Hi guys, so iv been on thyroxine since Feb 2018 I’m on 25mg
Iv read so many websites and Seen so many different views on it..!
So iv been told be the doctor not to eat or drink 1 hour after taking my medication, what’s your views on it? I have also spoke to different pharmacists about when’s best to take it,
When do you take it??
Yes thats good advice, I would add that you should wait 2 hours before you take any other medications or suppliments.
I think you mean 25mcg not 25mg - which is 250mcg
25mcg Levothyroxine is only half the standard starter dose of 50mcg. Unless you're over 50, frail or heart condition
NHS guidelines saying standard starter dose is 50mcgs here
beta.nhs.uk/medicines/levot...
Bloods should be retested after 6-8 weeks on each dose and dose increase in 25mcg steps until TSH is around one and FT4 in top third of range and FT3 at least half way in range
Have you had bloods retested, if so please add results and ranges for members to advise
Have you had TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested? If high this confirms cause as autoimmune thyroid disease, also called Hashimoto's.
Low vitamins are very common, especially with Hashimoto's
Need to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12. These are often too low, but need testing before possible supplementing
Always take Levo on empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after.
Many take on waking, but it may be more convenient and possibly more effective taken at bedtime
verywell.com/should-i-take-...
Many people find Levothyroxine brands are not interchangeable. Once you find a brand that suits you, best to make sure to only get that one at each prescription.
Watch out for brand change when dose is increased
All thyroid tests should be done as early as possible in morning and fasting and don't take Levo in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take straight after. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, GP will be unaware)
Slowdragon, sometimes you are kept on the low dosage of 50mg for longer because tsh returns to euythroid state after first diagnosis. That's what I've been told by GP. Is this correct? Or have I been fobbed off?😥
I was put on 25 mcg and told by doctor to stay at this dose, my sister has suffered 8 years with hers.. going from over active to under active and now she’s not well with it!! My thought was her dosage is too high but doctor said other wise, I’d get a second option if your un sure 😀
Hidden
kelvi92
Just returning TSH to euthyroid state is not how hypothyroidism should be treated. All that means is that TSH is now somewhere within the range of, eg 0.2-4.2 but for a treated hypo patient generally most feel best when TSH is 1 or below. Most healthy people who don't have hypothyroidism have a TSH no more than 2 apparently.
Also, once on thyroid hormone replacement, TSH is irrelevant. It is not a thyroid hormone (it's a signal from the pituitary for the thyroid to produce thyroid hormone). T4 and T3 are the thyroid hormones so it's FT4 and, more importantly FT3 (the active hormone that every cell in our body needs) that matter.
Unfortunately doctors aren't taught this, they are taught that only TSH is important, so it may not be that you have been fobbed off but more that your GP doesn't know enough.
Thanks you have made it a little clearer now.
Not so much fobbed off, as many GP's really don't know that just testing TSH, once your on Levothyroxine is completely inadequate. FT4 and FT3 must be tested too
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4, TT4, FT3 plus TPO and TG thyroid antibodies.
Plus very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies
thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...
Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have money off offers.
All thyroid tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting.
If on Levothyroxine, don't take in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take straight after
This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, GP will be unaware)
If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).
About 90% of all hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's. Low vitamins are especially common with Hashimoto's. Food intolerances very common too, especially gluten. So it's important to get antibodies tested.
I’m new to it all so I’m still a bit confused ect, I hate taking tablets at the best of time so to be told I will take it for the rest of my life was a bit upsetting, iv got over the shock now ha ha! So I’m back at it so I’m on my second day of taking my thyroxine and I will defiantly be sticking to it 😀
Doctor re tested me after 8 weeks and my levels balanced out so he said to stay at 25 mcg NOT mg, sorry x
I am 25 years old also x
If you remain unwell and symptoms not resolving then push GP to test thyroid antibodies, vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
If any of these vitamins are too low, TSH tends to stay low. One of the many reasons it's essential to test FT3 and FT4 as well
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4, TT4, FT3 plus TPO and TG thyroid antibodies.
Plus very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies
thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...
Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have money off offers.
All thyroid tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting.
If on Levothyroxine, don't take in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take straight after
This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, GP will be unaware)
If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).
About 90% of all hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's. Low vitamins are especially common with Hashimoto's. Food intolerances common too, especially gluten. So it's important to get antibodies tested.
Advice on taking b12 supplements??
T3 named person / and surgery query 
Do many of you take T3 only??
Insomnia and levothyroxine advice. Please!
Hypothyroid links to mental health? 
