gp agreed to increase dose of thyroxine - Thyroid UK

Thyroid UK

141,183 members166,422 posts

gp agreed to increase dose of thyroxine

bd79og profile image
8 Replies

I've been feeling increasingly tired and other symptoms especially crying a lot after being initially not too bad when my thyroxine was increased to 75 mcg back in the spring. I did a Blue horizon test in August which came back at about 2 for TSH which I feel is too high whilst being treated but I knew my GP would have said it was fine so I had another with the GP and cut my levo down for 10 days before going and success my TSH was 5.03 (range 0.3 to 5.5) which is near enough to the top of the range to get a prescription for 100. Now I will increase by 12.5 for four weeks and then up to 100 to give my body time to adjust and retest just before Christmas. Hopefully this will help but it is crazy that on treatment and with a TSH of 5.03 and FT4 of 12 (near the bottom of the range) I feel the doctor is really reluctant to increase my dose and I felt I have to try and "trick" the test to get the increase I feel I need.

Written by
bd79og profile image
bd79og
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
8 Replies
Leahcollett3 profile image
Leahcollett3

thats a brill idea - i wish i thought of that! im alternating between 100 and 50 at the minute because my dr wont increase my dosage on 50, the tests show 2.96 which is a drop from 5.8 at the end of july. but because it now within range they wont increase it anymore, so im self dosing, and i feel better now for it.

Leahcollett3 profile image
Leahcollett3 in reply toLeahcollett3

i just hope they dont cotton on to me running out of pills earlier lol

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply toLeahcollett3

You can buy your own T4 on-line, you know. :)

bd79og profile image
bd79og in reply toLeahcollett3

There is something in the NICE guidelines in the UK which says that if your TSH in the upper part of the range and you still have symptoms then it is "reasonable" to try an increase in dose and that is how I got the first dose increase to 75 from 50 as my TSH was 3.98 (range up to 4.4). They are using a new lab and the score of 5.03 was "in range" and so normal but as it is so near the top of the range (up to 5.5) I negotiated an increase in dose. She keeps a very close eye on my prescriptions and I daren't just increase my dose as I will then always be too low on the TSH to get some from her. I wish my GP had read and taken on board the guidance (in every book I get) that says the aim of treatment is to have a TSH of near to 1 and a FT4 in the top part of the range as then I would not have to make myself ill before the tests! I once got near to 1 and felt hugely better!

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply tobd79og

The NICE guidelines are just inherited Clinical Knowledge Summaries. That is, they were not produced with the full rigour of formal NICE guidelines.

Maybe they can be used to your advantage but they don't have the full authority of other NICE guidelines.

Leahcollett3 profile image
Leahcollett3 in reply tobd79og

Did you find you lost weight with a range of 1

bd79og profile image
bd79og in reply toLeahcollett3

Weight is not one of my symptoms. I lost a bit of weight when I first got ill over 2 years ago and changed my diet to cope and just carried on losing until I had gone almost the whole way down through from overweight (80 kg) to almost underweight (60 kg) . Thankfully I have now stopped losing weight but am still 15 kg lighter than when I started really being sick (and I'm still sticking to the diet!)

puncturedbicycle profile image
puncturedbicycle

Sad but true. Last time I felt so ill and was worried they'd mess w my meds so I didn't take them for two days. Even only two days meant my tsh was over 5 so I'm clear I needed an increase. But I hate to do it. My current gp is nice and not bad on thyroid stuff, but I fear she'll eventually be compelled to mess w my t3 and I'm not having it.

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

My GP wont increase thyroxine:-(

Does anyone know where I can find an NHS gp who will increase my thyroxine to get my T4 levels to...

Persuading GP to increase Levo

Hi all, For background, I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism (Hashimoto's) back in August and put on...
Tatties profile image

Not sure what to think of GP appointment...

Hi everyone,  Just had an appointment with a new GP and wondered if I could get everyone's thoughts...
Ofelia_1 profile image

GP wants to reduce dose

I am desperate for advice on where I stand with my GP. I cannot have my dose reduced as I finally...

Test results - Do I need to increase dose?

Hi All, I was wondering if you could give me your opinion on my latest test results. I feel better...
Mj1986 profile image

Moderation team

See all
Jaydee1507 profile image
Jaydee1507Administrator
PurpleNails profile image
PurpleNailsAdministrator
SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.

Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.