@drob31 @pattismith @debored13 @Hip
I have spoken before about the phenomenon that I consistently observed back when I was using micro-doses of slow release T3 - that they made my TSH go UP rather than down. Today a reader of my blog sent me this diagram which finally suggests an explanation (see image attached).
So I guess at doses that are too low to suppress TSH, T3 has stimulatory action on serotonin which helps to raise hypothalamic TRH.
Apart from improving hypothyroid function, TRH in itself has been shown to have a strong immediate anti-depressant effect. I'm personally done with T3 in any shape, dose or form but I thought it was worth sharing. For someone who is too fragile to tolerate lithium and T3, micro-T3 (Blanchard protocol) might might a good starting option. They key is that the dose has too be low enough to only affect serotonin but not to affect TRH.
I should also note that the evidence about lithium effect on D2 is somewhat conflicting. My personal experience with lithium however suggests that it has three stages:
a) lowers catecholamines (might be good or bad depending on how adrenergic you are)
b) causes hyperthyroidism through effect on deiodinases (at this point catecholamine effects go away)
c) causes T4 deficiency in the long run due to its effect on thyroid
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