Changing hypothyroid medicine

[Kaju]

Hello friends,

I'm 55 years old and mother of two. I have been suffering from hypothyroid condition for the last 26 years and have been taking eltroxin , previously 100x3 mg and 100mg for the past six months. Now my physician has changed the medicine and has prescribed euthyrox 100mg. What's the difference between the two Medicines?

[shaws Administrator]

Welcome to our forum and I am sorry you have hypothyroidism.

Synthroid and Euthrox are both synthetic levothyroxines i.e. T4. As you have been taking Synthroid for 26 years, I don't think he should have switched you to Euthrox unless you've been complaining about clinical symptoms. Did this dose i.e. 100x3 mg mean you also took 3mg of T3?

If you find your new combination gives you clinical symptoms you didn't have before I'd ask to be switched back to your original dose. They really shouldn't mess about with our dose unless it is for our benefit.

When you get a blood test for thyroid hormones, it has to be always at the very earliest, fasting (you can drink water) and allow a gap of 24 hours between last dose and test and take afterwards. This helps keep the TSH at its highest as that seems to be all they take notice of. TSH - meaning thyroid stimulating hormone which is from the Pituitary Gland - not thyroid gland. The aim is a TSH of 1 or lower with FT3 and FT4 in the upper part of the ranges.

If you've not had B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate tested, ask for these as well. Deficiencies can cause symptoms and everything has to be optimum.

Always get a print--out of your results for your own records and you can post if you have a query.

[Kaju in reply to shaws]

Thank you so much for your prompt response. You had asked me if I was taking medicine for T3 as well. No, I was simply put on Eltroxine 100 tablets (3 at a time) for several years and then it was reduced to two. I had been taking one eltroxine (100 mg) for the past one and a half years or so. Only this time my physician changed the drug. Will get back to you once I get used to the new medicine. Meanwhile, I shall try to learn more from the group about hypothyroid cures. Thanks once more for being therre for us. Regards, Kaju

[shaws Administrator in reply to Kaju]

If you get some clinical symptoms - it will be difficult to tell if it is due to the reduced dose of levothyroxine (which is Synthroid or Eltroxin or the actual T4 (eltroxin/synthroid) as sometimes we can be affected by fillers/binders in the hormone replacement that is why we don't like changing it if we're doing quite well on the original . The following are clinical symptoms of hypothyroidism. Thankfully we don't get all of them.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

Unfortunately, there's no 'cure' for hypothyroidism and the following link may be helpful:

google.com/search?q=what+is...

When you are having a blood test for your thyroid hormones, it has to be at the very earliest, fasting (you can drink water) and allow a gap of 24 hours between your last dose of Eltroxin or synthroid.

Request a Full Thyroid Function Test following the above advice - this consists of:-

TSH, T4, T3, Free T4, Free T3 and thyroid antibodies.

Doctor should also test B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate. Everything has to be at an optimum level.

Always get a print-out of your results with the ranges and post for comments. Ranges enable members to respond.

The aim is a TSH of 1 or lower (not somewhere in the ranges as many doctors seem to believe) and we need Frees in particular to be towards the upper part of the ranges.

How do you feel? Tick off any symptoms you may have on the list of symptoms. Copy and paste them along with your blood test results.

[Bale]

Hi kaju, my name is Bale ,l leave in South Africa. I did take Eltroxin because of the symptoms my doctor change it and give me euthyrox . since then I'm feeling well.i have four years taking it.

I pray and hope that you'll feel well too