Heart palpatations

[Jojohel]

Hi

I've been on 50mg of levothyroxine for a month now after been diagnosed with an UAT I have for the last week been getting heart palpitations after taking it for a few hours is this normal ?

[PinkNinja]

It isn't "normal" but it does happen to a lot of people and often is nothing "urgent" to worry about although it does signify that something isn't quite right. It could be something as simple as mild anaemia Please keep an eye on it and go back to your doctor if it gets any worse. Don't stop taking your thyroxine without consulting your doctor but do consult your doctor immediately if you get any worrying symptoms. Don't be afraid to call your doctor today if you are worried. Obviously, if you get any chest pain or have difficulty breathing seek medical attention immediately.

It may just be because you have been underactive for a while and your body is having to get used to having enough thyroxine again. It could also be that you are not yet on a high enough dose.

There are other possible reasons for the palpitations. It could be that your iron is too low. When iron is low or even low-normal taking thyroxine can cause palpitations. For this reason, it is a very good idea to ask your doctor to test serum iron and ferritin (stored iron). Neither of these should be anywhere near the bottom of their respective ranges. Some people state 70-90 as being ideal for ferritin. In fact there was research last year that showed that women with a ferritin level below 50 benefit from iron supplements. If you are given iron supplements or decide to take iron based on your blood tests, make sure you leave 4 hours between taking it and your thyroxine.

People with low thyroid function often are low in iron but also low in vitamin B12, folate and vitamin D. It is a good idea to get these checked. The reference ranges for B12 and folate are far too low and many people find it is best to aim for around 500 for B12 and 12 for folate. The reference range for vitamin D is usually pretty accurate though.

If all of those are ok, it might be time to look at your cortisol levels. This used to be checked before prescribing thyroxine and it is still recommended on the patient information leaflets for some brands of thyroxine. If your cortisol is low or high you can get palpitations but you can also have issues with thyroxine so it might be worth asking about.

Be aware that some doctors (a minority, in my limited experience) don't like being asked for blood tests or even like us suggesting possibilities as to why we are feeling unwell. Some get really annoyed at the mere mention of the internet yet these same doctors have used Google in consultations (it's happened to me!). Most however (maybe I'm just lucky) will listen and do the tests if they can (sometimes the lab refuses!).

If you symptoms get worse or don't settle down in a couple of days, or you just become concerned, please call your doctor. Palpitations are often not an urgent problem but they always need looking into. I'm sure any doctor worth his degree would be more than happy that you phoned with your concerns, even if they just reassure you. If he doesn't think it's anything too concerning, you may just be asked to make an appointment to get to the bottom of it.

I hope the palpitations settle down soon.

Carolyn x

[shaws Administrator]

Sometimes we do get palpitations when undiagnosed or starting treatment. Maybe when you have your next increase they will lessen a bit, hopefully.

I had lots of palpitations and lots of heart checks but my heart is fine so I assume it was the fillers/binders which were irritating.

When your next blood test is due, get the earliest one and fast. Leave about 24 hours approx between your last dose of levo and the blood test. Take levo afterwards.

Always get a print-out/copy of your blood test results with the ranges for your own records and you can post them if you have a query.

I hope you feel better quite quickly.