Switching from levothyroxine to Synthroid

[Daisy59]

Levothyroxine switch to Synthroid. Anyone know how long will it take to see if the switch will help with my hair loss? Was at .50mcg levothyroxine to .75mcg then a lot of hair loss. (But went from 4.55 TSH to 1.37) Now been switched to Brand Synthroid .50mcg to combat the hair loss.

[cjrsquared]

As far as I'm aware generic levothyroxine and synthroid have the same bioavailability so you have dropped your dose by a third. I would expect your TSH to rise. No idea how it will effect your hair loss but imagine you will develop more hypothyroid symptoms. Why did you switch?

[Daisy59 in reply to cjrsquared]

After I told my Dr. she told me she consulted an endocrinologist & he advised the Synthroid. That's all I know

[humanbean]

You are aware that Synthroid is just levothyroxine?

Or should I say, it's levothyroxine with a super-charged marketing department.

[Daisy59 in reply to humanbean]

I read this online that someone posted what their Endo. said. that the generic range is not accurate and is a range of 10% too high or low. So the control on generics depends on the manufacturer. where as the Brand Synthroid is always the same. So guess I'm going to have to wait it out again & see if my symptoms return & if I stop losing hair.

[humanbean in reply to Daisy59]

Prescription medicines and how potent they are in the USA are controlled by the FDA. No company would be allowed to sell prescription medicines which didn't fit the FDA's rules.

You might find it interesting to do a google search for "history of synthroid". It isn't an impressive record.

[Daisy59 in reply to humanbean]

Eil do. Thanks

[Daisy59]

Will do😊

[humanbean]

For your hair loss, many people on here have found that improving their iron and ferritin levels up to optimal can help. There are probably other things that help too, but iron and ferritin is probably a sensible place to start.

For optimal levels, see these links :

stopthethyroidmadness.com/l...

stopthethyroidmadness.com/f...

[Daisy59]

A few years ago I was tested for hemocromatosis cause my ferritin was high. Didn't have it. I just had it tested last week & it's a little high. So,that is not the problem.

[humanbean in reply to Daisy59]

Did you have iron tested at the same time? It is possible to have high ferritin while other iron-related measures are low. If this does happen, then it would suggest that you have severe inflammation going on somewhere in your body. It's a bit of a long shot though.

You might find this link interesting, particularly the table at the bottom :

irondisorders.org/Websites/...

There is lots of other useful info on iron at the same site :

irondisorders.org/forms/

[Padster7]

Hi daisy59

My hair loss increased when I started levo but stopped when I was adequately dosed 😊