Eltroxin 20 + debilitating leg cramps at nigh v. poor quality of life - 75mg - help please any advice - GP not interested

[Grolan]

ongoing leg cramps , all night every night , doctor will not help and dismisses me and says I have to stay on the meds - 80 year old mother - cant sleep - terrible quality of life - medication Eltroxin 75mg. any advice please ??? GP no interest

[SlowDragon Administrator]

How long have you been on 75mcg Levothyroxine?

75mcg is only one step up from starter dose. Most patients eventually need somewhere between 100mcg and 200mcg Levothyroxine

Do you have any recent blood test results and ranges you can add?

You are legally entitled to printed copies of your blood test results and ranges.

The best way to get access to current and historic blood test results is to register for online access to your medical record and blood test results

UK GP practices are supposed to offer everyone 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.

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

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) diagnosed by raised Thyroid antibodies

Ask GP to test vitamin levels

Low vitamin D and low magnesium can cause leg pain and cramps

Low vitamin D is extremely common when hypothyroid

Low magnesium common when vitamin D is low

You may need to get full Thyroid testing privately as NHS refuses to test TG antibodies if TPO antibodies are negative

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .

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

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

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

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

For thyroid including antibodies and vitamins

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

Cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3 £29 (via NHS private service )

monitormyhealth.org.uk/thyr...

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 .

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/tuk/testing/t...

Link about antibodies and Hashimoto's

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

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

List of hypothyroid symptoms

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

Add results and ranges if you have them

Or come back with new post once you get results

[imfene]

Sorry to hear you are having cramps Grolan. Slow Dragon has written an insightful, detailed response to this but am just adding my experience in case it resonates. I had quite a few aches and pains while on Eltroxin 75 mg. In my case, my T4 was not converting well to T3 and when I went on to Thyroid-S (NDT), my aches and pains went away. I also started taking VIT D3 as my D levels were low.

[flo1]

I begged for the Eltroxin¬! I was put on generic and was a wreck! That was ongoing for 5 yrs..got on Eltroxin and never felt as good or looked back, by the way I do 75mcg...no problems what so ever! This is a fine science no 2 people are the same body chemisty etc so its about finding a drug that suits and sits with your personal body lab..good luck.

[MariLiz]

It’s often low magnesium that causes leg cramps. Either try some magnesium tablets, or buy a magnesium oil spray and massage it into your legs before bedtime. Once your levels increase you won’t need to do this more than once or twice a week.

[BadHare]

Try taking bisglycinate or chelated magnesium at bed time. It resolved my cramp & is an important cofactor for thyroid hormones. Check your taking all the other important cofactors too.

[Grolan]

thank you all so.much for the replies . I am.learning so.much I am.going to go next armed.with more questions and I am.going to ask for copy of blood test as suggested . will look at different brands and look at vitamins . taking vitamin d and have magnesium spray. I am.also looking at kidneys as potential cause as sodium levels always so low 126 a d think kidney not functioning as should and release h too much sodium could be culprit for cramping too !!! tha k you all again good luck to you all.a d will repost with update x