can i request a new medication

[marierachelgregory]

i think i was diagnosed with underactive thyroid about 6 years ago...i started on 100mcg levothyroxine daily and worked upto now 175mcg levothyroxine daily. ive put 5 stone on in the past 5 years. can i request to change medication to see if it will help

[shaws Administrator]

Hi Marie

Do you have a copy of your latest blood test results for your thyroid gland? If so, post with the ranges so that someone can comment. If you haven't had one for a while ask for a new blood test and post complete with the ranges. Apart from weight gain, do you feel well otherwise?

It may well be that you have been kept 'within range' and if so, according to Dr Lowe (RIP) and other researchers, many will gain weight. Dr Toft, ex of the British Thyroid Association says we should have a TSH below 1, or even suppressed.

This is a link with info and there are other topics at the top of the page.

web.archive.org/web/2010122...

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

You can most certainly request alternative medicines such as Liothyronine (T3) and desiccated thyroid. Your problem will most likely start at that point.

Relatively few people ever get anything else prescribed. So it is often important for you to be able to present some evidence of why it might be worth trying, information on products, etc. Even then, be prepared for refusals.

It is also well worth considering all the other things that are known to impact such as vitamin B12, folates, iron/ferritin and vitamin D. Low levels of these can impact on the efficacy of thyroid treatment as well as having their own direct effects.

Rod

[Heloise]

You may find this interesting. I think you should do whatever you can to change what you are doing now.

stopthethyroidmadness.com/t...