Advice please

[historygirl]

I was taking 50mcg Levo for about four months but found that my eyelashes and eyebrows were falling out and I was gaining weight, plus I was having 5-10 severe hot flushes every hour. I stopped for about 2 months and felt much better but then crashed and had to start taking them again. My last blood test after going back on Levo was TSH 5.13 and T4 14.5. Looking back over the 5 blood tests my T4 level has always been in range but the TSH has risen and dropped according to when I am taking the drugs. I am baffled by the weight gain on the meds, as I have always been petite, (8st 7lbs but now 10lbs heavier and rising!) so not a classic profile for underactive thyroid. I am also taking Lansoprazole 15mg for gastic reflux and Lyrica 25mg for nerve pain in my back. Am I missing something? I still feel pretty awful and feel as if I am running on empty. Any thoughts or advice would be welcome. I am 63 years young.

[Clutter]

Historygirl, you are undermedicated on 50mcg and this why you are gaining weight and feel like you are running on empty.

The goal of Levothyroxine is to restore the patient to euthyroid status and for most this will be when TSH is just above or below 1.0 with FT4 in, or towards, the top 75% of range. Read Dr. Toft's comments in Treatment Options thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_... Email [e-mail] for a copy of the full Pulse article if you want to show your GP when you request a dose increase.

If Lansaprozole and Lyrica have recently been prescribed they may be affecting uptake and absorption of Levothyroxine. Take them 2-4 hours away from Levothyroxine.

[historygirl in reply to Clutter]

Thank you that is helpful. I wondered if the other drugs had any impact. I will take them at a different time and see if it helps

[Clutter in reply to historygirl]

Historygirl, I think you still need an increase in Levothyroxine dose. You can take Levothyroxine at bedtime if it makes it easier to fit around your other medication.

For maximum absorption Levothyroxine should be taken with water one hour before, or two hours after, food and drink, two hours away from other medication and supplements and 4 hours away from iron, calcium, vitamin D and oestrogen.

[historygirl in reply to Clutter]

Would it be safe for me to up my dose by taking 2 x 50mcg every other day and 1 x 50mcg on the other day until I can get an appointment with the doctor?

[Clutter in reply to historygirl]

Historygirl, that should be fine.

[bobsmydog]

I had exactly the same as you on 25 raised to 50mcg Levo. I had the same weight gain and had never before been concerned about my weight. I was ballooning rapidly in the 3.5 months I took it - began to look like a beach ball... and extremely fatigued. I switched to NDT and the 'growth' stopped. I'm 64 years young

[historygirl in reply to bobsmydog]

You sound exactly like me! All the weight seems to be sitting around my middle and hips...like a beachball. I may try upping my dose by taking 2 x 50mcg every other day to see what happens. What does NDT stand for???

[bobsmydog in reply to historygirl]

NDT is natural desiccated thyroid (from a pig). It contains T4 and T3 whereas levo is synthetic T4 only.

[historygirl in reply to bobsmydog]

Does that have to be a private prescription or will they let you have it on the NHS? I don't mind paying, I just want to feel better

[bobsmydog in reply to historygirl]

Some people have managed to get it on prescription - I think some private and a few NHS If you ask on a new thread you'll get help with this, I'm sure.

I just bought mine online and so am on my own self-medicating. (I didn't have the energy to do battle with doctors - they don't like prescribing it in the main)

[historygirl in reply to bobsmydog]

Thank you, I may try online as well to see if I can get it without a script.

[bobsmydog in reply to historygirl]

You can get it without script online but not in UK. It's only legal without script by importing into UK for personal use only I believe.