I have run out of Levothyroxine 25 low dosage

[Hather]

My son rushed to hospital a few days ago with a stroke ....and I forgot to renew met Levothyroxine ..took my last one this morning. Will it matter if I can't get a repeat for two or three days .. thanks HAther

[helvella Administrator]

Go to your usual pharmacy and ask them to let you have a few tablets to get you by.

This is an entirely standard, legal, normal thing that is needed from time to time. Obviously we should all try to avoid needing to do so, but sometimes things happen...

They might only let you have a tiny number, but should get you through. (They might also charge! But given the very low cost of levothyroxine, shouldn't be very much.)

Hope your son continues to improve.

[Hather in reply to helvella]

Thx 😊

[silverfox7]

If you have been on 25 mcg for 6 weeks without a repeat blood test then you should be retested as you probably need an increase as that is a low starting amount aimed at getting your body used to the drug. I appreciated though you have bigger things on your mind at the moment. I hope you son soon starts to improve. Try not to worry though we always do but I'm sure he will be getting excellent care.

[Hather in reply to silverfox7]

Thank you Silverfox7. Yes I had a blood test last week but have been on 25 for over six months now last one tested 6 months ago..she role me to wait for that time after the original two tests, but I will double check the results as my nails are breaking and hair very dry and skin getting a bit itchy again ..

.Son is improving slowly thank you..and luckily although his speech is slurred his brain seems unaffected and is getting top attention in Watford Hospital for arm and leg .. as well

HAther😊

[helvella Administrator in reply to Hather]

25 micrograms as a total dose is rarely sensible (if ever).

The reduction of your own output of thyroid hormones can offset the 25 you are taking, so you end up little better off.

[silverfox7 in reply to Hather]

Glad your son is getting good care. Leaving you 6 months on such low dose is wrong! I would book another test as soon as you are able to and post your results and ranges on here for comment.

[shaws Administrator in reply to Hather]

25mcg is a very low starting dose, normal is 50mcg with 25mcg increments every six weeks. Many GPs don't really know best how to treat patients and think everything is down to the blood test when it should also be symptoms.

[shaws Administrator in reply to Hather]

I cannot believe what I've just read i.e. you've been on 25mcg of levothyroxine for six months with only one blood test done after six months?? Have I misread?

[Treepie]

If you use a regular pharmacy they may let you have some on account.I was offered that when I thought I was going to run out as my on line order had not gone through.

[Ellie-Louise]

I completely ran out about 3 weeks ago on the Saturday night. I didn't realise until the next day because I thought I had another box.

So on that Sunday I put a prescription request through System Online and it wasn't ready to collect until the Thursday, even though I had written a note telling of not having any left.

I did start to feel different but can't quite remember how I felt now. I just know I didn't feel 'normal'.

The result being that I shall NEVER forget to order them again.

[Hather in reply to Ellie-Louise]

I phoned Drs.. Pharmavy delivered within a few hours, still 25 as within range which people say is not good enough..will get the exact read out in a day or so and put on here..for everyone's comments

[Hidden]

OH my goodness I hope your son is doing better. You could go to pharmacy and get an entire prescription here in the states if for instance you lost them or dropped them saand they fell down the drain....it's perfectly legal. STay strong.

[Hather in reply to Hidden]

Thank you, but I just gave them the facts and it was delivered in a few hours..😊

[Hidden in reply to Hather]

so glad u got it!

[JMHW]

Sorry to hear about your son. But do take your meds. Any pharmacy will give you a few levo to tide you over, I have had to do this several times, both when away and forgot to pack them, and when the repeat prescription has been delayed at home. The pharmacist will understand that it is important not to disrupt your dose. If you aren't at a familiar pharmacy it may help to show the finished pack. Good luck!

[shaws Administrator]

I'm glad your son is recovering and that would have been a very scary time for all the family.

[cbraffe]

My pharmacy gives a prescription as long as you promise to bring the script in a few days time as long as he has you on the system.

[humanbean]

Something that many people aren't aware of is that some people take their Levo only once a week i.e. a whole week's worth of Levo in one go. So, if they are prescribed 50mcg per day, they take 350mcg once a week. It isn't something people can do with other meds of course, or even other kinds of thyroid meds. But it can work for Levothyroxine.

researchgate.net/profile/Ab...

So, if you have gone without your Levo for 4 days (for example), you could then take 100mcg Levo in addition to your normal dose and you wouldn't do yourself any harm.

I have to admit, this wouldn't appeal to me on a regular basis even if I took Levo (which I don't), but rather than feel terribly under-medicated I would be happy to do it occasionally.

Your doctor is neglecting you outrageously. To have prescribed 25mcg and then left you to rot for 6 months is terrible. You should have been given a blood test after 6 - 8 weeks, then given a 25mcg raise in dose. Then re-test after 6 weeks, and another 25mcg raise in dose, and keep going in that cycle of test then 25mcg raise until your symptoms had disappeared. and your Free T4 and Free T3 were quite high in the reference range.

The best conditions for testing are :

1) Make an appointment for a blood test as early in the morning as possible, before 9am at the latest.

Let's assume your appointment is for 8.30am on a Wednesday.

2) 24 hours before your appointment take your daily dose of Levo. So, on the Tuesday take your normal Levo at 8.30am.

3) Fast overnight on Tuesday night. Don't drink anything except water. Delay breakfast in the morning until after the test. Don't take your Levo before the test.

Stick to these rules for every test. The reason for this is it makes it possible to compare tests more easily, it gives you the highest possible TSH, and it will avoid showing a false high Free T4.

Please note these timings apply to people taking Levo only. The timings are different for people taking T3 or NDT, with or without Levo.

[helvella Administrator in reply to humanbean]

On the basis we have recently seen posts suggesting that weekly dosing with vitamin D is not as good an idea as all that, I suspect we'll find weekly levothyroxine will in time become a deprecated practice.

I would be scared stiff to try it. I notice tiny changes - at least compared to what others report. Currently 112 micrograms every day because alternating 100/125 felt wrong.

My suspicion is that this weekly dosing in one go is a really bad idea. One that has been practiced on old folk by nurses who can only visit once or twice a week. Sometimes applied to "non-compliant" patients. That is, applying what has become a necessary expedient for the wrong reasons.

[humanbean in reply to helvella]

I must admit it would scare me too, but if I only had to do it occasionally I might be prepared to try it if I had just missed a couple of days of Levo.