Hi All
Not been present online for a while, been feeling rubbish on ndt!
After 2.5 years initially feeling well (then unwell) , I decided to go back on levothyroxine.
My question is, is it ok to take in two doses?
I find that the 150mcg is what my body needs, yet feel heavy after about 4hours or do when it begins to get in my system.
Any experiences welcome.
Thank you in advance.
It is not usual to split dose of T4. T4 is an inactive hormone and has to convert to T3. T3 is the active thyroid hormone and has to saturate the thousands of T3 receptor cells.
What you can try is to take a lower dose of T4 for about two months and then every two weeks add 25mcg of levo. until your symptoms are relieved.
naturalthyroidsolutions.com...
p.s. I'm not medically qualified.
You can take it in two doses if you want. A few people have mentioned they prefer doing that, although it doesn't seem to be very common.
An easier thing to try first is to just change the time of day you take the Levo. If you currently take it first thing in the morning, for example, try taking it at night instead, or vice versa. If you are in the habit of skipping lunch you could try taking it through the day, but remember you should always avoid food, coffee / tea / other drinks apart from water for an hour before and two hours afterwards. And you also need to avoid taking other medicines and supplements containing calcium, iron, vitamin D, and/or oestrogen for one hour before and four hours after taking Levo.
However, if you want to try taking it in two doses it does make it a lot harder to avoid food and supplements. You would have to take each dose on an empty stomach, then leave two hours before eating again, and four hours before taking any supplements or medicines which contain calcium, iron, vitamin D, or oestrogen.
I'm never good at remembering all the rules about taking Levo. Perhaps SeasideSusie would correct me if I've got it wrong?
Thanks for your reply.
I have struggled converting back ftom ndt to levo; initially I needed to add ndt when beginning levo due to t4 bring lower in ndt snd removal of t3 really hit me.
My left arm was numbing, losing sensation in my hand, this is still the case but no longer on ndt.
I have had to up my dose, was on 125mcg but at 8pm coan feel my arm beginning to 'start'.
Even on 150mcg I have slight sensations in my arm.
I think because l feel my meds metabolising making me feel heavy, I am getting too much all at once and it waring off early evening.
Splitting it may ward off the arm, heart sensations due to adding a bit in later in the day????
Oh ..to have a healthy thyroid!
What dose of NDT were you on? And what kind of NDT?
The sensations you describe - the numbing - could be due to inadequate thyroid hormones or low nutrients or both. (Edit : or something else entirely!)
I don't know whether splitting your Levo dose will help or not. Your only option is to try it and see.
And you also need to avoid taking other medicines and supplements containing calcium, iron, vitamin D, and/or oestrogen for one hour before and four hours after taking Levo.
I'm pretty sure it's four hours either side.
Humanbean is spot on. Always advised here:
Take your Levo on an empty stomach, one hour before or two hours after food, with a glass of water only, no tea, coffee, milk, etc, and water only for an hour either side, as absorption will be affected. Take any other medication and supplements 2 hours away from Levo, some need 4 hours (iron, calcium, Vit D, magnesium, oestrogen are the common ones although you may need to check for medications).
I always forget magnesium!
Thanks for checking for me. 
interesting! I do take magnesium in drink form and transdermally! I will monitor this one!
Lavender-Blue
I suggest you believe SeasideSusie and greygoose in preference to me.
I take half my levo at 6am and the other half at 4pm. Suits me.
I take 50mcg and 50mcg. As I was building up I took 50mcg and 25mcg for example so not always a half split. I used to take the later dose at bedtime but that meant I couldn't have a later meal so I changed to between 4pm and 5pm. You can do whatever suits. T4 is a storage hormone so how you build it up in your body for later use is up to you. If it is taken near food, drink, vitamins it may affect the absorption. For lots of folks that isn't a problem - my friend takes hers with her breakfast. It just means that you may be on a slightly higher dose to make up for the poorer absorption.
The only thing I would add is that you need to be consistent. The body likes to get the dosages around the same time each day.
Hi
I always describe my experience as "building up! I am so grateful to hear your experience.
If levo is a build up harmone, should it really make a difference if it's split?
No it doesn't make a difference. There are a few folks on here who split their dose.
Thank you for your advice. That's really helpful.
I am splitting because of build up
I have found it better splitting my Levothyroxine (I also take T3...so was taking that as split dose anyway...so decided to try splitting Levothyroxine)
I take 100mcg Levothyroxine at 11pm and 25mcg Levothyroxine at 7am
Plus 20mcg T3 (10mcg at 7am, 5mcg at 3pm and 11pm)
I think I am going to have to try splitting it.
I took 150 mcg at 8am which is an increase from 125mcg. I am at this minute getting uncomfortable sensations in my arm, breast, heart.
I have just taken a little more because its scary because of the discomfort being in mg left arm etc.
Thank you all so much for your advice. I think at the moment l am running on nearly 'dry' levothyroxine due to the sensations l begin to experience in the arm, heart ect..
Thanks.
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