This is such an important yet touchy topic. Medications that you take can be thyroid suppressive. Many S.S.R.I. anti-depressant drugs have fluoride as their main ingredient. Fluoride is a very sneaky endocrine disruptor where the body mistakes it for something else and actually it will recognize it as iodine. Iodine is vital for every major function in the body. You see, our body is absorbing this fluoride believing it to be this fake iodine and placing it into all the human organs where it will have remain mostly stored. Fluoride is mimicking iodine. This big pretender manifests itself where it will build up over time on a cellular level in every major organ because very little of the fluoride that is absorbed and stored in our organs will be removed as a waste product in our urine or sweat. Continuous absorption of fluoride builds up in our tissues and eventually will lead to toxicity in the body. This can also cause lesions on the thyroid gland. Fluoride is also found in our tap water, bottled water, toothpastes, mouth rinses, pesticides and used as cleaning agents.

Did you know that only 10% of an individual’s serotonin is used by your brain, while about 80% of it is used by your digestive system?

Most of us know that serotonin is a chemical in the brain that can affect our mood. It is known as a neurotransmitter, although some consider it to be a hormone. This neurotransmitter aka hormone is 80% produced in the intestines and 10% in the brain. We can also find it floating around in our blood platelets as well in our central nervous system too.

Our gut plays a major role when it comes to our mood. If we eat foods that contain the essential amino acid known as tryptophan. This can help the body to produce more serotonin. Foods, including salmon, eggs, spinach, and seeds are among those that help boost serotonin naturally. Taking a supplement that has omega 3, 7 & 9 along with a good vitamin d has been known to help people with depression in healthy adults but the studies are still on going. ( https://www.vitalstudy.org/) and it has had promising results with postpartum depression, psychiatric conditions including schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, and attention deficit disorder but the studies are still ongoing and not enough evidence to crack this case just yet. Up to this time more research is needed but it certainly promising.  

A leaking gut is a terrible thing and I discuss it further in my book A Women’s Holistic Holy Grail Handbook For Hypothyroidism: Unlock the Secrets That Help You Begin to Heal and Get Out of Hypothyroidism Survival Mode

  but healing your gut can solve many problems people are faced with their failing health. Without your body being able to absorb the proper nutrients, your hypothyroidism will never begin to heal, because this nutrient serotonin is a major player and is needed to balance the hormones and to start to strengthen your thyroid.

Some medications that people take can be the root of many nutritional deficiencies. Some medications are the main reason why their thyroid became suppressed and they have been now diagnosed with hypothyroidism. Many different drugs can affect thyroid function. A small batch of medications including glucocorticoids, dopamine agonists, somatostatin analogs and rexinoids affect thyroid function through suppression of TSH in the thyrotrope (thyrotrophs) or hypothalamus.

Thyrotropes (also called thyrotrophs) are endocrine cells in the anterior pituitary which produce thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in response to thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH). The hypothalamus is a small region of the brain. It’s located at the base of the brain, near the pituitary gland. While it’s very small, the hypothalamus plays a crucial role in many important functions, including: releasing hormones.

 Drugs known to affect thyroid function in patients with an intact hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis.

What can happen in your body when these medications are taken are in italics and underlined. These two charts were made public for anyone to view. I found these easily online with one simple search. They were researched, created and written by Bryan R. Haugen, MD, Professor of Medicine and Pathology. University of Colorado Denver, School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, MS 8106, PO box 6511, Aurora, Colorado 80045, USA. You can look him up to find more brilliantly written articles and his research on the thyroid.

Inhibition of T4/T3 synthesis

Propylthiouracil

Methimazole

Inhibition of T4/T3 secretion

Lithium

Iodide

Amiodarone

Aminoglutethimide

Thyroiditis

Interferon

Interleukin-2

Amiodarone

Sunitinib**

Jod-Basedow Hyperthyroidism

Iodide

Amiodarone

TSH suppression

Glucocorticoids

Dopamine agonists

Somatostatin analogs

Rexinoids

Carbemazepine/Oxcarbemazepine?

Metformin?

TSH elevation

Metyrapone

Displacement from thyroxine binding globulin (laboratory artifact)

Furosemide

Phenytoin

Probenecid

Heparin

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications

Drugs that affect thyroid function in patients taking levothyroxine.

What can happen in your body when these medications are taken are in italics and underlined. This 2^nd chart was also written by Bryan R. Haugen, MD, Professor of Medicine and Pathology. University of Colorado Denver, School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, MS 8106, PO box 6511, Aurora, Colorado 80045, USA.

Inhibition of levothyroxine absorption

Iron

Calcium

Aluminum hydroxide

Colestyramine

Colestipol

Sucralfate

Raloxifene

Increased hepatic metabolism

Phenobarbitol

Phenytoin

Carbemazepine

Rifampin

TKI (Imatinib, axitinib, motesanib, vandetanib)

Rexinoids

Decrease hepatic metabolism

Metformin?

Inhibition of 5’ deiodinase

Propylthiouracil

Methimazole

Propranolol

Glucocorticoids

Iodide

Increased thyroxine binding globulin levels

Estrogen

Raloxifene

Tamoxifen

Methadone

Mitotane

Fluorouracil

Decreased thyroxine binding globulin levels

Androgens

Glucocorticoids

Nicotinic acid

 If you are taking a thyroid medication, if you haven’t noticed already, there is a list on the prescription package warning label telling you to avoid taking certain medications within 4 hours after your thyroid medications or not to take at all within a certain time frame of your thyroid mediations. Your pharmacist can explain and share this knowledge with you or you can simply read the packet that comes with your thyroid medication.

A Women’s Holistic Holy Grail Handbook for Hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s: How I healed my Hypothyroidism and Autoimmune Disorder with Personalized Nutrition

Just like you, my story is unique. For so many wasted years, I was a shamed of my struggles, particularly with my body image and embarrassed about my mental health. I couldn’t seem to manage my anxiety nor my OCD. I found myself unsure by my imperfect journey and it seemed for many years that I actually lost myself on this stretch of road that I’ve been traveling on. I didn’t like what I seen in the mirror, all the mistakes I’ve made, my flaws, my inability to control the chaos in my head and most importantly the struggles with my weight. I’ve learned that the mistakes where lessons to get me to where I am today and I couldn’t become who I needed to be if I didn’t travel that uncertain road. I had to stop being concerned with what was behind me! It was behind me for a reason. I’m actually a better person because of it. I dusted myself off and keep going. I started to understand that everything that glitters isn’t gold. I couldn’t be fooled by those SHINY OBJECTS. People that you meet don’t always let you know about their failures. Nine times out of ten they only allow you to see what they want you to see and for you to believe their always winning. I had to learn to stay in my lane and I knew that I would arrive. Anything that I had missed along the journey wasn’t meant for me. I looked myself in the mirror and told myself that: Someone wants what I have!
That MY gift that I am sitting on isn’t mine to keep. I needed to,” Write that book”! My gift means the world to someone else. I knew this in my heart. I felt it in my soul and GOD allowed me to feel it in my spirit.
This book gives me an opportunity to bond with YOU, and my community. I am happy you are here. Let me say it again, I am happy that you are here. I’ve read countless times where people are asking me about losing large amount of hair in their shower, severe dry skin, unable to lose weight and although they might have bought the products from whole foods, it’s just not working! So, it’s my JOY to turn your issue into a solution that is written in this book. Sometimes in life we just need clarity. You have to step out of your comfort zone and focus on where your path is headed. You were born with the capacity of abundance. You need to clear away any of the emotional, mental and energetic debris that is in the way of your ability to see who you really are in order to create the life you really deserve.

Disclaimer
The information and recipes contained in blog is based upon the research and the personal experiences of the author. It’s for entertainment purposes only. Every attempt has been made to provide accurate, up to date and reliable information. No warranties of any kind are expressed or implied. Readers acknowledge that the author is not engaging in the rendering of legal, financial, medical or professional advice. By reading this blog, the reader agrees that under no circumstance the author is not responsible for any loss, direct or indirect, which are incurred by using this information contained within this blog. Including but not limited to errors, omissions or inaccuracies. This blog is not intended as replacements from what your health care provider has suggested. The author is not responsible for any adverse effects or consequences resulting from the use of any of the suggestions, preparations or procedures discussed in this blog. All matters pertaining to your health should be supervised by a health care professional. I am not a doctor, or a medical professional. This blog is designed for as an educational and entertainment tool only. Please always check with your health practitioner before taking any vitamins, supplements, or herbs, as they may have side-effects, especially when combined with medications, alcohol, or other vitamins or supplements. Knowledge is power, educate yourself and find the answer to your health care needs. Wisdom is a wonderful thing to seek. I hope this blog will teach and encourage you to take leaps in your life to educate yourself for a happier & healthier life. You have to take ownership of your health.

Audrey Childers is a published author, blogger, freelance journalist and an entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in research and editorial writing. She is also the creator and founder of the website the hypothyroidismchick.com. Where you can find great tips on everyday living with hypothyroidism. She enjoys raising her children and being a voice for optimal human health and wellness. She is the published over 10 books that aren’t listed here but some of her books are : A survivors cookbook guide to kicking hypothyroidism booty, Reset your Thyroid, The Ultimate guide to healing hypothyroidism and  A survivors cookbook guide to kicking hypothyroidism booty: the slow cooker way. You can find all these books on Amazon.  You can also find her actively involved in her Facebook Group : Healing Hypothyroidism. This blog may be re-posted freely with proper attribution, author bio, and this copyright statement.

All References except the ones listed are in the back of my book.

A Women’s Holistic Holy Grail Handbook for Hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s: How I healed my Hypothyroidism and Autoimmune Disorder with Personalized Nutrition

S.S.R.I. anti-depressant drugs- These drugs have fluoride as their main ingredient. S.S.R.I. drugs can be the root of nutritional deficiencies. They are toxic to your body and disrupt the serotonin that is used for digestion. Only 10% of an individual’s serotonin is used by your brain, while about 80% of it is used by your digestive system. Healing your gut can solve many of your problems. Without your body being able to absorb the proper nutrients, your hypothyroidism will never be cured, because this nutrient is needed to balance the hormones and to strengthen your thyroid.
Now, I will am posting links to pages to prove this scientific fact! Do your own research everyone. I never promised to have all the answers, I am not a doctor nor do I play one on TV. but I do hours upon hours of research when I write my books. http://weeksmd.com/2017/01/ssri-and-fluoride/ .
https://www.nourishingplot.com/2016/06/20/prescription-drugs-that-contain-fluoride/, https://bebrainfit.com/fluoride-neurotoxin/, https://drcarolyndean.com/2018/03/more-antidepressants-are-not-the-answer/, and yet another website proving my point that I didn’t make anything up.
http://www.slweb.org/ftrcfluorinatedpharm.html.