Thyroxine reduction update.....

[henrythewasp]

My last dose of Thyroxine i was prescribed was 150mg, 3 months later i had another blood test which was last week and i am told today i have to reduce my Thyroxine by 25mg as i am having to much,can this be right? surely my body would be telling me that? i am feeling better than i ever have. I will add the results here later today when i get my print off and new prescription at 4.30pm...........Lab Results

Serum Free T4 level (XaERr.............................20 pmol/L (9.0-25.0

Serum TSH level (XaELV)......Below range.......0.07 mui/L (0.3-5.0

Outside reference range.

And i have the name of the doctor who authorized the change.I never get to see the Dr before any change its always done via reception.This Dr is the one who has said in a report that there is nothing wrong with me at all yet other doctors contradict it,she is the head of the practice and i am on the verge of complaining about her,now i have seen this i will.

[Ansteynomad]

Others may disagree, but I am a veteran of this argument. Your TSH is below range, yes, but your. FT4 is almost at an optimal level WITHIN the range. Chances are therefore that the all important (and not tested) FT3 is also within the reference range.

You are not obliged to accept a reduction in meds if you are feeling well and you are certainly not obliged to do so when you are dealing with a GP who cannot actually interpret your results properly in the first place!

I had a similar situation back in November, argued the toss and actually got an increase - my TSH was suppressed and my FT4 slightly lower than yours.

[Clutter]

Henry, I agree that you aren't overmedicated with FT4 20. >145mcg is considered to be a TSH suppressive dose so not surprising your TSH is low and below range but it isn't suppressed (<0.03). Why not make an appointment with the Dr. to discuss your unwillingness to reduce dose as you are feeling well on 150mcg.

Read Guidelines for the use of Thyroid Function Tests in the link below and Dr. Tofts comments on dosing and thyroid levels where he states some patients need a low or suppressed TSH with FT4 at the top or even over range to feel well. Email [e-mail] if you want a full copy of the Pulse Online article to show your GP.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

[haggisplant in reply to Clutter]

To add to above - the bmj book by Dr toft (Amazon) states the same and is handy to show gp as it has BMJ stamped all over it looking v official.

A recent endo visit confirmed that it's ok to be suppressed if you feel ok. You could ask to be tested in another 3 months to check, you could suggest 125/150 alternate day dose and re check but tbh if you feel ok that should be ok.

[helvella in reply to haggisplant]

BMA (rather than BMJ).

[eeng]

I succeeded with my doctor by saying "...after all it's what comes out of the thyroid that matters, not what goes into it". Good Luck

[boo16]

This once happened to me with a doctor that was not my regular GP. I was told to reduce my medication by 50 mcg and have another blood test in one month.

I ignored the GP's instructions and carried on taking my normal dose. I had a blood test one month later and was told I was now UNDER medicated even though I had not altered my dose and to go back to the original dose.

I therefore assume, that it was the time of day my bloods were taken that played havoc with my results.

[Beahirsty]

My ths levels were 25 and I felt like I was going mad at the time they changed my brand to Mercury and put my dose from 200 mcr to 350 I was on this for 1 year my pharmacist said it was a very high dose and now I'm on 250 but have palpitations and have been diagnosed with Afib I belive because I was on such an high dose to long there was no doctor just practise nurses who didn't seem to have a clue I'm wondering could the brand make a difference ?