adjustment to Synthroid increase

[Brandyreddinger]

I have recently increased my Synthroid dose from 75 to alternating 75/100 doses (I'm only 4 days in the increase). When you increase Synthroid, is there an adjustment period for your body to get used to it? My anxiety had calmed down a little on just the 75, but now it is back full force. And I just feel "off." I do not feel the 75/100 is too high, as you can see from my numbers, I def need more. I'm just wondering if anyone else feels their body goes into overdrive with an increase and how long it takes to adjust. I did have labs done today with vitamins, ferritin, etc. so I will have those results back next week. I'm just ready to feel normal again!!

January:

TSH: 100.600 (.45-4.5); T4: 5.8 (4.5-12.0); Free t3: 1.3 (2.0-4.4)

March:

TSH: 60.990 (.45-4.5); T4: 7.9 (4.5-12.0); Free t3: 2.3 (2.0-4.4)

May:

TSH: 51.780 (.45-4.5); T4: 8.8 (4.5-12.0); Free t3: 2.3 (2.0-4.4)

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

What I feel, and I am very well aware many others disagree, is that alternating doses is not good for me.

For some time, I was on 100. When I needed more, I tried 125 - which was too much. I tried alternating 100 and 125 - which seemed about right but I just wasn't happy on that. 112.5 every day worked fine. (I tried both 12 microgram UniPharma and splitting 25 microgram tablets. Either was pretty much OK but I preferred UniPharma.)

I can't even explain the difference. If I put it like this, on 112.5 every day, I almost forgot what I was taking. On 100/125 alternating, I was always wondering if my dose was right or slightly wrong.

Having said all that, I would be surprised if you are not under-dosed. But even if you are, it might be sensible to change slowly.

[Brandyreddinger in reply to helvella]

Thank you! I just told my husband a few minutes ago that I think it's the alternating doses. I didn't do well on 50/75 and I feel the same way on 75/100. It's like my body doesn't know what's going on so my moods and other symptoms are up and down. I think I may call dr and get 88 mcg. The 75/100 averages out close to that dose.

[Greekchick in reply to Brandyreddinger]

Hi there,

I found alternating doses made me feel very ill - I was up one day and down the next - so I split my tablets and took the average of the two days - worked very well for me. It’s not exact, but close enough. Hope this helps. All the best.

[jgelliss]

Most definitely it takes time for your body to acclimate to new dose changes . T4 takes longer to feel improvements/symptoms since it's slower acting and T3 is a faster acting thyroid hormone and one feels changes a lot sooner . With your new dose alternating 75 mcg T4 and 100mcg T4 your new dose is 88 mcg T4 . That's a very good dose increase to start with . When I tweak my dose it takes me 22-23 days feel the full affects of the dose change . Slow and Steady Wins The Race .

Best Wishes for finding your Sweet Spot .

[abartme]

Interesting-I was over medicated on Armour 75 mg 2 months .Ended up in ER, backed off meds and started very very slowly on only .25mcg of Synthroid and still had anxiety attacks almost daily for weeks. Now on .37 mcg as I am now in the hypo range but still my body doesn't like the increase. Synthroid causes gastrointestinal issues for me, ringing in the head, and just not feeling well. I'm told it can take the body months to get back to normal after being overmedicated. Don't quite understand why, and the Doctors have no idea !!