Is there an adjustment period when increasing levothyroxine dosage?

[Heatherlancaster29]

I upped my levothyroxine from 100mcg to 125mcg recently. My energy levels are way better, but I almost feel like it's a 'nervous' energy. I feel kind of jittery and strange. Like I've had too much coffee. My heartrate is fast, I feel like I'm trying to catch my breath (nothing serious, just breathing slightly faster) and I'm very warm. (Which is weird for me)

I'm willing to stick it out if I know this is normal and it's just my body adjusting. Because the new energy is great. But if it's not normal should I go back to my previous dose?

Any help would be much appreciated!

[Mollymalone79]

I had exactly the same feelings when coming down to 125 from 150, especially feeling waves of ‘warm’. It past after a week.

[Heatherlancaster29 in reply to Mollymalone79]

Did you feel an accelerated heartrate too?

[Mollymalone79 in reply to Heatherlancaster29]

Yes in spurts, but not for long.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Heather

I've never felt anything when adjusting a dose, with Levo or T3, for me it's a gradual change and it's only after about 6-8 weeks do I realise that the dose change has had an effect.

You could increase more slowly, try 12.5mcg rather than 25mcg for now.

[Aurealis]

Yes I have had a sensitivity to increased dose. It usually passes, but if not may suggest dose is too high for you. You could try increased dose every third day , or cut tablets and take a bit less than now every day

[diogenes Remembering]

In this country, I believe it is not possible to get 12 mcg T4 tablets. But realise that when moving from 100 mcg to 125, you are raising your T4 dose by a quarter. This is a big jump, and it is a great pity that unlike say in Germany 12 mcg tablets aren't available to more gently change dosing.

[Heatherlancaster29]

Yes maybe I will try cutting the tablets in half and doing an increase of 12.5

I don't mind the effects really, although slightly uncomfortable... I'm more concerned it won't pass and I'm doing my body danger...

But if it'll settle in a week or so then this is ok??

[SilverAvocado in reply to Heatherlancaster29]

I think it's a judgement call about how you feel whether you cut tablets /alternate days to give a smaller dose increase, or stick with it for a few more weeks and see how you feel.

By skipping days so it averages out over the week (125 since days, 100 other days) you can tune your dose quite a bit. T4 is slow acting, so it will smooth out over time.

Or you can wait it out if you feel like the positive effects override the negative. You don't say how long you've been on this dose, but the rule of thumb for things being well settled is about 6 weeks. I find the first two or three weeks are the worst for strange effects. I often feel over medicated for a few days about two weeks in, but generally I think there can be any kind of weird symptom in that settling in period.

I don't think this will do you any harm, and you can always drop back again if you get to the 6 week point and it still feels too much.

[Heatherlancaster29 in reply to SilverAvocado]

Thanks for the reply!

I've been on this new dose for only less than a week. So I'm hoping things will settle down. I did consider going alternate days too for a while but I'd probably lose track!

I think I'll give it a week more and see how I feel then.

I have the Drs on Wednesday so I will voice my concerns to hee too.

Thanks for all the advice! Hopefully my heart won't explode haha! 😂 #healthanxiety

[silverfox7]

I'm currently going the other way, I cut down to every other day and today will be the first time i've taken the same lower dose two days together so will now do weekends low and Tuesday and Thursday for a couple of weeks or until I feel comfortable with it.

I've always advocated going very slowly as we can sometime feel the need to give up if we do it too quickly whether increasing g orcdecreasing. Listen to your body.

[Heatherlancaster29 in reply to silverfox7]

Can I ask why you're decreasing your dose?

[silverfox7]

I am taking NDT and my FT3 result wasT the very top of the range 24 hours after taking it so far too high!

[Heatherlancaster29 in reply to silverfox7]

I wonder if that's what's happening with me... So confused and fed up.

100mcg and I get hypo symptoms and 112mcg and I get hyper symptoms...

Why can't there just be a happy medium?

[Heatherlancaster29]

So I woke up feeling so weird again today. I'm roasting hot, like my feet and hands are actually sweating. Which is so not normal for me, usually they are freezing. And my heartrate is fast again. Just lying in bed it's already 80bpm and when I stand up it shoots up to 115.

This is so frustrating. I only took 112mcg last night!

I also have weak feeling muscles.

Should I drop back down to 100mcg? Of alternate?

I feel so mentally clear and my energy is better. So confused.

[beandrummo in reply to Heatherlancaster29]

I saw GP on Friday and she increased my Levothyroxine from 75 mcg to 100 mcg. She told me to look out for signs, shaking hands, palpitations and hot flushes, if I get them to stay on 75 mcg.