Levo,When dose a dose start to work

[fairyeyes]

and how long until it wears off,does it depend on dosage?Just wondering as i have seen many post about when taking a blood test to not take a dose for 24 hrs before.

[silverfox7]

I have just read your last few posts so I am assuming that you have recently been diagnosed but no one has explained to you what is happening. You started on 25 mcg which is a very low dose but most saw started on 25 or 50 to get your body used to the Levo and you should be told to come back for a retest after 6 weeks and I presume that you have already done this as your medication has been increased to 50 and I'm hoping you have been told to return for another test in 6 weeks?

The 6 weeks is important as it takes that lentakes that length of time for each dose to reach its maximum effect in your body. Levo has a half life. This means that the dose you took yesterday half of it has been utilized and half is still remaining so today you have that dose remainder and you take another so tomorrow you will start the day with a quarter of what you took yesterday plus half of what you took today and then you add tomorrow's dose. It's difficult to explain but just looking at three days you can see they is an increasing amount of the Levo in your body. It takes 6 weeks for this to be at its maximum level in you so that is why you have to retest every 6 weeks until your dosage is making you feel better and hopefully your reading s are optimal for you. I am thinking you are asking because you don't feel any better. Don't worry it is early days but everything works and hopefully improves slowly in the thyroid world. You can't speed it up as you can make yourself feel worse and then it's difficult for you to work out if you are still not taking enough or whether you are taking too much. So remember it's baby steps at a time.

You also mention you have read that it's advisable not to take anything in the 24 hours before a blood test. And you nay thing that if so much of previous doses are still in your body it doesn't matter but each new dose can produce a spike after taking it and you don't want your tests to reflect that as it would give you a false reading and you most probably would be told to reduce your dose.

It's helpful if you can arrange your test early in the morning and fast if you can then you now nothing you have eaten can have affected your reading

Has your doctor told you to take your medication on an empty stomach with a full glass of water and not to eat for 1 hour. So not take any other medication or supplements within 2 hours and keep iron and calcium 4 hours away. It's not as difficult as it sounds and you will soon get into a routine. I find after I've taken my meds then by the time I've showered and prepared my breakfast the hour is up but I don't have to rush off to work so it's easier! You might have to set the alarm a little earlier.

Keep posting your results with ranges and folks will comment on your progress and keep asking questions so we can help you along the way. Sorry this is so long but you need to understand what is happening and what is important to improve your health