How long does it take for levo to leave your system

[lucylocks]

Hi

How long would it take 175mcg levo to completely leave your system after stopping it.

Thank you browny

[mummytina]

Why do you want to stop taking it, have you been advised by the Doctor or an Endo to do this because I wouldn't do it unless you have been told to

Tina

[lucylocks in reply to mummytina]

Hi Tina,

My daughter was taking 175mcg prescribed by Dr. S. but in Dec. she had her bloods taken along with a cortisol test. The cortisol came back at 46 so her G.P. referred her to an Endo. The Endo told her to stop taking the levo so he could retest her levels which he did 3 weeks later. She also had a Synacthen test and ruled out Addison's disease. He then redid the thyroid bloods 2 weeks later and has now said she needs a scan on her pituitary as her TSH was really low.

So I ask the above question to try an acertain whether the levo would have still been in her system

and still lowering the TSH at her last blood test.

browny

[helvella Administrator in reply to lucylocks]

It is often suggested that TSH changes due to a change in medication take around six weeks to stabilise. Note: Quite a lot of the change will happen fairly quickly but it can continue changing for the six weeks or so.

In people who have had Graves or other hyperthyroidism, it can take very much longer for TSH to recover.

For the endo to be concerned, after tests at three and five weeks (is that right?), suggests very strongly that there is a pituitary issue.

Has she got her actual blood test results - and their reference ranges? This is absolutely vital to any real consideration of her state.

It certainly sounds as if what Dr S was doing was appropriate - providing the thyroid hormone she will not produce herself as TSH is too low.

[lucylocks in reply to helvella]

Hi Rod,

Thanks for your reply, I have not got all my daughters results at the moment, but before seeing Dr. S last July her TSH was varied between 3.5 and 2.8 when taken at the G.P surgery.

G.P. kept saying her symptoms were CFS. and she was not hypo.

After seeing Dr. S and starting on 50mcg levo. and increasing to 100mcg her results were TSH - 0.94 range 0.35 - 4.7

T4 - 12 range 7.8 - 21

T3 - 5.3 range 3.8 - 6.0

Levo increased to 175mcg and levels were TSH 0.05 - T4 23 - T3 not tested. (same ranges as above)

3 weeks after stopping levo Endo said TSH very low, so said to do bloods again in 2 weeks.

He rang her yesterday to say T4 and T3 O.K. but TSH still low so will do scan on Pituitary.

I was just wondering if been off the levo for 5 weeks would have altered the TSH level.

Does this throw any further light on things.

[helvella Administrator in reply to lucylocks]

Big question - was she feeling better on a decent dose of levothyroxine? Is she feeling worse now?

It does look to be quite feasible that her pituitary simply does not produce enough TSH - though whether there are any other consequences remains to be seen. The pituitary also produces other hormones which, if low, can have lots consequences. Don't let them get ignored.

A very brief list is here:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitui...

(Primarily the ones from the same anterior part of the pituitary as TSH.)

Rod

[lucylocks in reply to helvella]

Thanks Rod for the link, my daughter did not feel any better on levo and does not feel better or worse without it.

We are thinking because her adrenals are low maybe this stopped it from working.

Dr. S did say that they must have been some improvement, as the symptom of seeing spiders from her eye corner was a hypo symptom and this did improve.

He was going to introduce T3 on her next visit but unfortunately this was not to be.

[lucylocks in reply to lucylocks]

Also meant to mention her ferritin was extremely low at 9.

She is taking supplements for it.

[shaws Administrator]

It takes about six weeks in all, gradually diminishing. You shouldn't stop levo unless you have something to replace it with.

[lucylocks in reply to shaws]

Hi

Thanks Shaws, please see above reply.