Thanks, Glort. Because of MS and autoimmune thyroid disease that has caused alternating episodes of hypo and hyper thyroid, depression has often been a serious problem for me. Just in the last year, I found that by taking just 1/4 grain of natural (pig) thyroid plus Cynomel by Grossman, I can manage and not have the horrible aggravation of my epilepsy that thyroid meds have always caused. I need something that's in the natural stuff, but only a little. The Grossman generic Cytomel feels MUCH better to me, is head and shoulders above the US generics, and 1/4 the price. When I'm naturally hyperthyroid, my epilepsy is markedly better (7 years was my longest stretch), despite the difficulty in sleeping; so I know the thyroid medications are the culprit.
"Modern" medicine assumes that hormones that are not the same as your natural ones, but are similar molecules that can be patented, must be good enough, even when patients claim otherwise. I think that's nonsense, and that for profit medicine with it's patent medicines is hardly in the best interest of the public. I have similar problems with the hydrocortisone I inject. It's NOT the same as having normal adrenal output, and even in injectable form causes gastric distress, yet for me, compared to the other two patented synthetic analogs to cortisol, dexamethasone and prednisone it is the lesser of evils.
I'd sure like to see truely bioidentical hormones available; I think millions would benefit greatly. Right now our pharma industry with their regulatory capture makes that impossible, as does their control of the legislature.
Depression has a dozen different causes, biologically, and is serious business. It may be the harbinger of neuro-degenerative diseases. The conventional approach of just giving SSRI drugs for "depression" will be viewed in the future as dark ages, incompetent medicine. I highly suggest reading Datis Kharrazian's books. His functional medicine approach, in looking deeper for the underlying problem, may not be as profitable as 8 minute medicine, but seems a hell of a lot better for the patient.