Would you go higher on Levo? your thoughts/advice - Thyroid UK

Thyroid UK

141,245 members166,490 posts

Would you go higher on Levo? your thoughts/advice

MaximusUK profile image
9 Replies

Ive been on Levo for the past couple of years (100mcg) and generally felt better than I did pre-medication days for hypo, but nothing thats ever made me think I feel amazingly good and just this year I was diagnosed Hashimotos in January after feeling a bit low and small symptoms cropped up.

This past year my doc, who is great and really listens, took me down to 75mcg as a precaution, then went back to 100mcg, then on my advice was happy to try 125mcg which I'm now currently on.

A recent test done last week came back with

TSH 19.3 (range 10.5 - 24)

FT4 1.7 (range 0.4 - 4.6)

and i did my own FT3 test with medichecks thats just come back with 4.6 (range 3.10 - 6.80)

Ive felt better on 125mcg, the symptoms i had at the start of the year seemed to have improved but having read various comments on here and the net, it seems a lot of people say being in the upper range in TSH and lower range of FT4 really made a difference.

Whenever I have taken an increase in dose from 75-100-125, my numbers have always gone up/down across the board in a linear fashion, so when i was on 75mcg my TSH was 14.6..then 16.7 on 100mcg, then 19.3 on my current dose of 125mcg. And likewise the FT4 went 3.4...2.6 and now 1.7.

Just wondering, based on my general numbers and peoples own experiences wether going to 150mcg of Levo at my next Dr's meeting would seem like my ideal range given the info above.

Would appreciate anyones thoughts, positive or negative.

thanks

Written by
MaximusUK profile image
MaximusUK
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
9 Replies
jimh111 profile image
jimh111

You could try an increase to 150 mcg to see what happens. If you don't feel better on 150 drop backt to 125.

By the way you have consistently mixed up TSH and fT4! Where you have written TSH it should be fT4 and vice-versa. This suggests you might still be a little hypo!

MaximusUK profile image
MaximusUK in reply tojimh111

lol Yeah sorry, Ive got the two mixed up! Im assuming you all know what i meant :-)

Clutter profile image
Clutter

MaximusUK,

Have you transposed the TSH and FT4 results? Looks to me that it should be TSH is 1.7 (0.4 - 4.6) and FT4 is 19.3 (10.5 - 24.0).

The goal of Levothyroxine is to restore the patient to euthyroid status. For most patients that will be when TSH is 0.4 - 1.0 with FT4 in the upper range. FT4 needs to be in the upper range in order that sufficient T3 is converted. Read Treatment Options in thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_... Email dionne.fulcher@thyroiduk.org if you would like a copy of the Pulse article to show your GP.

There is no cure for Hashimoto's which causes 90% of hypothyroidism. Levothyroxine treatment is for the low thyroid levels it causes. Many people have found that 100% gluten-free diet is helpful in reducing Hashi flares, symptoms and eventually antibodies.

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

MaximusUK profile image
MaximusUK in reply toClutter

Thanks for the info. I have gone gluten and dairy free after what I've read about Hashi's, but if I'm honest, I probably haven't done this long enough (3 weeks) for it to have a proper affect on me yet, although I would say I have felt better since I have done it so fingers crossed that helps.

Clutter profile image
Clutter in reply toMaximusUK

MaximusUK,

It can take years for g-f diet to help reduce thyroid antibodies.

Marz profile image
Marz

Hashi's folk have poor absorption - so how are your vits and minerals - B12 - Folate - Ferritin - VitD ? All need to be optimal for you to feel well and for your thyroid hormones to work well in the body - both your own and the ones you take. When they are all good it can make a HUGE difference :-)

Do you take any other medication that could be affecting absorption ? Do you have any gut issues ?

MaximusUK profile image
MaximusUK in reply toMarz

I don't take any other meds, in that sense the has his/hypo is my only condition.

As for vitamins, I regularly take Selenium, Vitamin D and B12 complex. But i haven't had my folate or ferritin checked so might suggest that to the Dr next, thats a good point.

I have had gut issue this year, lots of gas that was causing heart paps. It wasn't acid, never had heartburn, it was literally just pockets of air but my stomach felt tender, so i cut out gluten and dairy. Since I've done this the stomach issues and the heart palps have subsided quite a bit so I'm sticking with that. But i will looking into the absorption side of things more. Am i missing any other vital vitamins do you know of?

Marz profile image
Marz in reply toMaximusUK

Think it will be a B Complex containing B12. Probably not enough - I would take B12 on its own. How much VitD ? - what was your test result ? - dosing is based on levels. There will be Folate/Folic Acid in the B Complex.

Magnesium is good to take and VitK2-Mk7 - co-factors of VitD.

fedupinthenorth profile image
fedupinthenorth

I was on 300 at one point and I felt fab. Loads of energy and a decent weight. Now I'm on 200 and I don't feel as great. I've been told its to avoid health issues in later life like brittle bones and osteoporosis though. :/ But to answer your questions yes, I'd love to be taking that again.

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

Does anyone feel more depressed the higher your levo is!??

So i seem to be ok when on a 75mcg dose of levo but once im up to 100mcg i get severely depressed.....

A year and still not right!! T3 needed or not!?

So after 9 years of levels being stable on levo and being ok.. october a year ago tsh went up but...

Medichecks results after 6 weeks on higher dose of Levo - need advice please!

Hello, I hope someone might be able to help me out here! I found out in January of this year that...
Smorzando profile image

Dosage advice on levo only??

So i have now come to realise when my ft4 is over range i suffer mentally its horrible.. Even...

Results going up and down advice please

Hi everyone I am new here. I am 33 years old, female, and having problems trying to work out why my...

Moderation team

See all
Jaydee1507 profile image
Jaydee1507Administrator
PurpleNails profile image
PurpleNailsAdministrator
SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.

Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.