So how long do people generally feel better men... - Thyroid UK

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So how long do people generally feel better mentally after an increase of levo??

ThyroidObsessed profile image
9 Replies

Just curious how long people feel better mentally after an increase.. iv never really suffered physically just mentally i.e anxiety/depression crappy moods detached feeling...

Been on 125mcg of levo for 2 weeks now from 100mcg no improvement yet..

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ThyroidObsessed
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Joesmum profile image
Joesmum

I remember years ago when I was first given levo at just 25mcgs I noticed a difference after about 3 weeks.

Hang on in there. It will happen.

Sorry I've just returned to this again because I thought I was too dismissive!!!!

I have always struggled terribly with mood issues especially depression/ detachment/ anxiety. Same as you really.

My FT3 level has always needed to be well in range ( certainly just above half way) but I'm a bit tricky because I replace estrogen too and that HAS to be at a good level or else I'm really depressed.

You are not alone in that many of us have psychological manifestations of thyroid disease and having your levels optimally in range is usually the key.

Do you have your most recent thyroid blood results?

ThyroidObsessed profile image
ThyroidObsessed in reply to Joesmum

Hi joesmum, thanks im glad to hear im not alone!! Its horrible i know a lot on here suffer physically but im really not sure which is worse being in pain or feeling your going mad!!..

Im under an endo at the minute a useless one at that!.. my last results showed my ft4 was over range ft3 middle range and tsh 2.5, so the endo lowered my dose from 100mcg to 75mcg which i know would be wrong and resulted in my tsh going furthur up and ft3 and ft4 lower!.. so i went back to 100 and now to 125 as i really believe i needed to be on 125 when my tsh went high last aug last year!! But my doctor didnt know what to do with my results as tsh was high but ft4 was still high in range so referred me to an endo... and here i am nearly a year later after endo constantly changing me from 75 to 100.. ..so now here i am doing it my way...

Having glanced thru your previous posts i would wonder first about how your ferritin, B12 and Vit D levels are currently? That would throw more light on this complex topic than just discussing dosage alone.

ThyroidObsessed profile image
ThyroidObsessed in reply to

Hi rusty thanks for your input..

my ferritin is in range b12 also good and vitamin d high in range...

Im relating these symptoms due to my dose of levo as my symptoms only started when tsh went up..

SAMBS profile image
SAMBS

...could also be caused if you are self or prescription taking other meds as well, which could have an interaction with and alter benefit of taking Levothyroxine. It happened to me and messed with my brain in weird ways! Also 2 weeks on increased dose of Levo is not long- so see how you feel in 6 weeks and and ask for further blood tests. Look at other posts to see the full Thyroid test to ask for, get printed results from your Dr and repost here again with the results. Hope you will feel better soon.

ThyroidObsessed profile image
ThyroidObsessed in reply to SAMBS

Hi sam... thanks for your reply... im not on any other medication at all not even vitamins as these have all been checked and all good...

Iv had such strange things happen to my brain since tsh went up but unfortunately the silly doctor kept telling me the thyroid results were ok as she didnt know what to do with a high ft4 and high tsh so she left me like this for months before actually referring me to an endo but in the mean time i had panic attacks severe depression feeling like im going mad and not knowing why i was feeling this way as my life is great!... the damage has been done and now nearly 8 months later still symptoms and trying to get my levels stable ....

SAMBS profile image
SAMBS in reply to ThyroidObsessed

Hi T O perhaps your T4 has stopped converting to T3, try asking for a reverse T4 test, also Pituitary Gland, which helps T4 convert to T3. If ALL else is OK and you don't take any other drugs, including smoking and alcohol to any extent - definitely seems as if must be connected to your Thyroid.

Also depends on your age and if you are now going through other physiological changes I.e. Pregnancy or Menopause - if either of those 2 apply, your hormonal balance may also be affected. I'm not medically qualified, just my opinion base on lots of reading and research. Have a read up about Liothyronine ( T3) on Medline Plus, there's a lot of info on there -

most online Thyroid discussions seem to revolve around TSH results and other tests all at same time. I Haven't seen any that concentrate on T3 or FreeT3 alone.

tinkerbell22 profile image
tinkerbell22

I have struggled with anxiety and depression too and found these actually increased on Uk generic Levothyroxine. It made pms Awful! After various experiments (eg with a natural desiccated thyroid too) I found that Synthroid helped Lots. I'm still testing this but it seems as if the UK versions of Levothyroxine really upset me emotionally and hormonally... But so far the Synthroid doesn't. The day I switched to Synthroid instead of UK thyroxine I felt a lift. After 3 days I felt lots better emotionally! This quick effect was possibly because the Levothyroxine was bringing me down a lot. So then stopping it gave a quick lift. And then replacing with a better thyroxine gave me an added boost.

Apparently this can happen because US branded thyroxine is better manufactured and has better ingredients to the UK generics (I read on here)...

Hope this might help

silverfox7 profile image
silverfox7

Just being a bit picky! You said vitamins are good but are they optimal? Many doctors don't realise this and go on ranges. Might be useful if you could post them.

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