Itchy head!

[Fenioux]

I have just started levothyroxine ..... is an itchy head something others have experienced?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Yes, when first started on Levothyroxine at low dose. It improved when dose was increased

Are you still on 50mcg starter dose?

Which brand of Levothyroxine are you using? It might improve with change of brand.

Have you started on strictly gluten free diet? That may help too

[Fenioux in reply to SlowDragon]

The doc has only prescribed 25 mcg, which I had to fight for, as Consultant said no referral but go back to G P in a year but I went back in a week! Review in 6-8 weeks after bloods taken again.

The only brand name I can see on the box is MercuryPharma.

I am not on a gluten free diet.

Thanks for your reply.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Fenioux]

Mercury Pharma is popular brand. Others you could try are Wockhart or Activis (avoid Teva unless lactose intolerant)

25mcg is only half the standard starter dose. It's enough to turn your own thyroid production down, but not enough to offer replacement hormones

You will have to struggle through until bloods retested after 6-8 weeks

All thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. Do not take Levothyroxine dose in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take immediately after blood draw. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

Always get actual results and ranges on all tests

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

Getting vitamins tested and optimal is extremely important too

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also extremely important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if Thyroid antibodies are raised (Hashimoto's)

As you have vitiligo and Hashimoto's, trying strictly gluten free diet might be significant improvement

articles.mercola.com/sites/...

Vitiligo and low stomach acid seem to be linked (google has lots of links)

Low stomach acid is very common with Hashimoto's

Low stomach acid leads to low vitamins

[Fenioux in reply to SlowDragon]

Thankyou for all your advice. Will report back after next blood test. I f0ollowed all your advice for previous bloods (didn't let on to doc or blood nurse re timing)

Happy Christmas

[Saya85]

I had itchy skin and scalp with the TEVA brand of levothhrixine

Other than that@- once my vitamins were also optimised my dry skin and hair was less of an issue (vit E which is great for skin hair and nails and dryness /itchiness) should also be taken with selenium as both together work together to effectively absorb or mop up the antioxidants released in thyroid conversion (or something like thT- u should see plenty of advise on selenium on here)

Possibly now that you have extra thyroid hormone it needs extra antioxidant support also

[Blue_Bee]

Yes, itchy head, itchy ear canals, generally just itchy !! I put it down to Hypothyroid symptoms rather than drug side-effects. Things that helped - anti-dandruff moisturising shampoo, hypoallergenic bath oil (just the inexpensive type at the chemist will do), plain moisturiser and plenty of it, don’t forget your heals. Now that I am well, no more itchiness I hope you start feeling better soon, and in the meantime take care of yourself.