Over prescribed???

[Isslewissle]

After being prescribed 50mcg of Levo thyroxine up from 25 my results are now TSH 0.88 down from 2.47 (0.40 - 5.00) Am I now over prescribed? ? Beginning to feel muzzy headed and sickly. Could this be the cause? Thanks for any advice.

[Marz]

You need the FT4 and FT3 tested too. Only if the FT3 is above the range could you possibly be over-medicated. How do you feel ?

[Isslewissle in reply to Marz]

Hi. My T3 is 2.78 (2.89 - 4.85) just a bit low. T4 14.2 (9.0 - 19.00) so not too bad. All my other bloods are OK. I have been having a muzzy heavy headache with feelings of sickness and dizziness and low mood. Just a thought it could be medication or perhaps coming down with something. Thanks.

[Marz in reply to Isslewissle]

Your FT3 & FT4 need to be much higher in the range and the TSH lower. More important to go by how you feel ... It's more than likely the low T3 is causing your symptoms. Have you had anti-bodies tested ?

[Isslewissle in reply to Marz]

What would be the perfect TSH reading to aim for?

[Marz in reply to Isslewissle]

1 or under - wherever you feel good. Remember though the TSH is not a good indicator of your thyroid output once you are on thyroid meds. On reading another post here - the TSH test was described by an Endocrinologist as a blunt instrument 😊 Very good I thought. The most important result is the FT3 ...

[SlowDragon Administrator]

More likely due to being under medicated. Hypothyroid symptoms can be very similar to hyperthyroid.

Anxiety or insomnia or acid reflux, bloating or similar all common with being on too small a dose

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

50mcg Levothyroxine is only a starter dose

NICE guidelines saying how to initiate and increase. Note that most patients eventually need somewhere between 100mcg and 200mcg Levothyroxine

cks.nice.org.uk/hypothyroid...

To be adequately medicated on just Levothyroxine TSH needs to be under 1.5, many need it under 1

Did you get vitamin D tested yet?

I think you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 3-5 days before any blood tests, as biotin can falsely affect test results

endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

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

Recommended on here that 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)

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or vitamins

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have special offers, Medichecks usually have offers on Thursdays, Blue Horizon its more random

If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).

About 90% of all hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's.

Low vitamins are especially common with Hashimoto's. Food intolerances are very common too, especially gluten. So it's important to get TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once .

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/tuk/testing/t...

Link about antibodies and Hashimoto's

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

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

[Isslewissle in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you for all the information. My vit. D is good, ferritin b12 folate was slightly on low side so taking vit B complex supplement. Will be seeing doctor after this latest prescription to see how I am going on. Thanks again

[Marz in reply to Isslewissle]

What were the actual results for VitD ? - was it around 100 ? B12 is good around 500 & Ferritin and Folate need to be mid-range. There may not be enough B12 in the Complex to raise your level if low. Which brand of B Complex are you taking ?

[Isslewissle in reply to Marz]

Hi my vit D was 92.8. (>50). Fer. 75. (20-300). B12 232. (150-620). Folate. 9.6. (3.1-19.6). I am taking one a day Healthspan vitamin V complex.

[Marz in reply to Isslewissle]

B12 would be better around 500 so it would be better to take B12 on its own. Jarrow Methylcobalamin lozenges for under the tongue are well used by many - from Amazon. Thyroid sufferers need good levels of B12 it seems.

Other results look good.

[Isslewissle in reply to Marz]

Thank you Marz. Will look into the Jarrow lozenges.