Supplements:
1) Ginseng extract
2) Maca powder
3) Ashwagandha
4) Mucuna pruriens
5) Zinc
6) Ginkgo Biloba

[aconita]

Yes, I actually did supplement a bit with iodine about a year ago. Had bottle of liquid and dosages were quite high.

 

Was this good or bad?

 

Do you remember the daily dosage and the kind of iodine?

 

For how long did you supplement?

 

How did it feel?

 

Why did you stop?

[sativa]

Yes, I actually did supplement a bit with iodine about a year ago. Had bottle of liquid and dosages were quite high.

Was this good or bad?

I caused myself some metabolic (likely thyroid related) issues as a result of going low carb/keto and prolonged iodine intake...

The adrenal glands can also impact thyroid functioning...

Edited by sativa, 27 March 2016 - 11:30 PM.

[stolpioni]

 

Yes, I actually did supplement a bit with iodine about a year ago. Had bottle of liquid and dosages were quite high.

 

Was this good or bad?

 

Do you remember the daily dosage and the kind of iodine?

 

For how long did you supplement?

 

How did it feel?

 

Why did you stop?

 

 

I took this one:

 

http://www.amazon.co...-bin:3242350011

 

It's 1830 mcg per dose. I took that for maybe 2 months. I heard that it could raise testosterone levels.

Didn't feel any different but then I read something negative about it so I quit. Don't remember the exact reason.

[stolpioni]

http://www.muscle-he...-inhibitor.html

This source lists the following as prolactin inhibitors:

3) SAM-e

 

That's weird as I'm already taking SAM-e and have done for almost a year now.

Does SAM-e not inhibit dopamine, which in turn should increase prolactin?

 

I am trying L-Tyrosine now to increase dopamine and see if that can help lowering the Prolactin.

Will quit taking my thyroid meds as I don't think the problem is my thyroid itself, there is some

other underlying cause.

[stolpioni]

 

Yes, I actually did supplement a bit with iodine about a year ago. Had bottle of liquid and dosages were quite high.

Was this good or bad?

I caused myself some metabolic (likely thyroid related) issues as a result of going low carb/keto and prolonged iodine intake...

The adrenal glands can also impact thyroid functioning...

 

 

I am confused regarding iodine. Reading on this page:

 

https://chriskresser...line-on-a-fire/

 

It says first that "restricting intake of iodine can reverse hypothyroidism. In one study, 78% of patients with Hashimoto’s regained normal thyroid function with iodine restriction alone.".

Then right after that he suggests that if hypothyroid, supplement with iodine.
 

[aconita]

Since the thyroid produces hormones and since all hormones are connected if the thyroid is not working perfect doesn't matter what you'll do but your hormones are never going to be as they should.

 

Hypothyroidism because of Hashimoto is to be treated very differently since Hashimoto is an autoimmune disease causing your own immune system to recognize the thyroid as an "enemy" thus attacking it in the attempt to destroy it, of course this causes an hypothyroidism condition because the thyroid is maimed constantly.

 

In this case supplementing iodine is going to make things worst because iodine stimulates the thyroid which causes the immune system to get even more upset and aggressive against it.

 

I hope that since you have been diagnosticated with hypothyroidism an Hashimoto test has been carried out (is a blood test).

 

If you do suffer hypothyroidism but you don't have Hashimoto supplementing iodine is usually the best thing you can possibly do.

 

Iosol is a water soluble iodine by ammonium iodide, in other words provides both iodine and iodide, iodide is usually considered safer than iodine because of much lower toxicity.

 

The dosage of 1,8mg is not nearly high enough to elicit a response in a case like yours, this kind of dosage is more for general health purpose.

 

Iodoral is probably a better choice in order to provide both iodine and iodide (as potassium iodide), one tablet supplies 12,5mg of total elemental iodine (comparable to the average daily intake of this essential element by mainland Japanese), up to 4 tablets a day are recommended for hypothyroidism.

 

Compare the dosage you did use to those dosages and you'll understand no wonders you didn't feel much out of it.

 

Some doctors, like doctor Brownstein, recommend a supplement providing both iodine and iodide for hypothyroidism.

 

SSKI (potassium iodide) might work as well but maybe in order to normalize hypothyroidism Iodoral (which is a tablet form of Lugol's) or Lugol's solution (much cheaper) would be more effective.

 

It is not uncommon that supplementing even just one tablet of Iodoral (or the equivalent Lugol's solution) causes discomfort which is a clear sign of thyroid issues, discomfort will fade with use and much higher dosages become possible as thyroid gets better.