Lirothyronine

[mb82]

Hi all

I started with a TSH of over 5 and was told to go on 25mcg of thyroxine. After 6 weeks my TSH was down to 3.84 so they put me up to 50mcg. After a further 6 weeks my TSH was back up to 4.2 so they increased me to 75mcg. After 2 weeks on this does I started feeling worse than ever before and because my GP couldn't explain why, I decided to see a private endo.

The endo suggested 50mcg of Thyroxine coupled with 10mcg of Lirothyronine. I managed to get a months worth of this through the assisted conception unit at Guys (as they were the ones who wanted me to get my TSH level down in the first place) but now it is almost impossible to get hold of.

I have felt better since taking this combo but have since learnt that the reason I felt awful on pure thyroxine could have been because it stopped me naturally producing any TSH so I just needed more of it to make me feel better.

I am starting to wonder whether I should ditch the lirothyronine (as it will cost me £200 a month unless my GP will give it to me but they wont seem to) and try a higher dose of thyroxine again. Or should I look at buying an alternative (I've read about cytomel?)

It's really annoying that a private endo would prescribe something that is not possible to get hold of long term!

Any feedback would be much appreciated!

[Clutter]

mb82,

Levothyroxine does not inhibit your own thyroid production, it replaces the hormone your thyroid is unable to produce. Without seeing your thyroid results and ranges it is impossible to tell whether or not you were under or over medicated. If you feel well on 50mcg Levothyroxine + 10mcg Liothyronine it will be much much cheaper to buy online than get a private prescription if your GP won't prescribe T3.

[mb82 in reply to Clutter]

Someone on here previously said that when you take Thyroxine it makes your own thyroid stop producing it so you get into a negative feedback loop and then you need to take more - is that not correct?

What dosage would you expect someone to need if they had a TSH of 5.27 (0.2-4.2) and Thyroid antibodies of 482?

Are you able to tell me where I can buy online?

thanks for your fast response!

[Clutter in reply to mb82]

mb82,

No, I think it's nonsense. If it was true no-one would ever become over medicated or be sufficiently dosed to relieve symptoms.

If you are prescribed T4+T3 to get TSH under 2.5 for fertility treatment your current dose is probably sufficient. You should have a thyroid function test 6-8 weeks after starting replacement to check. TSH of women planning conception should be in the low normal range 0.4 - 2.5. When pregnancy is confirmed dose should be increased by 25-50mcgs to ensure good foetal development. Most UK doctors will want you on Levothyroxine only throughout the pregnancy.

[jimh111 in reply to mb82]

If you take levothyroxine it lowers your TSH and thus there is less stimulation of your thyroid and so less thyroid output (if it is still able to produce hormone). So levothyroxine will reduce your thyroid output but in general you will have more hormone when you are on levothyroxine.

Often when patients are put on thyroid hormone they find their TSH rising over time, this is probably due to the thyroid progressively failing.

[mb82]

So I've been taking 50mcg Thyroxine and 10mcg Lirothyronine for about 6 weeks I had my bloods back today and I am now the following

TSH 0.61 (0.27-4.2) *was 3.19*

T4 12.6 (10.8 - 25.5) *was 15.4*

T3 4.1 (3.10-6.80) *was 3.7*

My TSH has taken a huge drop and now seems much better for conceiving - maybe it will happen naturally instead of IVF (wishful thinking). I feel heaps better too.

Anyway, even after this proof, the GP will still not give me Lirothyronine. I mentioned buying T3 from abroad and of course she said I shouldn't.

I don't know whether to

a) try 75mcg of pure thyroxine again (last time i felt groggy, emotional, bloated but it was only for 3 weeks)

b) pay the £200 to get lirothyronine (which i know works but I cant' afford this forever)

c) buy T3 from one of the sources mentioned previously (but is it dodgy?)

Has anyone had any bad experiences buying online?