50 Mcg Levothyroxine

[Claire1919]

Hi is there anyone out there that is taking 50 levothyroxine? I've been on this medication now for 7 weeks, I have put a whopping stone on! Due for bloods tomorrow for an update!

Thanks

Claire 😳

[mistydog]

I don't suppose you have your blood results, do you? Always ask for a printout so we can comment and say it's so you can track your progress.

You are probably on a starting dose and it will be increased at the next appointment. Unfortunately whilst levo itself doesn't lead to weight gain, because it's not a very effective med, it can have this side effect.

[breeze6969]

morning clair , i that 4x25 levothroxine for a long time ,i have tried 2x50 but they so ill so my gp took me off them and gone to 4x25 , having my yearly blood test soon , to go a recheck ,

[Sybilla14 in reply to breeze6969]

Hi breeze6969 , where these specific brand tablets you were taking? I have some suspicions about 25mcg of Mercury Pharma...

[silverfox7 in reply to Sybilla14]

I took 4x25 and 5x 25 MP for years and was fine but when trying to save the NHS some money and asked for 100 mcg instead of using the 25's then they were t as strong. Each size of tablet though is made with in a tolerance so it is possible one. Plus be different to the other and it could be a noticeable difference Finally I was getting reactions to the Levo so I started in NDT.

[Sybilla14 in reply to silverfox7]

Thank you silverfox7 . I thought the opposite may have happened to me. I've been taking Levo since October, a mix of MP 25mcg followed by almus 50mcg. When I moved to 75mcg I was taking 50mcg by Actavis then MP later on, as I was given that at the pharmacy. In those 6 weeks my tsh only reduced from 4.04 to 3.58 and I never felt really well (which I experienced for a while when on 50mcg). I'm on 100mcg now, taking Actavis and gradually starting to feel good again (not all days but the trend is improving). I've been trying to figure out what caused the difference and started to suspect the MP 25mcg did not deliver enough or something hindered absorption, as this seemed to make sense. It's all so confusing!

Hope you are getting on well with ndt. How did know you had reactions to Levo, what were they?

[silverfox7 in reply to Sybilla14]

I think it's immaterial what you try but you need to keep yo that one as I'm told they can all vary slightly. If you are very sensitive it's more noticeable apparently. Back in the day I was given 3 months at a time but often the next script was different and I could tell. By the third packet I'd adjusted my dose slightly and was fine but often had to go through it again at the time I was on an American site, there weren't any in the U.K. And they said this was the problem they had found so I asked if it would be the same in the UK and was told probably. My pharmacist said she didn't know but wondered if it could be the fillers but then said if you are happy with a brand then ask the doctor to name it on the prescription and then she could order it for me. It's such a difficult thing to work with so I think that to say the same as much as you can has to be good advice.

My reaction to Levowell been taking it over 20 years, same brand but since the menopause it wasn't consistent then I started with itchy skin and nausea. Fillers hadn't been changed at all but I also got a suggestion tgatcyour body doesn't like it after about 15 and u was well passed that plus had the added reason for wanting to try NDT again so that made my mind up really. I do have a lot of food intolerances etc so I didn't try too hand to stick with it

[Sybilla14 in reply to silverfox7]

Thank you silverfox7 . I've concluded as much, that I need to stick to Actavis and not allow any brand changes again. I'm feeling better and my tummy is happier too (think the acacia was upsetting me as well). Sounds like we may be similarly sensitive as I've got loads of intolerances to battle with too...

[shaws Administrator in reply to breeze6969]

Your blood test to check has to be the very earliest possible and fasting (you can drink water). Also allow 24 hours gap between last dose of levo and test and take it afterwards.

[beandrummo in reply to shaws]

How long should you fast for please?

[shaws Administrator in reply to beandrummo]

If you take levo in the morning (you will have been asleep all night so your stomach is empty). When having a blood test you wait until after the test before taking levothyroxine and wait about an hour before eating.

[Sybilla14 in reply to shaws]

Hi shaws . The 24 hours is regularly mentioned as the time to leave between last dose and blood test - do you know what happens if this time is longer, is there an impact on the tsh value? I recall seeing a research paper, where this 24hr period was tested but there was nothing about exceeding this time.

[shaws Administrator in reply to Sybilla14]

As levo has a long half-life I would assume someone could miss a day without a problem but I haven't done so. I would assume TSH might be slightly higher.

I believe a dose of levo taken today would take about six weeks to leave your system.

[Sybilla14]

Thank you shaws . The reason I asked is that my blood tests (including the one I was diagnosed by) have been at 7am and I usually take my Levo at 2-3am, which means at the time of my bloods it would have been c. 28-29 hours from last dose. As long as the tsh does not reduce past 24 hrs for some obscure reason then I'll stick to my timings 🙂

[shaws Administrator in reply to Sybilla14]

I would put the question to the forum as only 4 hours would elapse from your 3 a.m. dose to the blood test which might make your TSH lower than it would be if you took it afterwards and doctor may adjust your dose due to the TSH alone.

People who normally take a bedtime dose are advised to miss this dose and take after blood test and then their bedtime dose as usual that same day. Some people can take a whole week's levo once a week! Not that I'd fancy doing that

[Sybilla14 in reply to shaws]

Oh no, I do miss the dose on the day hence, at the time of the blood draw, it is 28-29 hours from the last Levo (and not 24 as appears to be advised).