Question

[pillairenu]

I am having hypothyroid. My tsh level is 46. My doctor has suggested to take 2 tablets of 50 mcg per day for 2 weeks. how long will it take for the tsh level to drop to normal range

[Heloise]

Hi pill, taking 100 mcg. right away is a pretty hefty dose but you can determine whether it is too much. Are you on levothyroxine? It will go into your bloodstream for a day or a few days and pass through the liver where another process will turn some of the T4 to the T3 form. Some of the T3 will become free T3 and if your T3 receptors accept the T3 you may begin to feel the effects. When the pituitary recognizes the that your body has sufficient hormone, it will reduce the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). It's hard to tell since everyone has their distinct metabolic nature how long this takes but you are also attempting to reach a certain blood level of hormone to establish a stable metabolic rate. A good website:

stopthethyroidmadness.com/m...

[Parbrook]

6 weeks is the normal time between blood tests when taking Levothyroxine.

You may notice some improvement in 2 weeks, but you need to take the Levo for at least 6 weeks.

100mcg is an unusually high starting dose.

Probably better to take 50mcg for the first 2 weeks then increase to 100mcg if you feel no adverse effects.

[Hidden in reply to Parbrook]

I don't think that a starting dose of 100mcg Levo is unusually high for an adult without heart problems. Taken from the British National Formulary:

"ADULT over 18 years, initially 50–100 micrograms once daily ....... then adjusted in steps of 25–50 micrograms every 3–4 weeks "

[Clutter]

Pillairenu, It took 4 weeks to bring my TSH down from 107 to 0.16 on 100mcg Levothyroxine. Your doctor will probably check your levels when you see him and adjust your dose if necessary. 2 weeks isn't likely to lower your TSH much as it will have taken 7/10 days for the Levothyroxine to be absorbed into your cells.

[shaws Administrator]

I had a TSH of 100 and the Consultant said I should have been started on 50mcg of levo. (My GP started me of 25mcg).

I think I would begin on 50mcg for a couple of weeks, then increase to 75mcg and then, if feeling o.k. onto 100mcg. I would wait 6 weeks after being on 100mcg before getting a blood test.

[Jessiepup]

I started on 100mcg no problems.