75 mcg levothyroxine and 3 x 10mg propranolol, not entirely sure about this, is anyone else taking both together and had an improvement?

[Melissa76]

I've been to see my GP as I had an increase in levo from 50mcg to 75mcg, this increase has given me a vast improvement but still things aren't right, I was noticing palpitations and heightened anxiety (worrying about anything and everything) so I was given propranolol to take, 10mg x 2 in the morning and 10mg at night. My palpitations have eased, I feel warmer and calmer but reading about the combination of meds it seems it is not a good mix? Does anyone have any experience of similar doses?

Thanks

[RedApple Administrator]

Giving you beta blockers does not seem an ideal solution. Beta blockers are given to patients with hypERthyroidism, to protect the heart from the excess thyroid hormones. Beta blockers do this by inhibiting the conversion of the T4 hormone to the active T3 hormone.

So, whilst in the short term, it may seem to solve your problems, it's possible that you will start to feel unwell on this combination after a while.

If you haven't already done so, it might be better to try an interim dose of 62.5mcg instead (e.g. 75mcg and 50mcg on alternate days), to see if this alleviates the palpitations and anxiety symptoms without the need for beta blockers.

[RedApple Administrator in reply to RedApple]

Another thing to consider if you haven't already done so, is that different brands of levo can affect individuals differently. So, 75mcg of one brand might work better for you than 75mcg of another. If you've been given a different brand when you were increased from 50mcg to 75mcg, this could account for or contribute to your problems.

[rosetrees]

You need to try and find out what is causing the palpitations. If treating your thyroid hasn't helped, have you considered the possibility that you might have adrenal problems as well? There's a good adrenal questionnaire here adrenalfatigue.org/take-the...

Also, make sure you have all the usual other tests done too and get the results, with ranges. Iron, folate, ferritin, vit B12, Vit D.

Personally I don't get on with beta blockers. The nearest I can describe to how they make me feel is that it feels as if someone knocked me over the head with a sledge hammer and I just came round. Hate them.