Itching head

[Hippyjen]

Hi all since the doctor reduced my Levo from 150 to 100 I have had very itchy head and (no I do not have nits ect}, also I get hot most of the time and my hair seems to fall out now is it my age 64 female or reduced Levo any ideas and help would help thanks.

[shaws Administrator]

Welcome to our forum Hippygen,

To adjust levo up/down it should be in 25mcg increments, so I'd take 125mcg. I'd also phone and tell him why you've done so as you have developed symptoms you didn't have before on your 150mcg of levo.

Also get a print-out of your latest results with the ranges and post them on a new question if you don't have them today.

Do you have the earliest possible test, fasting (you can drink water) and do you allow a gap of 24 hours between your last dose of levo and the test? If you didn't request a new test following this procedure. It give us the best result for TSH in particular as that's all doctors seem to look at and adjust our meds up/down according to the TSH. They rarely take a Free T4 and Free T3 blood tests. Ask GP if he will do these and if not you can have a postal pin-prick blood test following the same procedure, i.e. fasting etc.

Levothyroxine (T4) is an inactive hormone and it has to convert to liothyronine (T3) and T3 is the only active thyroid hormone required in our billions of receptor cells. You could look on it as a battery, if low radio wont work too well and if optimum everything works fine.

You could have developed a reaction to fillers/binders in the levo. Do you get the same one every time or does it vary. To see if it is a reaction, take 1 antistamine 1 hour before levo and take note if you have respite from itching on your head. If it works and your head doesn't itch you will have to change your make of levo to another.

Get a print-out of your latest results but if you didn't have them at the earliest.... ask GP to do a new one as you have been recommended to follow a procedure which will give you the best results. i.e. TSH is earliest a.m. and drops throughout the day, so may mean doctor adjusts dose according to the TSH.

Post your results with the ranges on a new post from members to comment. Results always have to have the ranges quoted. Ranges are important as labs differ in their machines and it makes it easier for members to comment.

p.s. I am not medically qualified but had undiagnosed hpothyroidism.

[Hippyjen in reply to shaws]

Thank you slowdragon l got it wrong it was 25g l was reduced not 50g what is T4 T3 etc l normally get a phone call from my doctor saying l will be taking 100 instead of 125.

I have been on 100 for about 2 months.

[Hippyjen in reply to shaws]

Thank you l shall contact my doctor for another blood test. I was reduced Lenovo by 25g not 50g sorry good to hear l am not going mad.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

What were your blood test results on 150mcgs, TSH, FT4 and FT3

Post them here if you have them.

As Shaws says 50mcg dose reduction is HUGE, if you need a dose reduction (possibly unlikely) then 12.5 or possibly 25mcg max

How long have you been on 100mcg? If 6 weeks or longer get bloods tested before increasing to 125mcg. Wait 6 weeks and retest again

Likely your vitamin D, folate, ferritin and/or B12 may have been affected by being under medicated. Ask that these are checked

I had incredibly itchy scalp when under medicated. Drove me scatty. Tried all sorts of shampoos, nothing helped. It just resolved completely when Levo was increased.

I have had slightly similar itching scalp again recently when T4 was reduced too much, after starting T3. Again has improved since increased T4