• Hi there! Thank you for your question. As you have mentioned, you have been taking lithium for the past one and half year and you have been experiencing symptoms of hypothyroidism.

• It is possible to experience hypothyroidism after taking lithium, as lithium has several biological effect on thyroid such as increasing iodine content within the thyroid gland, reducing your thyroid gland ability to produce thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), blocking the release of thyroid hormones from the thyroid gland and altering the structure of thyroglobulin, a protein in the thyroid gland, which is involved in the making of thyroid hormone.

• Constipation, muscle aches, dry skin, hoarseness, muscle weakness, elevated blood cholesterol level, fatigue, increased sensitivity to cold, tenderness and stiffness, pain, stiffness or swelling in your joints, heavier than normal or irregular menstrual periods, thinning hair, slowed heart rate, weight gain, puffy face, depression and impaired memory are some of the symptoms of hypothyroidism.

• There are few important causes of hypothyroidism such as autoimmune disease, treatment for hyperthyroidism, thyroid surgery, radiation therapy and certain medications. Diagnosis of hypothyroidism is based on your symptoms and the results of blood tests that measure the level of TSH and thyroxine hormone, and a low level of thyroxine and above normal level of TSH indicates an underactive thyroid.

• This condition can be corrected with daily use of the synthetic thyroid hormone levothyroxine. Hence it is advisable to consult a doctor about your condition.

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