At what dose of Levothyroxine & how far into that dose have you stopped having negative side effects?

[Redefining_Randi]

Hi there, I was prescribed 50mcg Levothyroxine & am started my 5th week on it.

I know all bodies work and react differently to meds, but just want a general idea of when people have stopped having negative effects & actually started to feel better. (I guess even maybe reassurance that it’s not the end of the world & I’ll be fine with patience & persistence).

I might also add that I have previously been diagnosed w/ anxiety, depression, PCOS & tachycardia and have such negative reactions to meds that I eventually ween myself off of taking them. But I know with a thyroid issue, that won’t be possible.

Anyways, thanks to my other “issues”, Idk if my negative side effects are purely Levo’s Fault alone.

I have increased anxiety, controllable irritability, brain fog, heart palps, issues sleeping & fatigue, occasional but painful headaches, occasional chest heaviness/ pressure and pains in left abdomen and left back below rib cage.

So yeah, I just want to know if any of these things happened to you and when/ if they clear up. Sorry about the long post, thank you for all your help.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

You should have bloods retested after 6-8 weeks and likely to need dose increase(s)

Dose is increased in 25mcg steps until TSH is around, or just under one and FT4 towards top of range and FT3 at least half way in range. Retesting bloods 6-8 weeks after each dose increase

Have you had vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 tested, and TPO and TG thyroid antibodies. If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's also called autoimmune thyroid disease. About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is due to Hashimoto's in UK

NICE guidelines saying how to initiate and increase. Note that most patients eventually need somewhere between 100mcg and 200mcg Levothyroxine

cks.nice.org.uk/hypothyroid...

[Muddy1980]

Hi,

I'm about 14 weeks in after changes every 6 weeks from 75mcg (I had a bad reactions) down to 25mcg, then 50mcg...now I know I need a higher dose and have my bloods next Monday.

TSH has been dropping but not so I'd notice.

I have to say during this period I've felt at death doors and been in A&E twice with symptoms I've never had until taking levothyroxine.

I can say now that I no longer feel as ill, but I feel no different to before when I started on this journey. I can only put this down to needing a higher dose. In my experience so far there has been no quick fixes and no improvement. Hopefully things will pick up in the next 6 weeks after they change my meds.

People on here have told me it gets worse for some people before it gets better.

[trelemorele]

I never improved on Levo and I was on up to 350mcg.

I'm 10 years since diagnosis.

I'd suggest if you don't see improvement after 6 months you start researching into conversion problems also getting other hormones in check in the meantime and monitor, as well as lowering inflammation with LDN if you're Hashi.

You should be reading and learning from now on how to manage your thyroid yourself as (if you're in UK) you're doomed with the state of doctors medical incompetence.

Good luck and get well.

[silverfox7]

I would test Vit D, B12, folate and ferritin as soon as you are able. They all help the Thyroid to work better. They also help any conversion problems you may have and can also get rid of some symptoms you may have I found I had a conversion problem a few years ago and by Vits etc very quite low but I got it back up but it took me 5 months to though that is dependent on how low yours are. So no arm in getting those tested now to help you on your way.