Increases dose

[Angie56]

Hi , please can someone offer me some advice . I increases my thyroxine to 75mg on fri nite and been like a zombie since sleep all the time and still exhausted and weak should I go back down to 50mg or will I get better !!! Thanks in advance

[helvella Administrator]

Angie,

I don't know! One of the first definite improvements for me (from taking levothyroxine) was better sleep. I take mine at bed-time and usually fall asleep well and stay sound asleep, waking more readily than I did before diagnosis.

If there is nothing else, I think I'd hope you improve after a few more days. If you do decide to drop a bit, you could always alternate 50 and 75 micrograms, giving you a halfway point, rather than all the way back to 50.

Rod

[Angie56 in reply to helvella]

Hi Rod , thanks so much for replying really appreciate it . How soon did u start to feel well after increasing your dose ? I was getting heart palpitations but that was due to ginseng as I have stopped it now . That's a good idea to alternate between 50mg and 75mg . My energys still low and still weak just slept all day yest and today just wish I could see a change lol!! Thanks

[helvella Administrator in reply to Angie56]

I ha a very different experience to most people here - my TSH slowly rose and as soon as it got to about 5, I started levothyroxine. Because I was only fairly newly hypo, and only for a fairly short time, I was able to slowly increase my dose and my symptoms slowly resolved. Mostly.

Whilst I have some understanding and sympathy, I sometimes don't have the right personal experience to offer guidance.

[Wired]

Hi Angie. I always feel worse on dose increases, much like yourself, and learnt that any increase has to be done really slowly for me. Alternating is a good idea, or I'd even go as far as cutting tablets in half and increasing 12.5mcg per day for a couple of weeks and then the 25mcg. It certainly helped me with the symptoms and made the increase a lot easier to handle.

I haven't done an increase for a while, but I think it's a several weeks until I feel my equilibrium again! Hang in there

[Angie56 in reply to Wired]

Hi Wired , thanks so much for replying . I am so pleased to hear that I'm not the only person can't tolerate an increase in dose so quickly . I just feel like a zombie and legs very weak as thought I would get more energy lol!! I have been ill since Christmas and keep getting vertigo and can't walk very far just brain dead n no energy and weak . HoW long did it take you to feel well ? Thanks in advance

[Wired in reply to Angie56]

I don't like it when people ask how long it took me, because if I'm honest it was about 3 years and I wouldn't want that to dishearten you Nevertheless we are all different and it may be much sooner for you, I hope so.

The only advice I could give, is to try to take each day as it comes. If you need to rest do so, on better days do a little bit. I think it takes us time psychologically as well as physically to adjust. Hang in there

[Angie56 in reply to Wired]

Thanks wired really appreciate that . I have done like you said took only 12.5mg and already don't feel so doped so hopefully tomorrow will be better