Anxiety and Levothyroxine Sodium

[Judthepud]

About 3 months ago my Levo was increased from 125mcg to 150mcg because my TSH was creeping up. About a month later I developed the symptoms of Anxiety - butterflies; feeling sick; confusion; exhaustion. When I thought it might be due to overdozing with Levo, I cut back - that was about a month ago and I'm still having the anxiety symptoms. How long will it take for this to resolve, or is it probably unrelated to my increased doze of Levo??

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Have you had bloods retested since dose increase?

Can you add your most recent results and ranges for TSH, FT4 and FT3. Do you know if you have Hashimoto's also called autoimmune thyroid disease, diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies.

Also if you have had vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 tested add these results and ranges too

[Judthepud in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks for your reply. My routine TSH around three months ago was in the 2s (it had previously always been in the 1s). I increased my doze of Levothyroxine from 125mcg to 150mcg and my TSH went down into the 1s (sorry I can't be more exact, and also my GP only checks the TSH). I first noticed the anxiety (nausea, palpatations, sweating, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, tremours, agitation etc) when I was on holiday from work on the week of 22nd January, and only started to think it could be a consequence of the increased doze of Levothyroxine about a month later. I reduced my doze back down to 125mcg around 12 days ago. I'm hoping the reduced doze will help and I certainly felt a bit better yesterday, but not so good today. What do you think??

[Clutter]

Judthepud,

If the anxiety was due to overmedication it would have resolved a week or two after reducing dose. It's possible the anxiety is due to undermedication not overmedication. I'd resume 150mcg and hope that symptoms improve.

[Judthepud in reply to Clutter]

Thanks for your reply. When I was on 125mcg of Levothyroxine my routine TSH was always in the 1s (sorry not to be more precise), but a routine blood test around Oct showed that it had crept into the 2s. That was when I increased my doze to 150mcg and my TSH went back down into the 1s. However, I first noticed the anxiety (nausea, palpatations, sweating, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, tremours, agitation etc) when I was on holiday from work on the week of the 22nd January, and only started to think it could be a consequence of the increased doze about a month later. Having given it more careful thought, I only reduced my doze back down to 125mcg 10 to 12 days ago. I felt a lot better yesterday (felt hungry for the first time in ages and anxiety much better), but not so good again today. In view of my TSH levels, which are quite low, is it not quite unlikely that I'm undermedicated? Do you think I may not be feeling the benefits of the reduced doze yet after just 10-12 days? Would appreciate your opinion on this. Thanks again.

[Clutter in reply to Judthepud]

Judthepud,

If you were overmedicated then it might take longer than 10-12 days. Having TSH 1.0 doesn't guarantee that T4 and/or T3 levels are good. I had TSH <0.01 but FT3 was also below range.

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