Anxiety

[Mouse]

Every time I try to increase my Levothyroxine dose I get crippling anxiety, cry all the time and feel I can’t cope. On 25mcg per day my tsh is around 3. For the first few days after increasing to 50 one day and 25 the next I feel great but after a couple of weeks I get the symptoms above.

A few months ago I decided just to keep going hoping the symptoms would go if I persisted and I managed to get to 50 every day. I didn’t feel brilliant but the GP did another blood test, my tsh was still 3 so put my dose up to 75. Within days I couldn’t cope at all and even phoned my husband at work telling him to come home because I was in such a state.

I lowered the dose back to 25 and I calmed down again but after a few weeks I started to feel under medicated again. I increased to 50 one day and 25 the next and now I am back in an anxious state again.

Should I just stick with 25 per day?

[Kes8]

When you went from 50 to 75 did you do it at once?

I'm having terrible trouble with dose increases so Endo has advised a slow titration. When I went from 50 to 75 it was by increasing by a larger dose daily each week so week one 1 day x 75 and 6 days 50. Week two 2 x days 75 and 5 days 50 etc until 7 days on 75. It might be worth taking it slowly.

[Mouse in reply to Kes8]

Yes, that is what I have done with all increases and when I have the anxiety rise have dropped back down for a day or two. I think I am doing ok and then the anxiety hits again. The funny thing is that when the anxiety is really bad I don’t recognise it until I have a complete meltdown.

I got a puppy before Christmas and everything has been fine and then suddenly I couldn’t cope anymore, crying all the time and having panic attacks. On Saturday I returned him to the breeder as I couldn’t cope but then cried all the time because I missed him. It then dawned on me that the pattern was repeating itself again so this morning I haven’t taken any Levothyroxine. I am getting the puppy back tomorrow as I now realise that it is not him.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

What are your vitamin levels like? Do you supplement?

Vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 all need to be at good levels

Presumably you have Hashimoto's as you are gluten free

Your GP could prescribe propranolol for helping increase dose. It blocks the adrenaline and allows dose of Levothyroxine to increase. It's used in hyperthyroid situations, but also when we can't tolerate, but do need higher dose of Levothyroxine

But you can't be prescribed propranolol if you have asthma

[Mouse in reply to SlowDragon]

I take vit d, vit c, iron, b12, magnesium and dong quai. My folate levels are high, probably because I am vegetarian

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Mouse]

A good vitamin B complex keeps all B vitamins in balance

But remember to stop taking 3-5 days before any blood tests as biotin can falsely affect test results

You need to test vitamin D levels twice yearly

Vitamindtest.org.uk £28

Same with iron - important not to take too much

Do you have Hashimotos ? Diagnosed by high TPO or TG antibodies, if so are you strictly gluten free?

[Mouse in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes I do have Hashimotos and have been gluten free for 18 months now. That has made such a difference, no more aching , night sweat, cotton wool head or digestive problems.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Mouse]

Sorry I am on phone (missed that you are GF )

Yes good

GF Helps thousands of us 😀

[Hidden]

If you continue to experience problems with raising your meds, you might want to consider having your adrenals checked out as low adrenals can adversely impact on the thyroid. The saliva cortisol test, I understand, is the best as it measures cortisol throughout the day, some labs will do 6 measurements but most do 4. This is a random link from STTM:-

stopthethyroidmadness.com/a...

[Mouse in reply to Hidden]

I have had that and it showed raised cortisol first thing in the morning but normal for the rest of the day

[shaws]

You could be sensitive to the fillers/binders in the levo you are taking. Try taking an anti-histamine one hour before your next dose to see if it eases your symptoms. If it does change your levo to another make.

[Mouse in reply to shaws]

I can’t take antihistamines as they knock me out, even the ones that say they don’t cause drowsiness. I am very sensitive to all drugs. When I had an anaesthetic many years ago they thought they had overdosed me because I took longer than expected to come round

[shaws in reply to Mouse]

That's a pity. I must admit I don't like the affect anaesthetic has either.

[silverfox7]

Which brand are you currently taking? Do you always stick to the same one? If so ask Pharmacy if you could have a different brand for 4 weeks and see how you get on.