Tyroid

[corry]

How long dos it take for the tablets to work I just started 25 m

[shaws Administrator]

If you've just started it will take a while. Because we're taking thyroid hormones (it's not like having a headache and you take a paracetamol and in a few hours its gone) we have to get to a dose which makes us feel good. Levothyroxine should be taken once daily, probably when you get up with one glass of water and wait for about an hour before eating. If you prefer you can take it at bedtime, as long as you've not eaten for about 2 to 2.5 hours (if you've eaten protein). In that case you miss this night dose if you are having a blood test next morning.

With hypothyroidism it has been happening gradually, probably for years before your symptoms and TSH confirmed you were hypothyroid.

Hypothyroidism is a serious disease and in the UK any other prescriptions you get for any other ailment, you don't pay for them.

25mcg is a very low dose to begin with - it is usually 50mcg with increments of 25mcg about every six to eight weeks.

When you make an appointment, it should be the earliest possible and don't eat before it. Leave about 24 hours between your last dose of levo and the test and take levo afterwards.

Always get a print-out of your blood test results for your own records and make sure the ranges are stated.

If you've not had a Vitamin B12, Vitamin D, iron, ferritin and folate ask for these as we can be deficient which also can cause problems.

[Hidden in reply to shaws]

Don't expect miracles. Friend of mine says it took a year. And that's if you make sure you get any low minerals and vitamins up and get adequate treatment, rather than just having results "in range". And don't be surprised if it goes up and down and sometimes you feel worse, not better.

[Heloise]

Hi corry, remember all of your own glands produce some sort of hormone daily as needed just as your thyroid might produce thyroid hormone every day. So we have to have enough thyroid available for all the cells in our body that require it. This means we have to build up a level of hormone, but everyone has different levels that they need so it has to be eased up since you don't want to go over what your body can use.

But you may end up taking 75 or even 125 mcgs of levothyroxine. You may notice improvements very soon.

health.howstuffworks.com/hu...

[judburke]

I noticed some improvements very quickly when I first started on a low dose of 50. My feet warmed up within a few days