I have been on 25mg Levothroxine for 6 days and feel terrible

[Gabby007]

Hi there Recently diagnosed as underactive, Prescribed 25mg for first 8 days then up to 50mg until next check which is 8 weeks from prescription. Am having to break the tablet so will be hit and miss. Day 6, I feel incredibly fuzzy headed, tearful, sick and had herrendous night time sweats last night meaning I am also exhausted. Doc says he will do my B12, Folate and Vit D next time but having read your posts, it seems this Levothyroxine may not be a good thing without first assessing the aforementioned?

Should I just take myself off this stuff until I have received results from a full thyroid function? (By the way I did not present with any symptoms other than a high cholesterol plus high TSH (4.9) and a low Free T4.

Any advice will be most gratefully received as I cant carry on feeling like this

Thank you

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Gabby

What brand of Levo are you on?

Some people have adverse effects from some brands, and it may not be the right one for you.

Teva seems to be the one more people have reacted to.

[Gabby007 in reply to SeasideSusie]

it is TEVA however it is the new formulation authorised by the MHRA in October 2016 according to the MHRA. Do people still seem to react to this brand? (thank you for getting back to me by the way)

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Gabby007]

Gabby

Yes, it's the new formulation that has caused severe adverse reactions for many, many members. I should imagine that by now thousands of Yellow Card Reports have been sent to MHRA about it. You can report it here yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/down...

I would tell your pharmacist or GP of your severe reaction and can you have a different brand.

And yes, 25mcg is the starter dose of children, the elderly or those with a heart condition. You could be started on 50mcg if you don't belong to any of those categories

[Gabby007 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Oh dear thank you. I have a GP appt. later so will deffo ask for another brand plus a higher dose. I am 53, very fit and healthy so do not fall into the category you described. I didn't even have any known symptoms. Was just put on this stuff from a routine bloods result. Again thank you

[Hidden in reply to Gabby007]

Hi, Apparently we are considered "Elderly" and started on 25mcg if we are over 50!!!

[Gabby007 in reply to Hidden]

Woa that just made me feel really old!??!?!

[Hidden in reply to Gabby007]

Ridiculous isn't it. I feel young inside but my body doesn't necessarily agree!

[shaws]

I think it is your 'starting' dose is too low. It should have been at least 50mcg unless you are very frail with a heart disease.

Phone and ask for an increase to 50mcg per day, taken when you get up with one full glass of water and wait an hour before eating.

You should then have a blood test every six weeks with an increase of 25mcg levo until your TSH is 1 or lower - not somewhere in the range -which could be up to 5 . Make your blood test appoointments in advance as surgeries seem to be quite busy these days and you do want to have a test every six weeks.

When dose is too low it can backfire and make us feel worse. Being diagnosed and given levo can take some time to build up to a dose which relieves all symptoms.

[Gabby007 in reply to shaws]

All noted thank you very much. (I am not frail or with heart disease).......

[Peanut31]

Hi

As the others have mentioned 25mcg is too low a dosage for you to start on, and can make you feel worse.

If your surgery is understanding can you ask for an increase of 25mcg, pointing out that in the NHS website it states a starting dosage should be 50mcg unless you are elderly or have heart conditions.

beta.nhs.uk/medicines/levot...

I started on 50mcg of Teva (the brand of Levothyroxine) I noticed after a few days I became very angry and I was biting everyone’s head off, it was terrible.

There are loads of negative posts about Teva on here.

My next increase I swapped to Northstar and wockhardt.

Best wishes

Peanut31

[Gabby007]

Thank you so much I will ask them to change the brand. So I wont need a Full thyroid function test then?

[Huddy1234 in reply to Gabby007]

Hi Gabby007

I've been on 25mg for almost 3 years....... took it upon myself to ask my GP for an increase, which he did. I increased to 50mg and almost immediately become an insomniac, I sleep well as always bloody tired so this was a complete turnaround. The hot sweats come from absolutely nowhere too, had to buy a ice pad thing to try and help, this was during the day but seemed worse at night. I was emotional and extremely tearful, sensitive and low mood.

I reduced back to 25mg and it's all subsided........ I asked to be referred to a endocrinologist as my GP was as much use as a slap round the face!! I see Dr Amit Allahabadia on Saturday and am hoping he can help me as I obviously cannot tolerate levothyroxene increases.

I feel your pain, it's horrible as a lot of people think you're moaning over nothing.

[Hidden in reply to Huddy1234]

"a lot of people think you're moaning over nothing"

I have the opposite problem and know a couple of people with the autoimmune form of hypothyroidism who seem to be fine on a low dose (25 and 50 mcg respectively). One was telling me the other day how grateful she is to have the strength to be constantly fit and busy on 25mcg (she's 76, and I'm "Only" just turned 70). That was in response to me saying that I knew I need an increase from 50, and am finding my energy is up and down and sometimes have trouble concentrating.

I'm sure she didn't mean to sound smug but it made me feel guilty all the same. I truly wasn't moaning, just having what I thought was an interesting conversation, comparing notes with a fellow sufferer.

Maybe the fact that anything medical fascinates me, makes some who are not interested think I'm lazy and making excuses for not getting on with life.

Or am I lazy??? That was the worst, the doubts...

[Huddy1234 in reply to Hidden]

Hi Jnetti,

No, you're not being lazy, I'm pretty sure you'd like to feel how you once did before thyroid problems kicked in.

This site has been a blessing for me to find, makes me feel like i'm not alone.

[Gabby007]

Gosh thank you so much for this. I think I am going to also ask for a referral to a Specialist as the GP's at my place don't seem to understand this complex topic. Thank you very much