Medication

[MemeD]

I am trying to get off as many medications as I can. So far I've gotten off 2 High blood pressure meds and the metformin I took 2 times a day. I'm looking to get off levothyroxine and go with diet and exercise. Has anyone done anything similar?

[Marz]

Stopping your replacement hormone could have a negative effect as raised blood pressure can be a symptom of being Hypo and undertreated.

Diet will certainly improve pre-diabetes. Lots of info out there in cyberspace !

What is your current dose ?

Do you have any test results to share ? How are your levels of B12 - Folate - Ferritin - VitD ??

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Levothyroxine is not a medication. It's a replacement hormone, one you can't live without. So very unlikely

What are you most recent TSH, FT3 and FT4

Do you have Hashimoto's? Also called autoimmune thyroid disease diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies.

Have you got recent vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 test results and ranges. What supplements do you take

You may, with gluten free diet and vitamin supplements possibly reduce Levo dose slightly, but even that may be unlikely. Some need to be dairy free too.

[Angel_of_the_North]

I don't think it is possible unless you were only diagnosed very recnetly teh the thyroid is barely damaged. But since the NHS don't diagnose you until TSH is over 10, usually too much damage has already been done and the thyroid is not capable of producing enough hormones on its own. If you stay underactive, you can end up with heart disease and dementia, which is what used to happen before thyroid hormones were discovered. The only upside of that is that with dementia you probably won't be aware that you are ill. But there is no reason not to use diet and supplements to improve your general health. Blood pressure and blood sugar (with Type 2 diabetes) can be directly affected by diet, but that's not true of hormones when the gland that produces them doesn't function correctly.

[Supul]

Hi MemeD

Yes, I got myself off BP meds, Statins, Asprin.. all given to me by previous GP, who coerced me to take them, saying computer says with thyroid problems you are at risk of heart attack ..... well, eventually, I did collapse with over prescription of cocodamol/paracetamol and gabapentin (given to me awaiting MRI when I had severe pain 3 prolapse discs and sciatica).

Once out of hospital, I threw the bag of prescribed meds at the GP telling her she was killing me.. (I don't recommend such action; that was how ill I felt at the time. Not good behaviour though).

I since found the pain relief prescribed had caused the levothyroxine to be dumped into the blood and not reach the cells where it is needed. I suffered thyroid toxicity. I felt very unwell, for a long time.

During my health crises, once out of hospital, I had my levothyroxine dose altered twice, from 125mcg a day, to 100mcg a day, then 75 mcg.. it has been a long, and winding road, back to reasonable health.

Currently, I am under the care of an endocrinologist. He is titrating levothyroxine, slowly, but surely. He assured me, it will take a long time to get well. He was right, though I am getting there now.

I never gave up thyroid meds. I never would.

However, I eventually, dumped my old GP practice along with BP meds, Statins, Asprin. I eat fresh food. I walk. Attend interesting groups. And, thank God, every day, that I had the ability to search for solutions that bring me back to health.

HU friends have been a fantastic support. Trusting myself, and listening to my body helps me to no longer be a passive patient, always believing Dr knows best..

I wish you all the best. I urge you to go slow, get your health care provider onside, as you stop any meds. Despite my belief, that my GP didn't know best for me, at that time, I was gracious enough to accept, that there could have been a chance I was wrong.

When I came off the meds, it was with her help. We did it slowly, the way it should be done. She accepted that I was making a choice, and she did support me as I gave up each tablet, despite perhaps, still not agreeing with me.

In no way, is any of the above, to suggest that you, or any other member, do as I did. We are each individual. What approach suits one, may not suit another.

Prescription meds are powerful. They must be used/stopped with caution.