long term use of Levothyroxin

[Melachel10]

I had my thyroid gland removed about 15-years ago and have been on Thyroxin ever since (Levothyroxin currently 150mg a day), I am 62. My issue is aching joints and muscles, im sure much more than other people of my age. Also weight gain/difficulty in losing weight. My doctors have checked blood for 'inflammatory disease' several times and nothing has come up. My question is, can you get any long term side effects from taking thyroxin and not having any natural thyroid hormone, and could this be aching and weight issues. doctors don't seem to have any answers, they just check the blood. I thought about taking one of these natural Thyroid supplements, but as they stimulate the thyroid and I don't have a thyroid, im thinking they wouldn't help...

[Lalatoot]

My aching joints and stiffness were really bad. My Ft3 levels were low because I am a poor converter and because I was undermedicated.

The joint problems and stiffness have gone now that I have increased my Ft3 levels by taking liothyronine as well as levothyroxine.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Melachel10

I have been on levothyroxine since 1975 with no ill effects.

Muscle and joint aches and pains can be due to low Vit D, it might be worth checking that, and your other nutrients - B12, Folate and Ferritin.

If you're having weight problems you may be undermedicated. What are your latest test results, including reference ranges, cor

TSH

FT4

FT3.

If you don't have them, ask the receptionist at your surgery for a print out if you don't have online access to results.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Important to regularly retest vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 ....these are often low on levothyroxine

Low vitamin D causes losing and bone pain

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking?

Do you always get same brand of levothyroxine?

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3, vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 tested

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)

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 vitamins including folate (private blood draw required)

medichecks.com/products/thy...

Thriva Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins By DIY fingerpick test

thriva.co/tests/thyroid-test

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins by DIY fingerprick test

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3

£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off if go on thyroid uk for code

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

monitormyhealth.org.uk/thyr...

Medichecks - JUST vitamin testing including folate - DIY finger prick test

medichecks.com/products/nut...

Medichecks often have special offers, if order on Thursdays

Add any recent results and ranges if you have them...or come back with new post once you get results

[Hidden]

When you say "not having any natural thyroid hormone", do you mean no hormone production of your own?

Levothyroxine may be synthetic, but it´s identical to the hormone produced by your own thyroid when healthy; your body cannot tell the difference.

However, since you are thyroidless, you are not producing any T3 on your own, but rely completely on T4 to T3 conversion. That conversion can be impaired for many reasons.

Your symptoms sound like your FT3 levels could be low; if you have not had them tested you should asap.

So, side effects from levo are not side effects from the drug itself since it´s identical to the hormone your thyroid normally produces, but symptoms come from being under- or overmedicated or having impaired T4 to T3 conversion resulting in low FT3 levels. Low FT3 = hypothyroid since T3 is the active hormone.

[greygoose]

Another possibility for your aching muscles is low zinc. I used to take 4+ ibuprofen a day for my aching muscles, and then I tried taking zinc. The aches went away almost over-night.

I thought about taking one of these natural Thyroid supplements, but as they stimulate the thyroid and I don't have a thyroid, im thinking they wouldn't help...

What thyroid supplements are you talking about? Are you talking about Natural Dessicated Thyroid, like Armour or Erfa. They don't stimulate the thyroid. In fact, they probably would do you good because they contain T3.

Or are you talking about these glorified multi-vite that purport to 'support' the thyroid, and contain things like iodine? They don't stimulate the thyroid, either - in fact, I don't think anything dose - but they should be avoided like the plague.

[Lilian15]

My sisters have been on levothyroxine for over 35 years and seem to be fine on it. One, who has been on 175 mcg says she feels brilliant. Lowering it to 150 and she has symptoms again. I, on the other hand, was OK for 10 years then it seemed to stop working. I have had to have T3 as well to feel good. For many years I went on NDT but a few years ago that failed me (I think it was the NDT not me), and I am now back on T4/T3. T3 used to be prescribed but no longer. The price rise in the T3, in the eyes of my GP, performed a miracle cure.

[Batty1]

I’m thyroid-less too and sadly doctors don’t see the connection between joint pains and being thyroid-less as long as your labs are in normal range!

[shaws Administrator]

After 15 years of taking levothyroxine you should have no clinical symptoms at all and you should feel well.

I would get a Full Thyroid Blood test and if GP will not do these for you, you can get a private test (they are home pin-prick tests) from one of the recommended labs.

Blood draw should be at the very earliest, fasting (you can drink water) and allow a gap of 24 hours from your last dose of thyroid hormones and the test and take afterwards.

The aim is a TSH of 1 or lower with Free T4 and Free T3 in the upper part of the ranges.

Ask GP to test B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate too.

Get a print-out of the results of your blood test on a new post, with the ranges, and members will respond.