Increase in Meds

[Abbey21]

Hi, I've just had an increase in Thyroxine from 75mcg to 100mcg, and was, wondering how long, on average, before I notice any difference in my symptoms, thanks.

[shaws Administrator]

That's the 24 thousand $$$ question, I'm afraid.

When first diagnosed you should have a blood test every six weeks, which should be at the earliest possible, fasting (you can drink water) and allow a gap of 24 hours between last dose of levo and test and take it afterwards. This helps give us the best TSH and may prevent doctor reducing dose according to low TSH. You should have an increase of 25mcg levothyroxine after every test until TSH is 1 or lower. (FT4 and FT3 are rarely tested and need to be in the upper part of the ranges).

[Abbey21 in reply to shaws]

Thanks for the quick reply, I have to have a repeat blood test in 6-8 weeks, I didn't know about fasting, never done it before and always took my tab, but I'm going to do as you suggested in future, my readings in the past have been all over the place, so thanks for the advice.

[shaws Administrator in reply to Abbey21]

Abbey21, unfortunately for us, the patients, it comes as a big surprise that doctors aren't more knowledgeable but that's because - in the past - when doctors diagnosed us upon clinical symptoms alone and we got a 'trial of NDT' and if we improved we stayed on this and dose gradually increased. That's all there was until the introduction of blood tests and levothyroxine and all options were gradually removed from being prescribed.

Big Pharma has made thousands of ££££s through blood tests alone plus the 'extras' for those of us for whom levo isn't relieving symptoms. There's now no options in the UK (unless you live in Scotland) or you go private which many cannot afford.

Any of our 'old fashioned doctors' who diagnosed upon symptoms alone and prescribed a trial of NDT were pursued by the Authorities and threatened (or had) their licence revoked. So we can understand why people didn't want to lose their livelihoods.

Doctors seem to only look at blood test results and then pronounce we're on sufficient whilst ignoring symptoms (know none).

The TSH is highest early a.m. and drops throughout the day and may mean the difference between getting an increase or not. Many doctors seem to believe that if TSH is somewhere in the range that we're on sufficient dose of hormones but we need it to be 1 or lower.

Also get a print-out of your results with the ranges for your own records and you can post for comments if you have a query. Ranges are important as labs differ and it makes it easier to comment upon them.

[Abbey21 in reply to shaws]

I've had blood results back at 0.07 but have always felt ok, never have I been recalled or told the reading wasn't right, and then I've had them at 10 still told everything ok, even though I wasn't feeling my best, so with my last one last week being 4.1, I decided to look into it that's how I found this site, and was advised to go and see the Dr, which I did, but I still had to argue to get her to listen to me, she just kept quoting numbers to me, not listening how I felt, then she looked up on her comp and actually said that I was right and would be happy to increase my dose and test again in 6-8 weeks, so I would like to say a big thank you for your help and advice with all this, it's good to know there is somebody who knows what it's like and how it feels 😊

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Abbey21

It can take 6 weeks for the full effects of a dose change and for levels to stabilise. Personally, I seem to need 8 weeks. You may, of course, notice some improvement before that but make sure you are retested 6-8 weeks after the increase.

[Abbey21 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks, I have to book for another test in 6-8 weeks, fingers crossed all soon settles