Over medicated ?: Hi is it possible to be over... - Thyroid UK

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Over medicated ?

Sharon-1152 profile image
26 Replies

Hi is it possible to be over medicated, even if your resting pulse is 60 and your still constipated , I’m feeling very anxious even though my blood tests are normal 22 range (9-22) t3 is 5.23 sorry can’t remember range , tsh is 0.02 . I’m feeling more anxious than I’ve ever felt . Would be so grateful for any advice, .

Thank you

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Sharon-1152 profile image
Sharon-1152
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26 Replies
Aurealis profile image
Aurealis

Overmedication makes me anxious too. It sometimes (although not usually) also causes constipation (in the way that high anxiety sometimes does too. Of course there are also other causes of anxiety - do you have any other symptoms?

Sharon-1152 profile image
Sharon-1152 in reply to Aurealis

Thanks for your reply

Yes I have other symptoms

Brain fog , can’t remember my words allergic rhinitis

Social anxiety

Strange feeling in my arms which is a new symptom feel heavy and weak

And the terrible anxiety

Feeling very tired and exhausted more than usual

Aurealis profile image
Aurealis in reply to Sharon-1152

Sorry you feel so poorly. I’ve used trial and error adjusting quite a bit - I had to as test results are not helpful in my case. I found that I could tell if dose was too high by missing one dose out, preferably first one of the day. I could feel levels drop as day went on and I’d start to feel better the longer the day went on. I don’t know if it would work the same for you s not everyone is as sensitive to levels, but if you miss a whole days dose out you may feel poorly tomorrow. Brain fog doesn’t usually happen with high dose, but really poor concentration does and the end result can be similar. Good luck x

UCSFDAB profile image
UCSFDAB

Sharon, I feel reluctant to offer you any advice since I don't know your age, BMI or history of exogenous T4 or T3.... if you are on what most would consider high dose and still have a 0.02 TSH then I might expect you are dumping your exogenous thyroid hormones. Reducing your exogenous thyroid hormone to slowly bring your THS level to between .66 and 1.66 might improve your situation. I believe there is a bias here relying on studies of abnormal thyroid function and I expect patient and subset controls are suspect in many studies given how damned complex our situations can be.

You seem to be using a number of supplements and such. If you are feeling anxious I feel it is more closely associated with over medication rather than under medication. best wishes on your journey, these are among the most powerful substances in our bodies and my bias is toward slowly, slowly reducing the exogenous load to raise your TSH level in a way that does not throw your body into perceiving an emergency.

best wishes for a better and more fulfilling sense of well-being

susiebow profile image
susiebow in reply to UCSFDAB

Hi,can I ask what are exogenous thyroid hormones and how do you get rid of them?

susiemalc profile image
susiemalc in reply to susiebow

Hello Sharon, 'exogenous' just means the thyroid hormones you are taking in tablet (or liquid) form, as opposed to hormones produced by your own thyroid. If you are taking thyroxine every day then that is your 'exogenous' thyroid hormone. I'm pretty sure you do not want to get rid of them. I hope this helps.

susiebow profile image
susiebow in reply to susiemalc

Thanks for explaining this ,so what is dumping ?

susiemalc profile image
susiemalc in reply to susiebow

I don't know either!

Angel_of_the_North profile image
Angel_of_the_North in reply to susiebow

I don't think it exists, scientifically.

LindaC profile image
LindaC in reply to UCSFDAB

Hello UCSFDAB, I am intrigued with your [kind] response, insofar as your recognition of the complexity of our powerful [individual] hormones, yet appear to be ascribing to TSH 'fine-tuning'. Just interested to hear your thoughts on this. :-)

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to UCSFDAB

if you are on what most would consider high dose and still have a 0.02 TSH then I might expect you are dumping your exogenous thyroid hormones.

Why would you expect that? Can you explain your reasoning, please?

Joesmum profile image
Joesmum

Sharon, how old are you? Are you anywhere near menopause or perimenopause?

Sharon-1152 profile image
Sharon-1152 in reply to Joesmum

Hi I’m 68 and still going through menopause and on hrt

Joesmum profile image
Joesmum

Hello Sharon,

I asked because your symptoms sound menopausal. Your FT3 is well within range so shouldn't really cause you anxiety. Your FT4 is right at the top so could be too high for you but if you lower it you will lower your FT3.

Anxiety is very common in menopause and if you’re taking HRT it might be time to lower your dosage to see if too much is causing the anxiety? Although too much HRT tends to cause loose bowels.

Or you may need an increase in HRT?......

Certainly all your symptoms are associated with menopause. I’ve had all of them.

Thyroid and menopause symptoms can be so similar that it’s almost impossible to tell which is which.

I replace estrogen and thyroxine due to pituitary problems and trying to find the right level of each is a constant nightmare for my endo. It’s really trial and error. I’m 53 and my needs seem to change.

Too much estrogen makes me very, very anxious. Not enough makes me beyond exhausted, constipated, low blood pressure, aching heavy weak arms, tearful, low mood and anxious......interestingly I hardly get hot flushes.

Hope this helps a little.

Sharon-1152 profile image
Sharon-1152 in reply to Joesmum

Thanks for your reply , I’ve been on hrt for a long time and never caused bad anxiety, bad anxiety has only been a real problem the last few weeks

Joesmum profile image
Joesmum

In which case I would be tempted to lower Levo by 25 mcg to see if that alleviates your symptoms.

It’s trial and error I’m afraid.

Both under and over medication can make you anxious. So can low progesterone.

nettecologne profile image
nettecologne

Overmedication slows your conversion to protect your body from too much thyroxine. And end of range FT4 is too much for most people. That is why it feels like hypo even while taking too much. Reduction of 12,5 might be enough. Try slowly and see what happens. Your FT3 might go even higher.

Sharon-1152 profile image
Sharon-1152 in reply to nettecologne

Thanks , i’ll Try reducing dose to 125 from 150 , not sure if I should continue with 10 mg t3

Catseyes235 profile image
Catseyes235

Sounds like I am in similar situation. 68 and doc thought was over medicated asTSH was 0.01 rising to 0.03 after reduced Thyroxine from 150 to 125mcg and at first felt old hypo symptoms but these seem to be okayish now. Have reduced again by alternating 125 ans 100mcg.

Main problem is distinguishing what is thyroid, ageing, or the interminable heat which I don't deal well with. Going to wait and see and get tested when feel settled for better or worse and either go back up again if oomph does not return.

littlemo76 profile image
littlemo76

Just throwing this out there? Have you changed brands of levo to Teva? Also have u had Rt3 tested? Might give you a better clue as to how your meds are being absorbed in cellular level. I had horrible side effects from Teva 'new formula' brand. But iv found when my t4 levels go to higher end of 'normal' i end up feeling gittery,wired but tired. Heart flutters etc.

Sharon-1152 profile image
Sharon-1152 in reply to littlemo76

Thanks for your reply , just wondered though can you be over medicated but your resting pulse remains at 60 beats per minute ?

mrs44mac profile image
mrs44mac in reply to littlemo76

hi sorry to go off course a bit but I have just gone on to teva on pharmacist's recommendation what are the problems with this?

littlemo76 profile image
littlemo76 in reply to mrs44mac

You dont have to google far to see the amount of people reacting to this brand. I yellow carded it. I was trembling on inside. Anxious but me and 2 other relatives developed chest pain. I was admitted to A&E the pain got so bad, caused irregular heart beat and levels spiked n dropped massively just addin n removing 25mcg at a time. Lost weight, bonus! But never felt so ill. Only good thing is it made me look here n its like a whole new world has opened up to me that ALL my symptoms are NOT IN MY HEAD! It made me ask questions about better health. Im a yr down the line n im still not 100% but who is? The heart specialist told me that her sister had had Teva and took same reaction, but urged me to fight Drs for better treatment. This has been a massive learning curve but thro these groups you will find more answers than any Dr will tell you or admit to! You know your body. Listen to it! Incidently if my t4 goes in top range of normal i feel crap but iv found the rt3 to be higher. Thus convertion issues. Also vits were low. Iv never found a Dr to work with me in 20 odd yr. Read read read is my advice.

mrs44mac profile image
mrs44mac in reply to littlemo76

Thank you

kferrer profile image
kferrer

Before lowing the dose, I would recommend you consider that you may be low in iron, B12, or your adrenals may not be functioning properly.

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