High TSH - Minocycline?

I have been wondering the same thing, i have been on azith-mino-rifabutin. My TSH during the period had started to climb up, while FT3 and FT4 remain within range. mine went from 1.1 to 3.77 (with the upper limit at 3.70)

my LLMD suspects the minocycline and/or rifabutin.

I finished the protocol, so am curious if it normalizes now. i have read different things on this, some say it does normalize. however no reports as to how long it takes to get back to normal. i am rechecking my labs tomorrow, then again in two weeks after that.

i do have candida i am dealing with, i have read that candida can also impact thyroid. so, it could be a few things.

i have also read that Dr M (Bart expert) says that TSH should normalize after rifampin/rifabutin therapy.

I can say i honestly feel pretty good, most symptoms are resolved.

I feel my remaining symptoms maybe thyroid, or candida.

my symptoms that point to thyroid are sensitivity to cold, dry skin...hallmark for thyroid, tho my TSH is not optimal, its not far out of range like others. i hope it bounces back.

From what i gather, its hard to find a good doctor to treat thyroid, i hope its not hte same uphill battle like with tickborn disease, to find a good endo if i even need one.

astroman said...
doctor to treat thyroid - you need to learn and train them. been there , still am.

thanks astroman, yes i gathered that from all the research i did on it. the amount we have to advocate for ourselves is heavy. it would be nice to rule this thyroid issue out to close out some more symptoms.

i am going to try through my PCP first to get more testing (the complete panel.) see where she stands with treatment in the "subclinical" range. then if nothing, try to identify an endo that will treat. from what i gathered there too, most endos dont want to treat either if your tests are within range but not optimal.

i wondered if any LLMDs actually support thyroid, i asked mine and they told me to reach out to my PCP first.

i just figured since thyroid meds usually require adjustment and custom tailoring of dosages, in some cases multiple meds, that it usually requires an endo, that LLMDs usually dont get into that. also its an experience thing.

in my case, i think its drug-induced from the mino and/or rifabutin. i just wonder if it will normalize, and how long that will take, or it requires meds to normalize.

Thanks. I think my PCP will, if it is a clear cut case, and the levels are clearly out of range. but if it questionable, like subclinical hypo, or requires 2 meds, then probably wont, and have to go endo.

Pillin, how long you waiting until retesting? would be curious to hear how your test goes.

thanks

Thanks acarined, that is what i have heard too about most docs (PCP and/or endocrinologist), that they don't treat if within range.

i was wondering if anyone knows any sites that review endocrinologists, i would like to try to find one that can optimize these thyroid levels, within my insurance if it all possible.

i am going to start with my PCP, maybe she can advise in someway if this is possible

Pillin, FYI i found this site that maybe helpful

http://www.thyroidchange.org/patient-recommended-doctor-list-us.html

Not sure if anyone has any feedback on this site, but the doctors listed are from patient reviews, where the doctors test with complete thyroid panel, and are open to all thyroid treatment options. i found one doc in that list that was covered by my insurance.

Pilin - the drug interaction checker I use shows both doxy and mino moderately interact with amoxy.

You might want to check it out.

Thanks Girlie for the site. I will go through it.

Regarding the interactions between amoxy and mino, indeed I realized those interactions but only just now. I trusted my Dr and didn't check at that time (months ago). Do we need to double check all the indications of our LLMD? I am afraid I have to in my case...

oh, there is an international list, with some EU docs listed
http://www.thyroidchange.org/patient-recommended-doctor-list-international.html

Just wanted to report back on my elevated TSH. so, from March 2018 to October 2018, my TSH gradually climbed from 1.1 to 3.77.

I just retested this morning, after 2 weeks since getting the 3.77 reading. Just got the results back, TSH is now back down to 1.85. so, it appears that in my case, minocycline and/or rifabutin caused this to climb, since i finished those 2 weeks ago, and have been off of them. I guess i am surprised that it went down that quickly.

I am still going to followup with PCP, and/or endo, as now i am curious what the other tests may look like.

yeah, i am not sure i suspect it was the rifabutin or a combo effect with them both.

i still need the other thyroid tests to rule out hashimoto's since i have some of the hallmark symptoms. but my TSH, FT3, FT4 are within normal ranges.