Too much Levo

[SonSwinburne]

Hi, I’ve been taking the odd 50 mil extra every so often, but now my GP says I am over medicated. I never told her I took more than my daily amount, just said I may have took one or 2 by accident. How do I reduce myself, do i miss a day or do I just continue with my normal dose til it’s level again or do I just take half tablet so I can level myself out! I’ve really mucked it up

[Marz]

I am sure you have read many posts here over the years whereby a GP insists people are over-medicated. This is often due to a TSH reading only. You are only over-medicated if the FT3 is over range - and I doubt that was tested. Do you have the actual results with ranges you can post for comment and support ?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

First thing is, do you have any actual blood test results? if not will need to get hold of copies. You are legally entitled to printed copies of your blood test results and ranges.

UK GP practices are supposed to offer online access for blood test results. Ring and ask if this is available and apply to do so if possible, if it is you may need "enhanced access" to see blood results.

In reality many GP surgeries do not have blood test results online yet

Alternatively ring receptionist and request printed copies of results. Allow couple of days and then go and pick up.

50mcg is only a starter dose of Levothyroxine

However you can't take irregular dose increases. If increasing it has to be at constant level. "An extra dose now and then"....just confuses the system

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

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if Thyroid antibodies are raised

Low vitamins also tend to cause low TSH

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

Last Levothyroxine dose should be 24 hours prior to test, (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).

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

[Lalatoot]

Please ask for a print out of your tests. Post the results and ranges on here. Without the test results folks here cannot advise you. Dr's often only look at the tsh test result and this often gives a false impression of overmedication. As symptoms of over and under medication can be the same odd tests are important. You are legally entitled to a print out of your results if you are in the UK.

[MissGrace]

Do you feel over-medicated? Has your GP done any physical tests to check if you are over-medicated? Or are they just going on blood ranges?

It could be, if you are tolerating the odd extra 50 with no side effects that you are actually under-medicated, but if your GP is judging by TSH alone you won’t know either way. 🤸🏿‍♀️🥛

[SonSwinburne in reply to MissGrace]

I get hot a lot but most of the symptoms I feel under medicated but will see what these results are! Do you have to pay for them?

[MissGrace in reply to SonSwinburne]

You shouldn’t have to pay. 🤸🏿‍♀️🥛

[shaws Administrator in reply to SonSwinburne]

Always ask for a print-out of your results and make sure the ranges are also stated. Labs differ in their ranges and it is helpful so that members can comment upon them.

[SonSwinburne]

Thanks everyone il ring them now and ask for my test results. Il continue to take my normal dose til then and then repost once I have them at hand,

Much appreciated

[shaws Administrator in reply to SonSwinburne]

Remember to always make the very earliest appointment for blood draw, and fast (you can drink water) and allow a gap of 24 hours between last dose of levo and the test and take it afterwards.

[SonSwinburne]

Thanks I will do have another blood test in 3 weeks

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to SonSwinburne]

Testing should be 6-8 weeks on constant dose.....wether that's 50mcg every day...or 50mcg 5 x week and 75mcg twice a week ....or what ever

No point testing if taking 50mcg everyday.....most weeks and then adding extra dose in now and then

[SonSwinburne in reply to SlowDragon]

I’m on a 100mg but have been taking an extra 50mg now and again and now my blood results have come back as over medicated and I dont know how to get back to normal or what they class as normal. I’m going to get my blood results and post them so it may be easier to see what I need to do.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to SonSwinburne]

So you will need to either reduce to 100mcg everyday for 8-10 weeks (takes longer to settle reducing dose)

Or if you regularly have been taking 2 x 50mcg extra per week for example, test fairly soon

But if been adding different number of extra doses each week, you would need to decide on a specific amount and stick to it for 6-8 weeks before testing

Always do blood test as early as possible in morning and fasting and last dose Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood test

Important to test FT3 and all four vitamins

[SonSwinburne in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you 🙂