vitex vs. hypothyroidism

[satya]

Here I am again...

Yesterday I found out that I have PCOS. I've been crying a lot :-(
(I'm in CD 18 and haven't O'ed yet. Considering that my previous cicles were 30-30-30-28 days, something is definitely wrong.)

So I read the amazing Atomic's post about PCOS and it seems that Vitex and Saw Palmetto are a good idea. However, I'd like to know if it's safe to take Vitex if I have hypothyroidism (I take 75mg levothyroxine per day).

(I have an appointment with my gynecologist only by the end of November so I'm quite desperate.)

[Butterfly Spirit]

I have hypothyroidism and my first cycle with Vitex I conceived in April. I did lose my baby, and I believe I lost my baby probably because my thyroid was dangerously low because I had been taking too low of a dose of levothyroxine for months and not really knowing how low it was. The doc raised my meds and I picked Vitex right back up and conceived before I had AF. By the time I conceived again my thyroid was perfect! I did pick up Progesterone as soon as I found out I was pregnant incase I needed it from the M/C. All has been well thus far. It's probably a good idea to just get screenings to monitor your thyroid as you take Vitex. But it was wonderful, and I believe the main thing that helped me conceive my daughter. I wish you luck as you decide what to do! :)

[atomic sagebrush]

I wouldn't except under the advice of BOTH a doctor and pharmacist (sometimes pharmacists know things that doctors don't), but I know others have.

[wantagirl36]

Hi. So u can take vitex if you are hypo? I am and on 88 mcg a day. The dose is at the right level and was checked last weekend. I have three sons and always been told its virtually impossible to have a girl after all boys but I cant give up. Im with a different man now who's had three girls! Maybe that alone will sway. I have never tried vitex but if it sways girl and can be taken if you are on levothyroxine I'm getting some of it!!

[atomic sagebrush]

I have moved away from vitex for anyone with thyroid issues and I never recommended it for people on thyroid medicine unless they had their doctor on board and could have regular checks of their thyroid levels.

So no, I do not recommend that for you.

[wantagirl36]

Oh ok. Well would saw palmetto be safe with thyroid meds? If so what dose?

[atomic sagebrush]

Vitex, saw palmetto, peppermint tea, and aspirin are not ok with thyroid issues.

You can use antihistamine but only as a rescue method and not in the 5-day method.

[carmella_marie]

I have hypothyroid and my doctor said vitex and my thyroid meds are fine together, in fact she recommended vitex to help regulate my cycles. But I'm on Naturethroid, which is much different than synthetic T4, and I'm also very borderline hypo.

[carmella_marie]

What is the concern with vitex and thyroid issues?

[atomic sagebrush]

With thyroid medication - vitex ~may~ help the thyroid to work better. So if a person were on a dose of medication and suddenly their thyroid got going better, that could make them swing the opposite direction and then suddenly their medication will be working too well.

For unmedicated thyroid issues, if they have hyperthyroid vitex can aggravate that. And even with hypo, it is not uncommon for the thyroid to have swings where it goes from working slowly to normal or even short bursts of hyperthyroid, and the vitex can aggravate that.

It is just a lot of risks, a lot of trouble, for something that seems to be not swaying that well anyway.

[carmella_marie]

Interesting. I'm taking it now (low dose--just one 400 mg a day) to see if it will help my cycles shorten up a bit and reduce some annoying cramping and spotting in my LP. I'll have to re-evaluate if I'll continue taking it if I start swaying again.

[atomic sagebrush]

Keep me posted, it is the experiences you ladies share that leads me to make the recommendations that I do.

[wantagirl36]

Wow. My chances of getting a girl are probably low. I also have vitamin d deficiency and at the time I got pregnant with my one year old son I was on 5000 of vit d. So I'm assuming taking that ups boy chances unfortunately but not taking it at all prevents pregnancy so I guess I'm at a catch 22 . Would a lower dose of vitamin d help the deficiency without swaying boy ??? Any suggestions? ?

[girliedreamz]

I defer to atomic on all interaction matters, but just wanted to share my experience, too. I've been doing Vitex and am also on Naturethroid for hypothyroidism. So far, no problems for me. But I have been really keeping an eye on my levels, just as far as symptoms go. For me, it's been fine. But it can be different for everyone... the thyroid is such a fickle thing, isn't it?

[atomic sagebrush]

Yes, fickle is the word, it can go back and forth from hypo to hyperthyroid and it's not at all uncommon for it to do that for years once it starts to go bad. I just feel that since there is the risk of miscarriage from wonky thryoid, it's best to pamper them and not throw too many herbs at them, for the most part.

[atomic sagebrush]

Wow. My chances of getting a girl are probably low. I also have vitamin d deficiency and at the time I got pregnant with my one year old son I was on 5000 of vit d. So I'm assuming taking that ups boy chances unfortunately but not taking it at all prevents pregnancy so I guess I'm at a catch 22 . Would a lower dose of vitamin d help the deficiency without swaying boy ??? Any suggestions? ?


i answered this in another thread, but yes what I would have you do is reduce dose but still continue to take it. that way your body will perceive less D coming in but at the same time will still be getting some.

[girliedreamz]

Yes, fickle is the word, it can go back and forth from hypo to hyperthyroid and it's not at all uncommon for it to do that for years once it starts to go bad.

I should add that I started taking Naturethroid about 4 years ago, and it's only been in the last year that things have really leveled out for me, and I've not had to keep adjusting dosage due to it swinging back and forth like atomic mentioned. So that may be laying a big factor in my ability to take Vitex where someone else couldn't tolerate it.

[atomic sagebrush]

Yes exactly and everyone should always use their own judgement.

Vitex has not gotten the type of results that I would need to see for me to continue recommending it for people with thyroid stuff happening. This is a bit of an ongoing process and I do tweak things over the course of time, and it's not necessarily because I have seen problems occuring for anyone, but more because I look at how the stuff works and envision that they ~could~ cause problems for people.

Thus, because I don't see good results with the vitex (even tho I think it sways pink) and because I worry that it could cause problems for some people (even tho it hasn't yet that I'm aware of altho I have a couple suspicions), in my mind that leads me to no longer recommend it. (hope that makes sense)