Seasonal alterations to levothyroxin

Does anyone else adjust their Levothyroxin seasonally?

I’ve been on 75mcg for a long time and am thinking of reducing to 50 over this summer as have the rapid heart beat and underlying anxiety over last week, which I’ve experienced in the past but taken no action, (I’ve also changed my supplements to include Zinc and more recently Seleium and wonder if that is influencing my thyroid efficiency)

[marsaday]

Very common and normal to do this.

Increase a little in winter and drop a little in the summer

[Hidden in reply to marsaday]

Thanks

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Before you change dose you really need full testing

TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus Thyroid antibodies

And test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Anxiety can be symptom of being under medicated

If GP won’t test all these then private testing is available. 1000’s on here forced to do this

Thyroid test should be as early as possible in morning and fasting. Don’t take Levothyroxine in 24 hours before test, delay and take straight after

Always stick to same brand of Levo too

[Hidden in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks

[marsaday]

Yes testing is good, but the reality to get this done is hard.

So often the best way to check what you need is to drop back on the dose. If you start to feel worse after a few days or weeks then you don't actually need the lower dose. But if you feel a bit better then this is likely to be resolved.

Going up and down with doses (done slowly and methodically) is a very good way to work out where the body is. Having blood tests data is even better, but cannot always be done by the NHS or is costly done privately.

[Hidden in reply to marsaday]

I do agree, and to put the tests into context they do need to be regularly done, so sadly the potential cost puts them out of reach for many including me. My NHS tests are a guide, and generally confirm symptoms or lack of them, sluggish in winter and a bit hyper right now

[silverfox7]

I would always drop down first and see how you feel. If you go up first and don't feel right and so raise again then you can easily get into a mess!