Will i get t3?

[spragg101]

ve stopped taking 50 mg of levo as felt ill. Endo increased it to 75 mg but felt even worse so have stopped it all together for 2 weeks now. Did private blood test:

Tsh 3.09 ( 0 to 5)

Free t4 17.6 ( 10 to 24)

Free t3 5.48 ( 2 to 7)

Thyroid perox 9 ( 0 to 40)

Thyroid anti bodies 12.3 ( 0 to 125)

Ferritin 170ng/ml ( 13 to 150 ng/ml)

Folate 5.8 ug/l range up to 20 i believe)

B12 550pg/ml ( 197 to 771)

Have tried thyroids for 2.5 years and felt so well but then t3 went over range.lowered dose but still not right so stopped it. Endo gave me levo. Felt great first 3 weeks, no hair loss or brain fog but then felt very poorly on it. Still feel very tired and cannot lose weight.i go to gym have light work out which wipes me out for rest of day. Ive been taken 2x adrenal extras for over 2 years so im sure adrenals are fine.

I have a private appt with endo but doubt he will give me private prescription for t3 based on these results?

I appreciate my folate needs improving and have started solgar supplements

I would be grateful for any advice

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Levothyroxine needs increasing slowly. Most patients need somewhere between 100mcg and 200mcg

Starter dose is 50mcgs - 100mcg.

Bloods should be retested after 6-8 weeks on constant dose

50mcg was very likely far too little. 75mcg needed time to work and bloods tested after 6-8 weeks

Trying different brand of Levothyroxine is an option too.

Which brand were you taking ? Many people do not get on with Teva brand

Your conversion of FT4 to FT3 is good. So unlikely to get T3. Extremely rare for any endocrinologist to agree to T3 on its own

Have you had vitamin D tested? If not ask GP or get NHS test kit £29

vitamindtest.org.uk

[spragg101 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi slowdragon

Yes the levo was tevo. I just didnt get on with it at all.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to spragg101]

Then you need to start again, choosing a different brand.

Activis, Wockhart or Mercury Pharma are popular options

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/treatm...

Refuse Teva.

Your GP should make a note that it's a brand not to be prescribed in future

Put in a yellow card too

yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk

It's a Marmite brand. Most hate it, but a few prefer it

healthunlocked.com/search/p...

Many people find Levothyroxine brands are not interchangeable.

Once you find a brand that suits you, best to make sure to only get that one at each prescription.

Watch out for brand change when dose is increased or at repeat prescription.

Always take Levo on empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after.

Many take early morning, on waking, but it may be more convenient and possibly more effective taken at bedtime.

verywell.com/should-i-take-...

Other medication at least 2 hours away, some like HRT, iron, calcium, vitamin D or magnesium at least four hours away from Levothyroxine

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to spragg101]

Levothyroxine does suit the vast majority of patients

Teva is the worst brand by far for very bad reaction

Suggest you start again with different brand before giving up on Levothyroxine

[spragg101 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thankyou slowdragon. I shall see what endo says xx

[Angelic69 in reply to spragg101]

Almus is best generic in my opinion, Activas prone to headaches unless they have changed fillers. Wockhert very good but only do 25mcg. Teva middle of the road, too much can give headaches too.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Angelic69]

Almus and Actavis are the same. Actavis is rebranded Almus for Boots, and rebranded as Northstar for Lloyds Pharmacy. The foil back on the blister packs all say Actavis.

[Angelic69 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Definitely do not have same side effects, i have used both. Mind you i have also been on Eltroxine for the past 9 months an apparently thats the same too. I have had experiences with all an they are not the same not were i come from anyway.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Angelic69]

You appear to be in the UK, they are UK brand names of generic levothyroxine.

From: thyroiduk.org/tuk/treatment...

Page 3

Levothyroxine (Actavis) - 50mcg, 100mcg Tablets

MA Licence Holder and Manufacturer Actavis UK Ltd, Whiddon Valley, Barnstaple, Devon EX32 8NS

Comments: Exactly the same product as Almus generic licence tablet numbers: 50mcg: 0142/0104 and 100mcg: 0142/0105

Ingredients Anhydrous Levothyroxine Sodium, Lactose, Magnesium Stearate, Maize Starch, Stearic Acid, Pre-gelatinised Maize Starch

Levothyroxine (Almus) - 50mcg, 100mcg Tablets

MA Licence Holder and Manufacturer Actavis UK, Barnstaple, Devon EX32 8NS

Comments: Exactly the same product as Actavis generic licence tablet numbers: 50mcg: 0142/0104 and 100mcg: 0142/0105

Ingredients Anhydrous Levothyroxine Sodium, Lactose, Magnesium Stearate, Maize Starch, Stearic Acid and Pre-gelatinised Maize Starch

Page 4

Levothyroxine (Northstar) - 50mcg, 100mcg Tablets

MA Licence Holder and Manufacturer Actavis UK, Barnstaple EX32 8NS UK

Comments: Exactly the same product as Actavis generic licence numbers: 50mcg tablets: 0142/0104 & 100mcg: 0142/0105

Ingredients Anhydrous Levothyroxine Sodium, Lactose, Magnesium Stearate, Maize Starch, Stearic Acid and Pre-gelatinised Maize Starch

[Angelic69 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Yes i heard all this before and also about Eltroxine but i have actually taken them and in my opinion are very different.