Light headed

[BevIrvine]

Hi, I'm on my third increase, 100 lethyroxine, occasionally through the day I have moments where I feel dizzy and light headed, I think it's if I need to eat, I'm not sure. Only been diagnosed recently and just had my third increase, could it be the medication? Thanks for listening x x

[greygoose]

When you say 'recently', how long, exactly? It's perfectly normal to have an increase every six weeks. With hormones you need to start low, and increase slowly. So, it sounds like your doctor is doing it right : start with 50 mcg, and increase by 25 mcg every six weeks until the symptoms are gone and the patient is well.

I think it's more likely to be low blood sugar making you feel light-headed, than the levo - which isn't medication in the normal sense of the word, it's a hormone. Does it go away when you eat? Although, of course, as we don't have a time-scale for your increases in dose, if your doctor is increasing too quickly, there is a possibility that it is the levo at fault.

[BevIrvine in reply to greygoose]

Thank you so much! Usually only lasts a little while, but need to sit down while it passes, my increases have been every 4 weeks.

[greygoose in reply to BevIrvine]

Well, that's too fast. Leave six weeks between your last increase and your next retest, to give your system time to catch up. It takes six weeks to fully absorb and sythesise levo. You will miss your sweet spot, if you continue like that.

[BevIrvine in reply to greygoose]

Fab that explains a lot, I might sound thick but what does miss my sweet spot mean ? X x

[greygoose in reply to BevIrvine]

Well, everyone has their own sweet spot, where they feel well on a dose. If your dose is too low, you feel well to begin with, and then the symptoms come back. That process takes six weeks, and it means you need another increase. So, you keep increasing, until you feel well, and the symptoms done come back. That is YOUR sweet spot, and it can be on any dose, high or low, but cannot be predicted in advance - despite what doctors think.

But, as it takes six weeks for your body to fully process an increase in dose, if you increase after four weeks, you can go right past your sweet spot, without noticing it, and end up on too high a dose. And, taking too much can be as bad as taking too little, so you think you're still hypo, and continue increasing. You see what I mean?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Suggest you post your results, including antibodies if tested.

Plus has GP tested vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

[silverfox7]

Yes you will still be increasing on the earlier dose when you take the second so teally loading without knowing what is really happening. Ubussual though for doctos to do that! It's usually come back in 3 months!!!