Levothyroxine : Hi all, I've not posted for a... - Thyroid UK

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Levothyroxine

Tiggerfanatic profile image
3 Replies

Hi all,

I've not posted for a while so hope you're all doing ok. I've had a few different brands of levothyroxine over the 18 months I've been diagnosed. My last lot was teva which I will finish tomorrow. I've noticed that I'm getting progressively worse pain in all my knuckles. Could this be a side effect of teva ? I should say that I am currently waiting for a rheumatologist appointment to investigate pain in all joints. Thanks for reading my very long post 😀

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SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

It could be the Teva, it could be low vitamin D, it could be inadequate dose levothyroxine...or gluten intolerance if you have Hashimoto’s

How much levothyroxine are you currently taking?

When was dose last increased

Last tested?

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

Do you have Hashimoto’s

When were vitamin levels last tested?

Ask GP to test thyroid and vitamin levels

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)

Is this how you do your tests?

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or thyroid antibodies or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin

medichecks.com/products/thy...

Medichecks often have special offers, if order on Thursdays

Thriva Thyroid plus vitamins

thriva.co/tests/thyroid-test

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

Add any recent results and ranges if you have them

Or come back with new post once you get full test results

fuchsia-pink profile image
fuchsia-pink

Lots of people don't get on with Teva - so if your next batch of meds is something different and you feel better you will know :)

and then yellow card the Teva and make sure you don't get it again

but full testing as suggested by SlowDragon has to be sensible as well if you haven't done it recently

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

academic.oup.com/jcem/artic...

Physicians should: 1) alert patients that preparations may be switched at the pharmacy; 2) encourage patients to ask to remain on the same preparation at every pharmacy refill; and 3) make sure patients understand the need to have their TSH retested and the potential for dosing readjusted every time their LT4 preparation is switched (18).

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