My GP wants me to reduce my thyroxine or stop taking it all together as my blood tests are too high.

[desperation]

I have no symptoms of over-prescribing. I feel fine on the meds I currently take. I have tried reducing my meds in the past and felt awful. I have asked to be referred to a specialist but so far no luck. I do not think that my GP will continue prescribing my meds and wondered if anyone could advise as to where best to get meds from without a prescription. I cannot go back to the way I felt before taking thyroxine!

[Hennerton]

Any chance of changing your GP or going to another in the practice? He absolutely must not stop your medication if you are hypo. It is usually for life. What we need to help you is thyroid blood tests with reference ranges. Can you ask for copies of your latest? You are entitled to have them so do not let them refuse. When you have them post again here and people will advise.

[shaws Administrator]

I am glad you felt well on thyroxine. Your GP has no right to reduce your

meds, never mind stop them. What on earth is he thinking about.

This is an excerpt from Dr Lowe:-

Excerpt go to question dated January 25, 2002:-

Dr Lowe: Your observations don’t suggest to me that your pituitary gland isn’t functioning properly. In fact, your observations are consistent with what science tells us about a patient's T4 dose, her TSH level, and her metabolic health or lack of it. If the goal of a doctor is metabolic health for his patient, he has no scientific basis for adjusting her thyroid hormone dose by her TSH level. If the doctor is going to make the imprudent choice of treating the patient with T4 (rather than T3 or a T3/T4 combination), he should be aware of the relevant physiology and treat her on the basis of it. Otherwise, he's likely to ruin her health, as your doctor appears to be doing to yours.

web.archive.org/web/2010103...

and question dated December 18, 2003

web.archive.org/web/2010103...

Most of the links within these links may not work as it is archived.

[Hidden]

Ditch the gp. You cannot risk your health. I ditched useless nhs and now self medicate with ndt i fund and source myself. Best thing i ever did.

[desperation in reply to Hidden]

Where can I get meds from?

[Glynisrose]

Ask your doctor why you are being treated by the numbers and not as a patient.

[Muffy]

There was a paper for debate in the BMJ Volume 293 27th September 1986 by W D Fraser, E M Biggart et al.

Are biochemical tests of thyroid function of any value in monitoring patients receiving thyroxine replacement?

They gave references for the patients on thyroxine.

FT4 = 12 - 36

FT3 = 3.0 - 8.6

TSH = <0.1 - 13.7

Shows how TSH isn't really much value when on thyroxine.

Hope this helps.

[desperation in reply to Muffy]

Thanks for this. Dr S didn't believe in figures either.

[Muffy]

Two more references for you.

"Thyroid stimulating hormone response is not predictable

A recent paper by JEM Midgley highlights the problem with depending on TSH to determine whether or not a person with thyroid disease is adequately treated [jcp.bmj.com/content/66/4/33... and hindawi.com/journals/jtr/20...]

Dr. Toft in the BMA Family Doctor Guide to thyroid disorders states that in some cases TSH is undetectable and FT4 around 30 for a patient to feel well. Provided FT3 is within range.

Hope these two help you.

[desperation in reply to Muffy]

Thank you. Happy New Year. Lets hope the doctors will listen.

[Muffy in reply to desperation]

You never know!! Happy new year to you too.