Dose of Levothyroxine

[fixit]

Is the dose of Levothyroxine in hypothyroidism weight related or is it dependent on how much out of range the thyroid levels are before treatment? Or is it just different for everyone? Any advice would be appreciated.

[Moggie]

Some say weight matters but my friend who weighs 8st 7lbs is on far more meds that I am and I am very overweight (wouldn't dare put my actual weight.lol). But then again she has absolutely no thyroid function at all where as I seem to still have some so I think it depends on your particular thyroid illness and how long you have had it.

If you have an autoimmune thyroid illness every attack will kill off a little bit more of your thyroid function until in the end, like my friend, you have no thyroid function left at all and so your meds are likely to increase.

Moggie x

[fixit in reply to Moggie]

Thanks for that Moggie. I have put on 5st in 2 yrs and now weigh 16.6! Hate it. Have many symptoms of hypothyroidism which are being put down to ME. Just trying to get treatment from my GP at the mo.

[Moggie in reply to fixit]

Then get him to check your VitD, iron, ferritin, B12 and folates as these will have a negative impact on all aspects of your health but doubly so if you have thyroid troubles.

Good luck and let us know how you get on wont you.

Moggie x

[Thyroidmeg in reply to Moggie]

I am

On 200 a day and I've put several stone on since tt a few years ago. My dose was never increased though. I was told at the beginning that the dose you are on stays the same unless you lose or gain a lot of weight. In reality they go back tsh only so although I'm heavier now my dose seems to give me same ish tsh .

[Hennerton]

I am a scrawny little creature with no thyroid on quite a high dose. Doctors would like us to be "one size fits all" but it does not work that way. Hard to make them believe it though. If you are struggling to feel well, post your latest thyroid results with reference ranges and people can comment. Need to know your current dose too.

[fixit in reply to Hennerton]

Thanks Hennerton. Have TSH of 3.5 and Free T4 of 11. GP says under NHS cant be treated until TSH is 10. Awaiting an ultrasound as she does agree my neck is puffy.

[shaws Administrator in reply to fixit]

In the USA they reduced their range in the TSH, now you would be treated with a TSH of 3.

[fixit in reply to shaws]

Thanks Shaws I will use this information when I see my GP again.

[helvella Administrator in reply to fixit]

My levothyroxine was started with my TSH only a tiny bit over 5. On the NHS, by an ordinary GP. It is possible.

I did have a series of steadily rising TSH results over something like a couple of years - and I think that was a big help.

Maybe drawing a very simple graph showing your results over time would help?

[Hidden in reply to helvella]

Has this cured the rising TSH? Mine started rising steadily over few years. Put on thyroxine. Brought down slightly and then escalated thought conversion problems. Endo referral, taken off thyroxine. Pituitary looked into not that. I think my TSH at 20 and T4 about that to. Now diagnosed underactive. They want me back on thyoxine. I just have nagging doubt underlying cause not been addressed.

[helvella Administrator in reply to Hidden]

Certainly agree that underlying causes are often inadequately addressed. I simply don't know why I became hypothyroid.

So far, I seemed to have improved over the two and a half years or so since starting. With ups and downs such as when taking Teva (which was subsequently withdrawn). Unfortunately, all too many people have much rockier journeys.

[Hidden in reply to helvella]

I can't assess what will be done differently this time compared to previously. Surely the outcome will be the same?

[helvella Administrator in reply to Hidden]

Have all your TSH tests been performed at the same lab?

I'd like to think that someone has considered that the TSH result could be spurious. Ideally, you would have one set of samples taken at the same time analysed by two or more labs which use different testing equipment/processes. To be sure of the right thing being done, you'd need your doctor to be in touch with the labs.

[Hidden in reply to helvella]

Bloods were sent off to 3 different labs in various parts of country. See Endos 20 Feb. Will do separate post. Hijacking this lady's post

[Yana]

I couldn't lose weight when my TSH was 2.23. I was on 75 mcgs thyroxine. My GP agreed to an increase. I've lost half of a stone at a rate of 1-2 Ib a week which I'm happy with.

Print this off and send it before your next GP appointment, giving her/him time to read it.

endocrinology.org/press/pre...

[fixit in reply to Yana]

Thank you everyone for your very informative replies. I now have plenty of information to support my case.