Hi Buds,

After a long stretch of doing better, I'm struggling again....

I had a first bout of depression in 2004 that definitely felt peri-menopausal, as I was in the thick of so many other symptoms - night sweats, hot flashes, insomnia, high anxiety, etc. I got on AD's, and got better in time. Since then, I have tried getting off the medication twice (after about 1.5 years each time), only to lapse back down within a few months... I'm beginning to think I may need to be on Lexapro for the rest of my life.

I've acted quickly, calling my doctor, and began taking some of my "leftover" Lexapro yesterday. I'll see my doc tomorrow for a new 'scrip. Last night I had wave after wave of adrenalin all night, very challenging! I practiced with my Claire Weekes tape, did some deep breathing, tried to remain "brave and calm" in the face of the scary feelings. Unfortunately, I'm on thyroid medication, and don't think there are any tranquilizers that are safe to take - in the past, I've depended on Ativan to get thru' the roughest patches.

I'm really angry about this latest bout - I don't need it! I have suffered quite enough, thank you. Also, I am two years "post," and had hoped that this would take care of any future bouts of depression - I hate the thought that this will be dogging me forever... Right now it's a matter of pulling out all my self-care approaches, realizing that at least I have some skills that weren't there before, along with a very good counselor. I'll do my best to stare down this Dragon...

Sometimes I just break down and cry... Do you suppose tears can put out a dragon's flame??

I feel for all the other P-S sisters who have experienced high anxiety and depression - there is nothing like like it. It's so ---- depleting and disheartening.

Please send up a prayer for me, and, as always, you all have mine. (((HUGS)))

JJ

Hi JJ...

I just posted a reply on the 'mothering' post too.....

I was very depressed after I had my daughter at age 40...took Lustral (I think it is Zoloft here) for a year...then was OK for a while, then went through a bad patch of things happening and started them again for about 9 months.....then I was fine until my husband wanted us to move from my home country and my dear old Mum to move here to the U.S. and I felt awful...the worst depression ever, so, I took the lustral again for another 10 months (the last time I had the most terrible side effects so I vowed never to take any again!)......

I believe my hormonal imbalance began after my body changed from having a baby and it has now got to deal with peri/menopause, and it's not liking it AT ALL!.....I feel for you, as when I get depressed I also feel bleak about the future
and thats the worst feeling....I'm with you, and many more are too.

Caz

Thanks for the encouragement, Caz, and for sharing your story. Clearly you know what it is to be on-again, off-again with the meds, not to mention what the darkness of depression feels like.

I managed well on Lexapro in the past, and am praying it will help again this time, and quickly. Meanwhile, I'm soldiering on...

(((HUGS)))

JJ

JJ, I really empathize with your pain. And all the other feelings that go along with depression. You know my story so I will not repeat it. Please just know that I feel for you in the strongest sense of the word.

I also take thyroid medicine (Synthroid) and I still take klonopin (a benzo). I could not do without it.

You also probably know how I feel about medication, but I will repeat just in case: There is nothing wrong with being on medicine for physical and/or emotional symptoms. If we need help to alleviate suffering, why should we not have it? I think you are being very hard on yourself about psychotropic meds. I believe I will need an antidepressant for the rest of my life. I do not feel that it diminishes me in any way. I hope you feel the same way.

I hope the Lexapro kicks in very quickly and that you find relief very soon. I am in your corner. Always.

Warmest thoughts,
Marcy

joliejacq,

I currently take Lexapro for anxiety. Like you, I was on it for a time and decided to stop taking it when I felt fine (I did this twice). Needless to say, I wound up going back on it both times and have decided that I will stay on it for life now! It completely rids me of any anxiety and I have no side effects so it is a win win situation.

I suffered with those terrible adrenaline surges 5 yrs ago when this peri nonsense began and I know how disturbing they are. Lexapro took care of them then and it still does. I believe that if it works, then it must mean that you have a deficiency of serotonin. If that is the case then like any other medication, it is simply correcting that deficiency.

Good luck - the Lexapro will work again, it just may take some time to kick in.

Maura

Jacquie,

As we get older and live longer, we may need things that we did not used to need before, while at the same time we may no longer need some of the stuff we used to use when we were younger (acne medication or strong antiperspirants or tampons, for example--thank goodness!). For centuries, people suffered with illness and injury for most of their lives, and they died around age 35. But somehow we have brain development greater than every other living thing, so we are compulsed with observing ourselves and doing experiments and discovering combinations and creating medications, through trial and error, that can help us to feel better. I'm a firm believer that our brain serotonin levels decrease as we live, and there's nothing wrong with helping to raise that level, because we're naturally living longer. Since people used to die in their thirties, they probably never had a chance to get really depressed. Although, in literature, if there was someone who was elderly, did you ever notice they were sometimes depicted as crabby or withdrawn? How about widows who lived the rest of their lives alone--ever hear of the wicked old witch? Where do you think this started? Maybe that poor witch just had falling serotonin levels! I also personally believe in taking medication for my osteopenia, because I'd rather take that than live in fear of even a minor fall, and breaking my back or an arm or leg, spending weeks recuperating, then breaking something else. Instead of maybe seeing depression as any kind of stigma, and needing a bit of medication for it as being weak, it's all just part of helping ourselves to feel comfortable as we live, thanks to all those laboratory experiments people have performed (and are still performing). Since we're living longer, we might as well feel good. Who cares what we need to take? There are so many people our age who are on antidepressants. It's not a stigma or weakness; you're just utilizing the knowledge of those laboratory scientists and using what they learned to feel better and live more productively than you would without it.

Oh My Dear Buddy....my heart hurts for you, and of course you're in my prayers, you've been there all along. JJ, you are such a fighter, and while I know this battle is a tough one, you're going to win this one too.

In the mean time....we're here my friend! For those of us who've shared your life the last few years, we know how strong you are, and you mean the world to us! JJ, you inspire US to believe. You pick us up when we fall down and you give us the strength to carry on when we get scared. Simply put...you're one of our 'finest', girlfriend - and don't you ever forget that!

And by the way...the anti anxiety drugs & thyroid? ....if I'm not mistaken, I do think there's something he can give you - I was on tapazole (for hyperthyroid) for 6 weeks & am still on Inderal. My doc (in mexico) said it's perfectly ok to take valium if I needed to, but to keep in mind that it's affect would be a lot more potent. So don't lose heart, I'm certain if there's an anxiety drug your doctor can give you, he will... Or, maybe he can switch your thyroid drug so you can take ativan again....

(((Much love!!)))
Tay

Thank you (((SISTERS))) for these kind responses. It's obvious that each of you understands these feelings, and I'm so sorry you had to go through it!

It's very heartening to hear some of you speak of your sense you'll be on the meds long-term. I don't really have a problem with AD's, was just so hoping that depression was to be a "Menopause Specter" for me, and then would disappear forever... you know, just something about being "naturally" able to care for ourselves. But it's true, sometimes we do have to get on medications and stay on; we are getting older, our chemistry is changing...

It will be a long time before I attempt to get off Lexapro again. Also, my counselor yesterday recommended seeing an endocrinologist to try to get the thyroid stuff better regulated, and she also said something about the pituitary gland maybe needing looking at?

I was sure I'd read that one couldn't take tranquilizers if on Synthroid (the generic form), but a few people have mentioned they don't think this is correct. I'm praying my doc says they are okay, or can come up with something different, as it would be hugely encouraging to pop an Ativan (or something similar) right now, to help battle these damm adrenaline waves.

Oh, Sugar, you brought a smile to my face with that wicked witch reference! Really, it's funny! Of COURSE she would have had lowered serotonin!

Again, thank you, Buds, and big (((HUGS))). Your words have helped.

Love ya,

JJ

Hi JJ

Let me also offer hugs of empathy and compassion.

Yes I too plan to be on meds for as long as I need them. When my peri journey first began I had periods of time where the depression and anxiety would lift because I was probably still cycling and producing enough of whichever hormones I needed to feel well. So, I still held out the hope that I would find a "steady state". It's not that I am not still hopeful but find that the difficult times began to outpace the good ones and immediately got past the "stigma" of meds on an on going basis to search for what might work for me.

Like you I had the terrible adrenaline surges and its evil twin, panic attacks. That was the most unmanageable part. JJ life throws us so many curve balls at this time - elderly or sick parents, grown children with grown children problems, our own health struggles, etc that for those of us who are already mightily "sensitised" as Claire Weekes would say, the feelings become unbearable.

I wish for you that the Lexapro does the job quickly and that you can find a benzo or some equivalent to take the edge off. You deserve to feel well and you will again.

Love Pooks

JJ,

I am sorry you have been battling the depression thing....I am another who takes an AD, in my case Paxil...to battle both depression and anxiety. I also have Ativan in case of emergency!! But have you given L-Theanine a try. I know I sound like I am an advocate of the stuff, and I suppose I am in a way....because it really truly helps with anxiety, and it is a natural product. Now it may not relieve the BIG anxiety, but it could take the edge off. I know many people who are now taking it daily and some have gotten off ADs as a result. I personally am not ready to go off the AD, and I am in no big hurry. It enables me to function so much better than I was I am too scared to go back to the mess I was.

I loved SugarGrove's post....and she is so right!! The reason people live longer today is because of the advances in medical science....so why would we ignore it and not take things that make us feel better and function better?? Sure there can be long term damage from some of the meds out there, but there can also be damage from NOT taking them. I agree, make yourself as comfortable and as happy and as functional as you can.....none of us know how long we have on this earth, so why would you spend it suffering...if that suffering is needless???

I hope your Lexapro kicks in ASAP!!

I have taken crazy meds for over 30 years, and none of them have harmed me yet. As a matter of fact, I probably would not be alive today if I hadn't taken them. Whenever I stopped my medications, I became manic, followed by psychotic, and then, suicide attempts. I survived bleeding to death twice, both times, someone found my unconscious body. I cannot live without my meds. Seriously. This is 2008. There is no sense in suffering when it can be helped my medication of any sort. Better living through chemistry is my motto.

That's funny. Mine is better living through pschopharmacology.

JJ. I'm so sorry you've got the blues. Not my best day today, but I posted to you on the mothering board. kinda got off on a tangent though. Thinking of you and sending cyber cuddles.

My dear sweet beautiful friend. STOP BEING SO HARD ON YOURSELF!! (hands on hips)

There is NOTHING wrong with taking AD's if that is what your body chemistry needs. Am I 'weak' because I take Arthritis Medicine every week? Ofcourse not! I will be on this medicine until the day I die.....which is not going to be for a VERY long time .....psssstttt....I plan on living long enough to be a BURDEN to my children

I DO understand your frustrations though.....you thought that you had ridden out the worst and your hope was that you would not need to take 'medication'...I get it.....BUT......you do not know for certain IF you will have to be on this medication for the rest of your life. Don't even think in those long life terms.......What you do know is that right now....your body is telling you that you need it. Lets not forget that you have been under a great deal of stress lately and methinks you have internalized it. The pasing of your 'furbaby', the near devastation of your RV.....these are HUGE emotional crosses to bare my dear.

You know that I have your back.....you know that I am here for you...as are the countless number of Surge Sistahs...that you have been there for...over all these years. You are my hero!! It was YOU that showed me how to shed those 'old tears' and I will NEVER forget that........it was YOU that wrote me such beautiful letters that ALWAYS put a smile on my face.............it was YOU that would help another even when you were feeling down.

You are SO much STRONGER than you think.

You are much loved here and you are not alone.

I just adore you
Dottie

**** sneaking in side door****

love you! <giggle>

(((MsJen,)))

Thanks for sneaking in.

It was a better night, with a lot less adrenaline, thank God! I see my doc this afternoon, and will talk with her about the Lexapro, and if there is an anxiety med I can take with it. My understanding was that one couldn't take Ativan while on thyroid medication, but so many people at P-S have questioned that, I need to run it past the doc. It would be helpful right now.

(((Pooks))),

Thanks for sharing your sense that you'll be on meds for awhile... It's easy when we're feeling good to think, well I don't need these anymore.. I keep forgetting that it's BECAUSE of the meds that things are better!

(((Floater))),

I looked for L-Theanine at our grocery/pharmacy yesterday, and didn't find any, but will check at a health-food store I'm going to tomorrow. I've read the thread about this with interest, and appreciate your recommendation very much.

(((Armadillo))),

You've been through so much. My heart goes out to you. The only "blessing" of that much pain, is that you can use your experience to help others. (((HUGS)))

(((Duch))),

So sorry you had a bad day, too. The menopause/middle-age stuff is the pits sometimes.

(((Dottie))),

As always, I love your bright graphics and your bright spirit! You just light all our hearts...

Hope all of you have a GOOD day, dear Sisters. Much, much love to you, and thanks with all my heart for your kind support.

JJ

Hey Sweet JJ......I read this thread and my heart just goes out to you!! Been there, done that, many many times. And like you said, you at least have some tools today to deal with it.

You know, Sugargroves is absolutely right about our brains losing serotonin as we get older. My dear sweet mother-in-law who will be 92 next month went into such a deep depression last summer after her son died. I would talk to her daily and she would just cry and then I insisted that we take her to the doctor to talk to him about it. He told her that as you get older the brain does produce less serotonin and with the losses she had experienced there was no sense suffering like she was. She had always been a firm believer that depression was a sign of weakness and she poo poo'd the notion of antidepressants. Well he started her on Celexa and within two weeks she was a different person. She now refers to them as her little pink happy pills and says she never realized how down she was until she got on the medication. The doctor said he will keep her on them always.

I really am not sure what causes us to keep going into these darn depressions. Perhaps as our body chemistry continues to change and the ongoing hormonal changes, and then the fact that some of us are predisposed to depression sure doesn't help. Oh and lets not forget all the stresses that we seem to be under these days. I do know that when it begins to happen once again I just cringe and know that this is a road I have traveled before and as much as I hate it I know that this too shall pass once again with the aid of medications and self help.

You are in my thoughts and I'm sending up LOTS of prayers for you to get on the medication and once again see the light at the end of the tunnel, sooner than later. You have been so much help to me personally JJ and I know many others on this site feel the same way. Please know that I'm here for you as are all the other PowerSurge sisters.

Hugs to you!!
Gramz

Gramz,

Thank you so much. Your post has done my heart a LOT of good.

The other day I was on here, and saw another post from you, and that helped so much as well, because you sounded great! I remember what a hard time you were having for a while - it is so, so good to know that this has improved for you! You have always amazed me with all that you do, and what you are committed to in your life. Just a VERY special lady. (((HUGS)))

Those reminders that this does get better, make all the difference in the world. Isn't it strange, how when we're in this place, it's hard to remember that it could possibly get better. And then when things HAVE improved, we look back, and wonder why we were such unbelievers!

I'm holding onto your good wishes, and wise words.

Much (((LOVE))) to you,

JJ

JJ,

The replies are testimony to what a well-loved woman and friend you are. I sympathize because I admire you so much, and I have also recently fallen into the pit. Without boring you with details, I am also taking thyroid medication, a new antidepressant and klonopin. I keep trying to analyze what went wrong and how to get back to that very normal state. Fortunately, this antidepressant supposedly has some anti-obsessive qualities!

I have been on this AD and klonopin for about a week and have to admit I am somewhat better, but having little patience, i'm not sure how long I can wait!

I am such a fair weather member. I never seem to visit this site unless I am having problems, which I am sure you are probably aware. What is particularly irritating, is to have a sort of a good day, or even half a good day, followed by some definite backsliders (to put it mildy.) I wish you all the best my friend.

Jools

p.s. any advice from anyone regarding dosage of klonopin? used to take ativan but this shrink says klonopin is better. i am not convinced. Thanks.

jools -

I take klonipin and Lexapro - I take 20 mgs of lexapro daily and a total of .5 mgs lexapro each day - 1/2 when I wake up to help with the morning jitters and 1/2 about 5 PM. The .5 mg tabs are easy to break ing 1/2.

Hope that helps.

Pooks

oooops jools I forgot to add that if I need more i have no problem taking another .25 for some really stressful situation or if the anxiety is over the top for any number of reasons - xo pooks

pookish,
thanks for your response. boy, i really feel over-drugged. my p-doc suggested 1 mg of klonopin every day. hopefully, this is just until the ad kicks in. i have another question for you guys, what about coffee? during the past year I have had at least two cups per day (while taking lexapro) with no problems. when i crashed about a month ago, the coffee has made me actually panicky. what is happening here? it is so hard to get started in the morning without it, but it just usually makes things much worse. thanks again for advice.

jools

JJ - I distinctly remember reading about your horrific symptoms 4 years ago. I was going through the high, high anxiety part of peri and you were dealing with the crashing depression for the most part. You came out of it and yes you may have taken Lexapro to assist you, but YOU really pulled yourself out. You can pull yourself out of this bad patch again. I would also like to add what an inspiration you were for all of us at the beginning of the peri nightmare. My thoughts are with you. Take care.

Jools - I love coffee too but when I first started with the meds ( it took me many ad's to get it right) I stopped drinking caffinated (sp?) coffee. Now I am able (at least for now - you never know when you are going to "backslide") I do take coffee (high octane) in the morning. If I am particularly jittery when I wake I get up (instead of laying there ruminating) I get busy, and see if I need to take my .25 klonipin right away. If I can settle down by getting busy I will make a pot of coffee and drink a cup. Everyday is different. By 8:00 AM though I have generally had a cup of coffee (if i feel well enough) and then take .25mg klonipin. I do not have another cup with caffeine for the rest of the day no matter how tired I feel. Its so strange to be so uncomfortably wired and so tired at the same time, no?

Hope that helps - good luck and keep posting.

Sorry you have to go through this.

Love Pookish

Have any of you tried Cymbalta?

Wow (((JOOOLS))), I remember how we shared stories and support back a few years ago!!! I am so happy to see you, my Friend, but SO SAD to hear that you, too, are struggling with depression... Will this ever end???

Like you I analyze "what went wrong," but it feels pretty futile - who knows? The doctor said on Wednesday that she thinks it's possible that menopause has just reconfigured my brain... it may be necessary to be on AD's for the rest of my life. The pattern has been - get stabilized on Lexapro, use it for a little over a year, and then get off... then, within 3-6 months, I start spiraling back down.

I do tend to be a "brooder," and the more I read about depression, the more the "authorities" recommend that people try to focus on the positives, even saying that it's possible to re-wire the brain by doing so. It is very hard to get a new attitude, but it's worth the practice, as depression is horrible! Someone told me recently that AD's are thought to work to some degree, by making it more difficult to ruminate...

It was so surprising to see your comments about coffee, as this has been my experience, too. I've been drinking a couple cups for a long time with no ill-effects, but when I really began spiraling a couple weeks ago, the coffee was bringing intense anxiety. One day after having a couple cups, I felt absolutely NUTS - like my head didn't belong to me, and was floating about 8 inches above my neck. Whyever would we have this reaction - perhaps again related to shifting brain chemistry? At any rate, it's been back to decaf ever since, and it does not do the job of waking us, does it? Once we served David's elderly aunt a cup of decaf (all we had in the house at the time), and she snapped, "Well, it's something hot to drink."

Pooks, you are so right about the weirdness of being "wired and tired" at the same time!

(((GIA))) - you, too, I remember from YEARS ago. Thanks for your kind words. You don't mention how you're doing, but I hope it's great!

Again, much love to all for your kind comments. It makes a huge difference.

JJ

Jools....so sorry you are at this point again. I remember talking to you several times before when we were both at low times.

JJ....If you do end up on the ADs for the rest of your life that is not a bad thing. If they bring you back to a good place and you can be happy and enjoy life then go for it. If you had heart disease you would take meds the rest of your life, if you had diabetes you would take insulin the rest of your life so it makes sense that if the brain is not producing what it needs to at this stage of our lives then we need to help it along with meds and if that means forever then bring it on!!

Pookish....haven't met you or talked to you before but I'm glad you are doing what you need to help you.

Gia.......I remember reading your posts regarding the horrible anxiety and the crazy weight gain from the darn ADs. I too hope you are doing well now.

It truly is frustrating but we have all seen better days before and I know we will see them again. I have come to believe that I'm just wired differently plus I have a family history of depression so I have to factor that in as well. I have always fought taking the ADs but this journey called "life" is getting shorter and I would truly like to enjoy the last part of the journey so if it means taking ADs then that is what I will do.

Hugs to you all and I'm so glad that we have each other to be supportive!!

Oh boy...when I read the 'what went wrong' comment, I just had to add my two cents because that's the way I felt and still feel, somewhat. Last year, I was so counting the months until I was officially post, even though I knew the symptoms would still be there. (it was more of a mind thing...the at least it will start to get better). However, as the months inched by I kept feeling more and more anxious. (I really did look like a junkie in need of a fix) My hands would shake, I felt almost in a panic all the time. I kept putting it down to meno, but like many of you, I later found out the anxiety was caused by my thyroid. Course I didn't know that at the time, I even went to the doctor here who dx'd me as having sinus infection and GAD due to meno. Gave me antibiotics and told me to relax. (HISS!) I then went to mexico and was seen by a top-knotch doctor down there who found the thyroid problem. However, that also put me in a tailspin.

I had gone to mexico with only my usual vitamins, but BOY did that change. I ended up on 2 scripts for the thyroid and another for an anti anxiety drug (I chose valium) because the T3 cells were what was making me reved/anxious. After beginning to feel somewhat better, I ventured to the dentist. Well guess what? Because I was on Inderal I also needed to be on antibiotics while having all the dental work done...so add another to the list. One morning I dunno, I guess I just had an all out pity party. I had gotten up, brushed my teeth (while the coffee was brewing) and was trying my best to ignore the electric current coursing through my body and my shaking hands. Then I looked down at this whole counter full of pills and...like I said, I thought the very same things as you...the "what went wrong". I sank down to the floor and just let the tears drip because it was the only thing I could think to do. I had tried so hard to overcome meno and yet I had been reduced to a person with a pile of pills. I didn't know whether to be angry or sad...so I just sat and cried. For some reason I felt like my body had turned on me - and then of course the doubt started. What if it really is something else? What if the doctor is wrong? I could feel my heart racing, see my hands shaking...and how could all that be caused by an out of whack thyroid.

Even now, (though I'm better) I still have to take the Inderal because my blood is still not clear of the over abundant T3 cells, so the resentment is still there...somewhat, anyway. And yes, a part of me still feels like my body became a traitor... Like many of you, I too have had to cut back on the caffeine because of the anxiety it causes, so it's yet another example of our ... new limitations? shall I say?

And JJ...I undertand exactly what you're saying about the head not feeling like it belongs to you. I feel that way often, and as we both know, it's all related to anxiety - another demon in the mix. But...we'll perservere - right? We've come this far, and the road has to get easier...

Hugs!
Tay

((((HUGS)))) Tay, I feel for you!

Having a pile of pills to take makes us feel like old people, like we're ill.... It's upsetting, and in a way, insulting.... Were you like me, and assumed you'd grow old gracefully? HA!

Wish I'd been there to sit on the floor with you.... we could have cried together!

Gramz, this relapse stuff is a real pain, isn't it? Improvement brings such hope, and a sense that we're not apt to get to the low place again. At least we are adept now at catching it and getting ourselves into the doc's offices... You're right, enough suffering - we are in our 50's now, and it's time to enjoy life as much as possible!

Love you all, Sisters - we do take good care of each other, and have to keep taking good care of ourselves, too...

JJ

okay ladies!

because i woke up this am feeling really good, got up and within 10 minutes became extremely anxious, i took my klonopin (which virtually knocks me out.) i slept a little more, got up in a daze, made coffee and served myself one demitasse. I am so very tempted to have more but, the one did get me going a little and i am going to leave it at that. real creative, huh?!!!!! venturing out into the real world today - it has been awhile. i truly hope we all have a lovely or, at least, bearable day. JJ - i am curious about re-training our thoughts regarding depression. please write when you have time.


jools

p.s. by the way, if our thyroids are responding to whatever state of medication they are in, why are we not bursting with energy?

Man, that is the million-dollar question! Do you feel any different on the meds at all? I don't! I've been on 25 mgs (too low), 50 mgs (too high), and now on 37-ish mg, and it all feels the same! Still so sluggish at times, hardly ever any real energy.

Good for you for having your demitasse, and sticking to that! Must have been hard.

Retraining our thoughts... well, this is making more and more sense. I've read a few things lately that talk about "resetting" brain chemistry by creating new neural pathways... by thinking differently. Yep, it seems like when our parents used to tell us to quit whining and find something to do, they were giving good advice.

A good book is "The Mindful Way thru Depression," and it includes a CD with spoken meditations. The book talks about being more directly engaged, and says trying to "think one's way through" depression doesn't work. Ironically, a lot of it reminds me of Claire Weekes' approach. She called it "floating," but it certainly has to do with mindfulness. I don't find the process easy! A lifetime of the tendency to ruminate doesn't shift overnight. But TRYING...

Hope your "real-world venture" today has been great! What did you end up doing?

(((HUGS))) dear Friend!

JJ

Joliejacq, I take 1mg ativan every night to help me sleep and I also take levothyroxine every morning. I believe all thyroid medications are the same (they're just a hormone), so I think you'd be fine taking it. I can't imagine the type of hell I'd be going through without it because I'm still having a s**t load of symptoms with it. So far I've had about 15 different diseases based on my symptoms. I believe that, with all of the research I've done, I'll be able to write and pass my medical exams and be able to add ",MD" to the end of my name when this crap is finally over (if indeed there is an end).

Wow, I know what you mean about how knowledgeable we become dealing with all this crapola. It's a little scary when we go in knowing more about some stuff than our doctors do.

My doc said that it would be fine to do the Ativan while on the Synthroid - wherever did I get the idea it was a problem??? Some menopausal-induced confusion, I guess!

Thank goodness for Ativan and similar meds! To think our poor Victorian foremothers had to make do with Lydia Pinkham's Vegetable Compound... Though I don't know, maybe it worked as well as some of the stuff we're taking!

(((HUGS)))

JJ

How are you doing JJ? Is the depression lifting with the Lexapro? Have they said you should just remain on it rather than going off of it? With my stepdad he suffered his third major depression this year and they said he should remain on the AD the rest of his life because of the history of recurring depressions and each one was worse than the previous. If it makes you feel better and it works then go for it.
Hugs,
Gramz