Hyperthyroidism

[WallFlower0610]

If i took more thyroxine than I should would I get hyperthyroidism symptoms back? Particularly weightloss?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Did you previously have Graves? And RAI or TT?

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 you had Graves' disease previously then you may benefit from strictly gluten free diet.

I noticed you previous post in another forum mentions white itchy spots on skin. This is classic sign for coeliac so ask GP for coeliac blood test first before trying strictly free diet

amymyersmd.com/2017/02/3-im...

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

scdlifestyle.com/2014/08/th...

drknews.com/changing-your-d...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

[WallFlower0610 in reply to SlowDragon]

I had Graves so had radioactive iodine three times unfortunately

[greygoose]

Probably only if it was all converted to T3. It's all very unpredictable. Nobody can know what symptoms you will get or when, but basically, it's T3 that causes symptoms if it's too high or too low. But, don't count on over-dosing to make you lose the weight. Because it's more likely to make you put more weight on than lose it. Somehow, exogenous hormone just doesn't have the same effects as endogenous. But, even people with Grave's can put on weight. They don't all lose it.

[WallFlower0610 in reply to greygoose]

Probably should have said I take levothyroxine. I’ve lost weight with it before.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to WallFlower0610]

Getting vitamins optimal is first step, and look at gluten free diet or even autoimmune paleo diet

Dr Toft, past president of the British Thyroid Association and leading endocrinologist, states in Pulse Magazine,

"The appropriate dose of levothyroxine is that which restores euthyroidism and serum TSH to the lower part of the reference range - 0.2-0.5mU/l.

In this case, free thyroxine is likely to be in the upper part of its reference range or even slightly elevated – 18-22pmol/l.

Most patients will feel well in that circumstance. But some need a higher dose of levothyroxine to suppress serum TSH and then the serum-free T4 concentration will be elevated at around 24-28pmol/l.

This 'exogenous subclinical hyperthyroidism' is not dangerous as long as serum T3 is unequivocally normal – that is, serum total around T3 1.7nmol/l (reference range 1.0-2.2nmol/l)."

You can obtain a copy of the articles from Thyroid UK email print it and highlight question 6 to show your doctor

 please email Dionne at

[e-mail]

Can also request list of recommended thyroid specialists, some are T3 friendly

Professor Toft recent article saying, T3 may be necessary for many. Otherwise we need high FT4 and suppressed TSH in order to have high enough FT3. Note especially his comments on current inadequate treatment following thyroidectomy or RAI

rcpe.ac.uk/sites/default/fi...

[WallFlower0610 in reply to SlowDragon]

I don’t understand any of that

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to WallFlower0610]

Professor Toft is saying than many people need a high FT4 and very low TSH otherwise they don't convert enough of the FT4 to FT3

If you put you most recent results on a new post. Then members can advise if your dose is high enough

Test results needed are

TSH

FT4

FT3

Vitamin D

Folate

B12

Ferritin

If Levothyroxine is too low vitamins are often too low as well

[WallFlower0610 in reply to SlowDragon]

Who’s professor toft?

But I’m asking - if I took more levothyroxine than I should would I get hyperthyroidism symptoms back? Particularly weight loss?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to WallFlower0610]

You need to get these tests listed above.

Taking more Levothyroxine than you need or can use can make you extremely unwell.

Professor Toft is one of the top UK endocrinologists who specialises in Thyroid disease

President of British Thyroid Association 1996-2009

Past President of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh

Physician to the Queen in Scotland

Consultant of Endocrinology, specialising in thyroid disease, at Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh 1978-2009.

[WallFlower0610 in reply to SlowDragon]

Why do I need to get the tests above?

I don’t care to be honest.

Is Professor Toft contactable?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to WallFlower0610]

If you want to get your thyroid levels correct and start loosing weight you need to have vitamins at right levels so that thyroid hormones can work

The thyroid tests - TSH, FT3 and FT4 need testing to see if you are taking enough (or too much) or not converting the Levothyroxine

Levothyroxine is a storage hormone. The body can not use it. It's called T4 because it has 4 atoms of iodine in it. To use it the body needs to change it to T3. To do that well (and help loose weight as result) you need the right amount of Levothyroxine (not too much or too little) and the right vitamin levels

It is possible to see Prof Toft as private patient, in Scotland

Thyroid Uk has list of recommended thyroid specialists all over UK

But first, before that you need copies from GP of your last thyroid tests and vitamins tested, if not been done

Ask receptionist at GP surgery for printed copies of your blood test results and ranges. Unlikely to have had them all done

Come back here with new post and ask which other tests you need. Then you either can get these done by GP, or like 1000's on here you may need to test the rest privately

Too much Levothyroxine, can be just as bad, or even worse, than too little

[helvella Administrator]

Using levothyroxine as if it were a weight-loss medicine is potentially dangerous.

Excess levothyroxine could have many effects including causing some or all of those symptoms usually associated with hyperthyroidism. However, taking levothyroxine as a medicine is fundamentally different to your own thyroid producing an excess of thyroid hormone.

[WallFlower0610 in reply to helvella]

I don’t care to be honest. What do you mean - However, taking levothyroxine as a medicine is fundamentally different to your own thyroid producing an excess of thyroid hormone.

[helvella Administrator in reply to WallFlower0610]

Start with some obvious issues:

Your thyroid would have produced T4 and T3;

Your thyroid would have released thyroid hormone in a pulsatile way throughout the day;

Your thyroid would have delivered thyroid hormone into your bloodstream (not your stomach and gut).

I emphasise, over-dosing on levothyroxine is potentially dangerous. The effects of doing so could be very serious and not just in the obvious things like pulse and temperature but also cumulative damage which might not be obvious at the time.