Is thyroid hormone causing my recent mood changes?
Ask the doctor
Recently, I felt very agitated and out of control, crying and angry about things I could ordinarily handle with ease. I was starting fights with my husband and others over relatively insignificant issues. I had been taking synthetic thyroid hormone for several decades and had very low levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone in my blood. I've stopped taking the hormone and feel better, but I feel bad about the way I snapped at my friends and family. Could thyroid hormone have been to blame for my behavior?Although you've alleviated your symptoms by discontinuing your thyroid medication, I hope you stopped taking it under your doctor's direction. (As we say regularly in this publication, never stop taking a prescription without talking to your doctor first!) Women on thyroid hormone should have their blood levels of TSH checked regularly to make sure they are on the right dose of the medication. It's often necessary to change the dose from time to time. Acute illness or stress can cause you to need more or less medication to keep your blood levels within the normal range.
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