Reduction of Levo

[Seabob]

Hi

My Endo has reduced my Levothyroxine from 100mcg to 75mcg due to my recent blood test readings and that I feel rubbish most of the time, how long would I expect to wait until I notice any improvement? thanks

[LouiseRoberts]

What were your latest bloods?

What symptoms were you having?

Some people feel a difference almost at once, for others it can take a while.. Everyone is different...

Have you been told to go back and be re-tested after XXX amount of weeks...!?

L

x

[Seabob in reply to LouiseRoberts]

Hi

TSH 0.013. (Range 0.270-4.200)

T3 4.5

FT4 25.98 (Range 11.5-22.7)

Have recently had reduced from 125mcg to 100mcg because of palpitations....that did the trick but still getting days of extreme tiredness..awaiting Vit D results, Endo wants another blood test done in two weeks time X

[LouiseRoberts in reply to Seabob]

You do look as though you were probably a bit over-replaced.

Have they tested B12/iron/ferritin..?

L

x

[Seabob in reply to LouiseRoberts]

I had a private blood test done fortunately as docs wouldn't do it...B12 364 (191-663)

iron 21.0 (6.6-30.4) and ferritin 58.8 (5-148)

[LouiseRoberts in reply to Seabob]

B12 and Ferritin both look low to me. It may be worth exploring these further.. x

[Seabob in reply to LouiseRoberts]

ok...thank you very much X

[ivy77]

you are overmedicated its toxicosis.... i think it takes few weeks until t4 excesses clean out of the system, you would probably respond better to combined therapy , at the right doses!

t3 is borderline so may fall at lower t4 doses, but you need to lower t4 with symptoms you have.....

combined therapy i think is the answer

[Seabob in reply to ivy77]

Thank you very much...am seeing Endo again in a couple of weeks or so with another blood test result that I will have....will ask about combined therapy..thank you.

[ivy77 in reply to Seabob]

and i read ratios of combined t4/t3 should be 2:1, 3:1 and maybe 4:1 are good ...anything else is too little t3 too much t4......

[Glynisrose]

NEVER let your doctor reduce your meds based on blood tests they are unreliable at best!

[greygoose]

Well, I don't know, I've read all the comments and people saying looks like you were over-medicated... Looks to me like you're not converting. Although without a range for the FT3 it's difficult to say. If it were just over-medication, the FT3 would be over the top of the range, too. Ask him to add in a little T3 to your levo and see how you feel.

Hugs, Grey

[Seabob in reply to greygoose]

Yes...it's very complex! Thank you...yes I will ask about T3...am worried about starting the palps off...so will be wary of whatever!! He is a knowledgeable bloke so I will ask about T3..people on this site are very helpful but it becomes tricky when views differ!!!

[greygoose in reply to Seabob]

Yes, it does. And views are always going to differ because we all have different expériences of life and experience things in different ways.

You know, you can get palps when you are hypo - and despite your high T4 and low TSH, I would say you are still hypo due to your low T3 and symptoms. Being hypo is just as bad for your heart as being hyper. But, if the T3 doesn't agree with you, you can always stop it.

Hope your endo understands, Grey