Cutting levo thyroxine in half?

[Mbgriffin]

Hello all my doctor wants me to take 25mcg Monday through Friday and take 50mcg on Saturdays and Sundays anyone heard of this?

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Mbgriffin

Yes, it happens but your dose is very low. Are you newly diagnosed?

[Mbgriffin in reply to SeasideSusie]

No I went off medication in August and just started back up in March

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Mbgriffin]

Mbgriffin

What's the reason you went off thyroid meds in August?

[Orla9298]

I take 150 and 175 on alternate days at the moment. It’s not uncommon to need a dose between two values

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Standard starter dose is 50mcgs Levothyroxine daily

NHS guidelines saying standard starter dose is 50mcgs

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

Bloods retested 6-8 weeks after each dose increase

Dose increased in 25mcg steps until TSH is around one and FT4 towards top of range and FT3 at least half way in range

You're on tiny dose, can you add most recent results and ranges

All thyroid tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. When on Levothyroxine, take last dose 24 hours prior to test, and take next dose straight after test. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, GP will be unaware)

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4, FT3 plus TPO and TG thyroid antibodies and also very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common and may need supplementing to improve

[Sark1]

I cut a 50mcg in half in order to avoid having to take a 25mcg Tiva. Seems to be ok.

[TSH110]

Not on such ridiculously low doses.50mcg is just a starter dose 25mcg is for old/infirm types like I was with angina and very overt hypothyrodism on diagnosis meaning the T4 could have led to a heart attack if the dose was too high although I very much doubt that I was just really ill for a lot longer than necessary in my view. I found alternating doses (120/125mcg) was not well tolerated in my case I felt better in the same dose each day I react very rapidly to medication so perhaps that was why. Unless you have other complications I think 50mcg would be the sensible starter dose.

[FancyPants54]

Yes, I was messed about like that at the beginning. In fact I had even worse treatment. I felt terrible! I have taken over now. I tell the doctor what I'm doing and so far they follow.

From 25mcg you need an increase to 50mcg every day. No messing. Take it for 6 weeks and get a retest. Then, if levels are still not right and you don't feel good you go up another 25mcg.

As TSH110 above said, I can't take different amounts on different days. It messes with me badly. I cut tablets to ensure I have the same amount every day.