I posted ealier about acid reflux and adderall causing me problems. I had some lab work done and my lab work came in today. It shows that I have an underactive thyroid and they will start me on some medication for that.

Does anyone know if stimulants would cause an underactive thyroid or can some one tell me about it or have any knowledge due to having an underactive thyroid?

The doctor said it has nothing to do with acid reflux though.

I'm hypothyroid as well and have been on Synthroid for a while now. Mine has nothing to do with stimulants as it started before that and runs in my family.

I doubt your thyroid problem was caused by your medication.

I do want to recommend that if you are prescribed Synthroid, go with the name-brand and not a generic substitute. The generic Synthroid is far less consistent and stable than actual Synthroid and it can cause problems with your treatment because supplimenting the thyroid is such a touchy thing handled in such small incriments in the first place that variations are more of a problem than with some other medications. Switching from generic levothyroxine to actual Synthroid made a world of difference in my treatment.

Well if you have hyperthyroidism before you're not supposed to take stimulants. And sometimes when people don't treat hyperthyroidism they blow their thyroid out beasically and end up with hypothyroism instead and have to deal with that. Did you have a fast metabolism before? I can see how that would cause adderall or adderall +excercise to ruin it. I had really really bad hypothyroidism a year and a half ago which I took medication for and then I think it might have gone back to normalish just from increased food intake (it was probably starvation induced) and now I feel like I have a generally faster metabolism on adderall. I have a higher appetite and heart rate the days following whenever I take it and need more sleep.

You mighta blown yours though. But the thyroid is easily treatable either way.

I would think you shouldn't take stimulants with untreated thyroid problems but haven't seen any information suggesting you shouldn't take stimulants with controlled thyroid problems. My docs don't seem to take issue with it either.

I think one reasoning is that thyroid problems can mimic some ADHD symptoms so the former should be treated before the latter.
Lucky me, I just have both problems. Lol.

Poor diet and such could be a cause of certain problems but that doesn't mean the Adderall itself caused those things.

I think I've had thyroid problems for a long time. I looked up the symptoms and I've always been very cold and can never get warm. Also, I've been tired with no energy for a very long time. Lately my skin has been looking very scaly and I thought maybe it's just due to my age, and I probably messed it up from tanning to much when I was younger.

I'm not sure what happened but I hope this medication doesn't cause any more problems than I already have. My doctor is going to call me tomorrow to set up an appointment and see what to do. I will mention the non generic medication to him and hope he thinks that is the best option.

Thanks for the replies

I used to have a fast metabolism when I was younger but age has slowed it down.
I tend to not eat when I'm not hungry, and Adderall makes me not hungry. However, since this acid reflux started up I'm forcing myself to eat when I took it. When I don't take it I eat fine. So maybe the starvation issue caused it.

What a mess!

Well if you have hyperthyroidism before you're not supposed to take stimulants. And sometimes when people don't treat hyperthyroidism they blow their thyroid out beasically and end up with hypothyroism instead and have to deal with that. Did you have a fast metabolism before? I can see how that would cause adderall or adderall +excercise to ruin it. I had really really bad hypothyroidism a year and a half ago which I took medication for and then I think it might have gone back to normalish just from increased food intake (it was probably starvation induced) and now I feel like I have a generally faster metabolism on adderall. I have a higher appetite and heart rate the days following whenever I take it and need more sleep.

You mighta blown yours though. But the thyroid is easily treatable either way.

I think I've had thyroid problems for a long time. I looked up the symptoms and I've always been very cold and can never get warm. Also, I've been tired with no energy for a very long time. Lately my skin has been looking very scaly and I thought maybe it's just due to my age, and I probably messed it up from tanning to much when I was younger.

I'm not sure what happened but I hope this medication doesn't cause any more problems than I already have. My doctor is going to call me tomorrow to set up an appointment and see what to do. I will mention the non generic medication to him and hope he thinks that is the best option.

Thanks for the repliesOh ok. Sounds like you've had hypothyroidism for a while then. Adderall's website says that you can't take it if you have hyperthyroidism but says nothimg about hypothyroidism. It's probably fine since it increases the metabolism, like the medication you would take for hypothyroidism, but since it does it a different way you might want to back off until asking the doc who prescribes it.

Hypothyroidism really sucks, almost all of my hair fell out . http://addforums.com/forums/images/smilies/frown.gif

I was just wiki-ing it. Here's something interesting...
In addition, patients with hypothyroidism and psychiatric symptoms may be diagnosed with:<sup id="_ref-2" class="reference">[5] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypothyroidism#_note-2)</sup>



atypical depression (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clinical_depression) (which may present as dysthymia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dysthymia))
bipolar spectrum syndrome (including bipolar I or bipolar II disorder, cyclothymia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclothymia), or premenstrual syndrome (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premenstrual_syndrome))
borderline personality disorder (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borderline_personality_disorder)<sup class="noprint Template-Fact">[citation needed (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)]</sup>
a psychotic disorder (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychotic_disorder) (typically, paranoid schizophrenia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schizophrenia))
inattentive ADHD (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ADHD_predominantly_inattentive) or sluggish cognitive tempo (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sluggish_cognitive_tempo)

You think that could be a cause or a peice of it? I know from experience that it totally eff's up concentration and general ability to think at all.

I used to have a fast metabolism when I was younger but age has slowed it down.
I tend to not eat when I'm not hungry, and Adderall makes me not hungry. However, since this acid reflux started up I'm forcing myself to eat when I took it. When I don't take it I eat fine. So maybe the starvation issue caused it.

What a mess!Well a faster metabolism when you're younger is normal and expected. That's why it's considered healthy for younger people to have higher heart rates than older people. As for starvation causing it for you, I don't know but I'd guess probably not. Maybe it felt worse because you get low-blood sugar when it wears off though. Hypothyroidism hormonal and all, and I have a hormone probelm of sorts from being anorexic (more like OCD, but that's what it is in the end) still. Starvation isn't really the same as fasting, because starvation applies both malnutrition and reduced energy. If you still have adequete body fat your body can use that as energy. It coulda been a lot of things or inherited. There's lots of stuf you can do though. Take iodine, get a prescribed meds that will produce the proper hormones, etc. Many things. Most people never get their hypothyroidism treated though but you should since it takes a toll on quality of life.

I seriously doubt that thyroid meds will make anything worse for you. You should start seeing a number of improvements once you've been on it a bit, actually. I'll bet you'll feel a lot better once you get your thyroid regulated. Just be sure to follow the directions for taking your meds. Synthroid must be taken on an empty stomach 30-60min before eating or 2-3hrs after. You should aim for the same time each day as well.
I tend to wake up, take mine while still in bed, go back to sleep for about half an hour, wake up and take my dex, get my day started and by the time I'm ready to eat, my Synthroid has had time to do its thing and my dex is ready to kick in as well.

It's likely you have had an underactive thyroid for a while. I know I did for a good while before I get treatment. And since I sit on the cusp of what is generally considered low and what it now being accepted as low, it took even longer for me to get treatment.

Actually, it took half of my hair falling out to really get the help I needed. :P

If you have access to an endocronologist, I'd suggest taking advantage of that.

Good luck! :)

I have PTSD so most of those symptoms that you listed I already had from the trauma. They started 20 years ago.

About 5 years ago I went from PMS to Pre Menstrual Dysforic Disorder. Also, my symptoms of depression have gotten worse in the past 4 months. I noticed my hiar was falling out about 6 months ago but thought it was due to my age.

This is all starting to make sense.

Oh ok. Sounds like you've had hypothyroidism for a while then. Adderall's website says that you can't take it if you have hyperthyroidism but says nothimg about hypothyroidism. It's probably fine since it increases the metabolism, like the medication you would take for hypothyroidism, but since it does it a different way you might want to back off until asking the doc who prescribes it.

Hypothyroidism really sucks, almost all of my hair fell out . http://addforums.com/forums/images/smilies/frown.gif

I was just wiki-ing it. Here's something interesting...
In addition, patients with hypothyroidism and psychiatric symptoms may be diagnosed with:<sup id="_ref-2" class="reference">[5] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypothyroidism#_note-2)</sup>




atypical depression (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clinical_depression) (which may present as dysthymia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dysthymia))
bipolar spectrum syndrome (including bipolar I or bipolar II disorder, cyclothymia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclothymia), or premenstrual syndrome (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premenstrual_syndrome))
borderline personality disorder (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borderline_personality_disorder)<sup class="noprint Template-Fact">[citation needed (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)]</sup>
a psychotic disorder (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychotic_disorder) (typically, paranoid schizophrenia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schizophrenia))
inattentive ADHD (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ADHD_predominantly_inattentive)or sluggish cognitive tempo (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sluggish_cognitive_tempo)
You think that could be a cause or a peice of it? I know from experience that it totally eff's up concentration and general ability to think at all.

Ihope this isn't against guidelines.. I've found it an incredible source of information. By the way, your reflux could ABSOLUTELY be due to hypoT. It's amazing how complex this disorder really is.

http://thyroidhost.proboards30.com/index.cgi

I've been on Armour for about 4 years.. I'm trying to get that stabilized but it has never really helped me with my motivation/organization issues. I had trouble with Adderall and now I'm trying Dex. It seems to make things worse! (bladder issues, breakouts, etc...) was this temporary for those of you taking both? I'll stick it out if I think it will get better...

Ihope this isn't against guidelines.. I've found it an incredible source of information. By the way, your reflux could ABSOLUTELY be due to hypoT. It's amazing how complex this disorder really is.

http://thyroidhost.proboards30.com/index.cgi

I've been on Armour for about 4 years.. I'm trying to get that stabilized but it has never really helped me with my motivation/organization issues. I had trouble with Adderall and now I'm trying Dex. It seems to make things worse! (bladder issues, breakouts, etc...) was this temporary for those of you taking both? I'll stick it out if I think it will get better...

I have hypothyroidism and over the years I have noticed acid reflux was worst as I took thyroxine or too much. But oddly I tended to gain weight on high doses of thyroxine so I'm an odd ball.

Does anyone know if stimulants would cause an underactive thyroid or can some one tell me about it or have any knowledge due to having an underactive thyroid?

I have hypothyroidism although I have been on adderall for over a decade I doubt it is my adderall considering my mother who has never taken any adderall has the same problem - as a matter of fact she was a few years younger when she began having problems

I have found my thyroid medication helps my adderall work better more consistently - nine out of ten medications work better if metabolized properly

I have a pretty sensitive system and so far I have not had problems taking the two medications together I just keep up with my thyroid lab work as recommended by my doctor.Sense I see one doctor for my thyroid and another for my ADD I have my family doctor {the one treating my thyroid} give me copies of all my labs and such and I take it to my ADD doctor which help keep both practitioners on the same page so to speak.

I don't have acid reflux problems as long as I avoid acidly or greasy foods

I've been hypothyroid for over a decade but only diagnosed as ADHD for a year. We always wondered why I displayed no outward symptoms of hypothyroidism but have since surmised that my hyperactivity explains a lot of it.

We're still in early days with drug trials but I note that after I had increased Adderall XR dosage from 25/d to 35/d (plus 350 Buproprion daily) my next blood results showed a high sTSH number (21 mU/L, which is four times higher than the normal limit). The free T4 and T3 numbers were in the low end of normal, which made the GP sufficiently puzzled so as to send me for a thyroid ultrasound (a benefit of the public health care system). Turns out the thyroid is peachy keen. So why the sTSH jump? I have been reading a lot of ADHD texts this week, so I cannot put my finger on it, but I believe I saw some mention that stimulants such as Adderall can sometimes stimulate sTSH levels (which makes sense, given the warnings for hyperthyroid patients.

Time to get your neuropsychiatrist and endocrinologist to have a chit chat with each other perhaps?

I would love to hear more about this... when I started Dex a month ago, I could 'feel' my thyroid when it was coming on and wearing off.. ugh. I've been hypoT for 4 years now, interestingly enough diagnosed a few months after my ADD diagnosis. I've likely had hypoT for 20 years or more, though.

What I HAVE found... I do not metabolize stims like normal people. An adderall XR stayed in my system far too long. I can only use the IR formulations, and I am experimenting with crushing and swallowing adderall this week because of absorption issues. Before, I was experiencing jitters and bladder irritation as well as neck pain. (on 5mg!) Now I'm finding much fewer side effects and greater positive effects (greater clarity, motivation and focus) from this (on a 2.5 to 5 mg dose) but here's the thing... I took my last tiny dose last night around 6, and I was rebounding from about midnight last night until 10 this morning! I think the L-amp sticks around for me. I don't have this problem on Dex, but I also don't have the positive effects. I'm finding I will have to be very careful about how and when I take it, but it is working much better for me now and the rebound tonight was not nearly as bad or as long. (took my last dose at 3:30) This method seems to help me absorb the L-amp and use it properly. I'm hoping it continues to get better. And, I'm hoping as I adjust my thyroid meds that I might one day be able to wean off the Adderall....? or at least reduce the dose.

as an aside... I KNOW this would be considered by some as abuse, but considering I'm doing this due to a comorbid condition (and the very low dose) I'm not overly concerned by that. I certainly don't advocate it for the average person, but if you are hypoT and suspect you are having trouble metabolizing your meds, I felt my experience would be helpful.

OK, wait a minute. I'm confused...what are we saying is the connection between hypothyroidism, hypo-t meds (like synthroid), ADD, and stimulants? I'm ADD, taking stimulants and have hypothyroidism. Over the past year I've noticed some symptoms of hypothyroidism getting worse despite the fact that I am taking synthroid. I keep asking my doctor about it and we just had my blood work done and it came back with normal thyroid levels. I didn't know that hypothyroidism had symptoms similar to ADD, is that right? Or did I misunderstand? I admit I'm not at all knowledgeable about any of this so please set me straight. How exactly are all these things connected?

I've been hypothyroid for over a decade but only diagnosed as ADHD for a year. We always wondered why I displayed no outward symptoms of hypothyroidism but have since surmised that my hyperactivity explains a lot of it.

We're still in early days with drug trials but I note that after I had increased Adderall XR dosage from 25/d to 35/d (plus 350 Buproprion daily) my next blood results showed a high sTSH number (21 mU/L, which is four times higher than the normal limit). The free T4 and T3 numbers were in the low end of normal, which made the GP sufficiently puzzled so as to send me for a thyroid ultrasound (a benefit of the public health care system). Turns out the thyroid is peachy keen. So why the sTSH jump? I have been reading a lot of ADHD texts this week, so I cannot put my finger on it, but I believe I saw some mention that stimulants such as Adderall can sometimes stimulate sTSH levels (which makes sense, given the warnings for hyperthyroid patients.

Time to get your neuropsychiatrist and endocrinologist to have a chit chat with each other perhaps?


Okay, from what you are telling me, your GP doesn't seem to understand hypoT. This is a classic case... if your TSH is HIGH, then you are HYPOthyroid. if your TSH is low, than you are HYPERthyroid. Your TSH is HIGH and your free T4 and T3 are low because you don't have enough of these and your body is trying to make more (thyroid STIMULATING hormone).... you need to see an endo who understands this.. most likely you will need thyroid medication.

You can check out the link I added in one of the earlier posts in this thread... it has been an incredible source of information for me regarding my thyroid issues.

OK, wait a minute. I'm confused...what are we saying is the connection between hypothyroidism, hypo-t meds (like synthroid), ADD, and stimulants? I'm ADD, taking stimulants and have hypothyroidism. Over the past year I've noticed some symptoms of hypothyroidism getting worse despite the fact that I am taking synthroid. I keep asking my doctor about it and we just had my blood work done and it came back with normal thyroid levels. I didn't know that hypothyroidism had symptoms similar to ADD, is that right? Or did I misunderstand? I admit I'm not at all knowledgeable about any of this so please set me straight. How exactly are all these things connected?


I would be interested to see your bloodwork... most doctors, even endos, don't really get hypoT and the labs can be very misleading to someone who doesn't know what they are looking for. You should have had a FREE T3 and a T4 done, these are most important. And what was 'normal' for you? most people who are hypoT need to keep their TSH below 1. I actually feel better around the .5 range. I am .89 at the moment and VERY symptomatic.

To answer your question, I'm beginning to think they are all affecting each other. Partially because the adrenals affect the thyroid, and the stimulants affect the adrenals. I think some people who can normalize their thyroid might be able to wean from ADD meds, and others might have to take both but maintain a balance (meaning you might have to take more thyroid med to achieve the same result as long as you are taking stimulants, but possibly a lower dose of stimulant to achieve the same result as long as your thyroid dose is correct).

OH! and yes, Hypothyroidism can absolutely mimic ADD symptoms. This can also be because of low ferritin levels and magnesium deficiency (which people who are hypoT often have). anyone experiencing ADD issues, especially those who have not had problems their whole life, should have a thyroid test done as well as Ferritin and Magnesium tests. It could be an underlying issue that is easily corrected. Hypothyroidism can also cause sleep apnea, which is another reason for ADD symptoms.

Wow, thank you for the info. Very informative and helpful. My doctor told me I could go to the lab and pick up my own copy of my blood work which initially I thought, what would be the point of that? I wouldn't understand what it said. But with the helpful info you gave me about the TSH level I may understand it better. Thank you!

BTW you say you are very symptomatic right now. If it's not too personal, would you mind sharing what your symptoms are? Just so I can compare them to what I'm experiencing. Thanks.
Jackers

BTW you say you are very symptomatic right now. If it's not too personal, would you mind sharing what your symptoms are? Just so I can compare them to what I'm experiencing. Thanks.
Jackers


I'm happy to, hopefully it will help someone else. I just wish I'd realized all of these symptoms were thyroid related sooner. :rolleyes:

My symptoms include or have included:
depression, NO libido, very heavy periods, hair coming out (almost by the handful), acne/rosacea, dry eyes, difficulty swallowing certain foods/food gets stuck in the throat-- dry,very cracked heels,muscle aches/stiff neck and shoulders,fatigue,heart palpitations, numbness/tingling in hands and arms, can't lose that last 10lbs of baby weight (2yrs now) ringing in ears, scalloped tongue, thinning hair on outer parts of eyebrow (by the temples), low body temp (mine hovers around 97)--Also, my symptoms almost completely disappeared while I was pregnant. ADD and thyroid issues (almost).. I had to adjust my Armour while pregnant, but I got a blessed reprieve from my ADD symptoms. YAY!! I was still somewhat symptomatic for hypoT, but I didn't really crash until several months after giving birth. I'm currently doubling my dose of Armour compared to what I was taking before, and I hope it's enough.

- okay, I think that's all for me. There are lots of other symptoms, the biggest of which include difficulty conceiving and miscarriage. Other people have migraines,edema,constipation/IBS,weakness in muscles particularly the quads--weak legs), changes in hair texture,poor circulation, cold hands and feet, gallbladder/acid reflux/GERD issues, blood sugar issues, etcetcetc.... I hope this helps...if any of you see yourselves in these symptoms, please check out the website I posted earlier.

also, there are a number of places you can go online to find whether your test results are truly in the normal range. I try to get my hands on a copy of EVERY blood test now-- I find the information I can get online is much more informative and current than what my doc knows. I don't fault her for that, partially because she isn't a specialist. This isn't something they were taught in med school either. But she does listen to me and knows that I do my research so she's been very cooperative in helping me find the right balance of thyroid medication.

I hope this helps... Jackers, feel free to PM me when you get your test results... I'll try to help you out if I can, or at least try to point you in the right direction. :)

Oddly enough, no other side effects besides the dysthymia. Take away the Adderall and it immediately lifts. Bring it back for a week and the blues return.

Thanks for your thoughts on that though...

That is interesting... I was diagnosed with "Inactive" thyroid, which is what is was called then - now called "underactive" thyroid - when I was a baby... shortly after I was born. My mother, then, had low thyroid when I was born which caused it. She now has Type II Diabetes, but I don't. I've been taking Thyroid meds all my life. First started out on Armour Thyroid, but when I started chemo in 2005, the oncologist changed my thyroid medication to Synthroid because the T3 hormone (I think) in Armour Thyroid was making my heart rate too high. I feel much better now. Maybe I had been on two high of a dosage when I was a kid, because my Kindergarten teacher included a note in my report card that she thought I was hyperactive. I wonder if it's possible to be ADHD when younger, and after metabolism slows down at about 40+ years, I might have become just ADD??? I don't know if it's because of menopause and/or a decrease in Thyroid hormone dosage, but I now have experienced dryer skin. I had really oily skin when I was a kid up to "younger" adult years. I'm thinking that it is a combination of menopause and lower dosage of thyroid hormone medication.

You are probably still hyperactive, it just manifests differently now. You might not be able to sit through an entire movie if you are at home (I have too much to do!) or fidget alot at the computer, or have some kind of 'thing' you do, like rubbing your feet together, or doodling while you are on the phone, etc... I'm definitely not the classic type of hyper... I"m too tired for that! :D

I'm 40 now, and I think I've been hypo most of my life. I started having really dry skin in junior high school (especially on my legs)... if it's something that's gotten worse lately, you might need to adjust your meds. It IS a symptom of low thyroid.

You are right though, I wonder about the T3 when you were a kid... even now I kind of get a speedy feeling sometimes from my Armour.

Okay, from what you are telling me, your GP doesn't seem to understand hypoT. This is a classic case... if your TSH is HIGH, then you are HYPOthyroid. if your TSH is low, than you are HYPERthyroid. Your TSH is HIGH and your free T4 and T3 are low because you don't have enough of these and your body is trying to make more (thyroid STIMULATING hormone).... you need to see an endo who understands this.. most likely you will need thyroid medication.

You can check out the link I added in one of the earlier posts in this thread... it has been an incredible source of information for me regarding my thyroid issues.

I must not have been clear. Sorry. I have no doubt that I have a hypothyroid condition. I have had it for at least a decade and likely much longer. I did not mean to call that into question. I have been stable at 137 mg synthroid for 5 years, which normally produces T3 and T4 numbers in the low end of the normal/acceptable range (and TsH fine too). I am not very symptomatic, nor have I ever been (I just have dry heels and the thinning eyebrow thing; can't blame sore neck on the condition as much as my posture and marathon sessions in front of a computer...). Still, the blood tests told the score.

I was just pondering whether the Adderall explained the sudden spike in thyroid producing hormone which was out of character as compared to previous month-over-month results for my T3, T4 and TsH levels. As it turns out, I found another answer. In the ten days before taking the test, I flew from Southern Ontario to Hong Kong and then Singapore; and then back; and then to London UK; and back. My travels made it rather difficult to take any of my medications on the normal schedule. Not taking one's thyroid medication at the same time and in the same amount, consistently, can cause a temporary spike in thyroid producing hormone. The lesson is not to hopscotch across 34 time zones in the days immediately preceding one's thyroid blood test.

As it turns out, I found another answer. In the ten days before taking the test, I flew from Southern Ontario to Hong Kong and then Singapore; and then back; and then to London UK; and back. My travels made it rather difficult to take any of my medications on the normal schedule. Not taking one's thyroid medication at the same time and in the same amount, consistently, can cause a temporary spike in thyroid producing hormone. The lesson is not to hopscotch across 34 time zones in the days immediately preceding one's thyroid blood test.


HA!!! I'm sorry to laugh, but sometimes it's the most obvious things that we overlook (I suppose especially when we add ADD to the equation....) anyway, I'm glad you found the answer. :rolleyes: