Better then feeling rubbish again on 50 mcg - Thyroid UK

Thyroid UK

137,137 members160,814 posts

Better then feeling rubbish again on 50 mcg

lisan1 profile image
8 Replies

When I increased from 25mcg to 50mcg levo first I felt so much better for maybe a week but then I started feeling ill again. Is this normal? I didn't get any improvement at all on 25mcg so was kind of hoping for the 50mcg to work.

Written by
lisan1 profile image
lisan1
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
8 Replies
greygoose profile image
greygoose

Yes, that's all perfectly normal. 25 mcg us usually too low to make any difference. Feeling better on 50, and then the symptoms creeping back, just means that you need your next increase to 75 mcg. When are you due your next test? :)

lisan1 profile image
lisan1 in reply to greygoose

Thank you so much for the answer. Why is that? That you feel better at first and then worse again.

I'm due for next test on 2-4 weeks.

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to lisan1

Because your body has been starved of hormone for a long time, and a lot of receptors have been shut down. A steady supply of hormone starts to arrive, and a few receptors are re-opened, but then the body realises that there's not quite enough hormone to go round. It all has to be done very slowly.

Make the test in two weeks, rather than four, I would. :)

spongecat profile image
spongecat in reply to greygoose

I have this vision, GG, of the receptors going "yippee at long last!".....and then going into a massive sulk when there wasn't enough cake to go around so to speak. :D

Hang in there lisan1 it can seem a bit of a slog as these things take time to percolate, so to speak. Hence all the titration/blood testing. :)

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to spongecat

Yes! I have very much the same vision. lol

silverfox7 profile image
silverfox7

Plus you also start to do more when you start to feel better and so are never anything in the tank as it were

Sybilla14 profile image
Sybilla14

Hi lisan1, this sounds similar to my experience - if you click on my name you can see my recent posts including experience with Levo. Our blood tests were similar, I remember your t4 was about the same although absolute values were different as your lab ranges were different to mine.

I started on 25mcg, which was due for 2 weeks but I slumped after just a few days to worse than I was before so I increased it then to 50mcg. I got better quickly with a noticeable uplift about 2 weeks into 50. Then about 2 weeks later I slumped again a few days before my 6 week test was due and I upped the dose to 75 straight after the test as I could tell I needed more. The gp prescribed 75mcg after test results (tsh 4). I've been on it now about 3 weeks and I started feeling pretty good a week or so ago. I've another 3 weeks to go to the next blood test and am hoping there will be no major slump again as it would be around Christmas.

I think as Levo replaces own production it comes to a point when the thyroid slows down but the Levo dose is no longer enough, whilst it was over and above your usual thyroid output at first. So you're back to not having enough to go round yet again.

There is no other way to ride it out and hopefully you'll start to feel better soon. I'm also very strict now with my supplements, especially b12, d3&k2, iron and selenium, my ferritin has been at 40 (12-150) for at least 2 years despite supplementing so I now take double dose and away from food.

Jollypolly profile image
Jollypolly

Sounds like me..

You may also like...

Change of Brand - Feel rubbish again!

50mg Actavis Levothyroxine. I felt awful, ended up having 6 weeks off work through tiredness,...

Feeling rubbish again

taking it and have felt so much better until very recently/four days ago. I've been suffering...

50 Mcg Levothyroxine

levothyroxine? I've been on this medication now for 7 weeks, I have put a whopping stone on! Due...

Feeling a bit better from last heading still feeling rubbish

These are my latest bloods after changing from 75much of Levo to 100mcg. I’m not sure how to bring...

Is 50 mcg levo +10 mcg t3 too little?

stronger than levo and that equals 106,4 mcg when taking my dose of t3+t4. With 50mcg levo+10 mcg...