Shaking hands?

[Oanav]

Hi, i have amolst 2 weeks since i started taking levo for my hypothyroid, but i feel more nervous, and my hands are shaking and also i feel like i could not fall asleep and i am waking up every night. Could be from the medication? Or actually a form of anxiety. Cuz i feel under stressed all the time.

[shaws Administrator]

It could be a combination of taking levo (your dose will be low inititally). There are lots of clinical symptoms but as our dose is increased symptoms should be eased.

Levothyroxine is also called T4 and this is the inactive hormone. It has to convert to T3 (liothyronine) and it is this hormone which is needed in our millions of T3 receptor cells, brain and heart contain the most.

Many convert levo to T3 without problems but as you are just beginning, you should have an increase of 25mcg of T4 every six weeks after a blood test until TSH is 1 or lower. Many doctors seem to assume 'somewhere' in the range is fine - not so.

I think you may be aware that all tests have to be at the very earliest (TSH is highest then and drops throughout the day) fasting (you can drink water) and allow a gap of 24 hours between last dose of T4 and test and take afterwards. You will have symptoms which should gradually be relieved as T4 is increased. Levo etc should be taken, usually first thing with a full glass of water and wait an hour before eating. Food can interfere with the uptake of the hormones.

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

[Oanav in reply to shaws]

I am taking levo first in the morning, and after 1-2 hours i ate. It s just so annyoing that i feel like trembling inside. I increase my dose after more 2 weeks. I should to the tsh test then? After one month?

[shaws Administrator in reply to Oanav]

A blood test is usually done six weeks after an increase. The priority is to relieve our clinical symptoms and that can take a while. We're all different in our dose and how we feel. It is o.k. to eat after one hour. Take tablet with one glass of water as sometimes it can stick in throat.

[Emyloulou]

Have you had your cortisol levels checked? I felt like this and it turned out to be adrenal insufficiency. It’s probably not that but it’s certainly worth getting your levels checked x

[Oanav in reply to Emyloulou]

No, i have not. I do not even know how to checked them in my country, if there is a test like that. Because i am not living in UK. Maybe if those are side effects, they will go away as my body will get used with the medication?