Hi all,
I was diagnosed with Hypothroidism over 50 years ago and am currently taking 100 mcg Levothyroxine. I have also been diagnosed with GAD and have heard that Ashwagandha can help with this. Does anyone know if this is tolerated with Levo or have any experience of taking this?
I have also read that 5-HTP can also help with anxiety and sleep disturbance?
Any help would be much appreciated.
Many thanks.
JanieJ
I don't know what GAD is but I do know that Ashwagandha, as an adaptogenic herb, can lower cortisol.
Many thanks for your reply. GAD is general anxiety disorder and am suffering badly at the moment with anxiety and also feeling low mood at times. I would normally use exercise to help with this but I have a bakers cyst behind my knee which has enlarged since lockdown and need to see a consultant to sort it out first! I don't really want to take any medication if I can help it but had read this can help but was unsure if it is ok to try with Levo.
I think what I really need to do is get the results for my last blood test and have additional ones done and make sure its not something else going on.
Thanks for your help.
Anxiety is an extremely common hypothyroid symptom
Suggest you get FULL Thyroid and vitamin testing
Poor conversion of levothyroxine into active Ft3 is very common, especially if vitamin levels are low
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
What vitamin supplements are you currently taking?
Ask GP to test 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 vitamins including folate (private blood draw required)
medichecks.com/products/thy...
Thriva Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins By DIY fingerpick 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
Can you add most recent test results
Come back with new post once you get results
Hi SlowDragon, thanks so much for your reply.
Thank you so much for the information, it is a great help and I will certainly get on top of this as its long overdue. My life is so busy that I struggle just to keep up and have been meaning to look into this more but this will now encourage me to do so and hopefully get me back on track.
I have asked repeated times for my TSH, FT4 and FT3, my GP requests but the lab wont test as they say my TSH is within range!
I have had some done in the last month and was supposed to get a call back but due to Covid nothing is running quite as it should.
I will call tomorrow to request a print out or maybe they will email them to me and post the results here.
My GP will do the vits I’m sure as she has done in the past. I did ask about seeing an endo at the beginning of the year, as I haven’t seen one for over 50 years and she said she could at least get the bloods done for me first and maybe it would be best to see a private endo as it would take a long time on the NHS.
Sometimes my Vit D is low, but last time it wasn’t but I take a 2,500 supplement anyway. Folate and Ferritin are usually ok but I haven’t had them tested recently, unless they were done with the recent blood tests.
Yes, I always have my bloods taken on an empty stomach, water only and before I take my Levothyroxine, last one at least 24 hours before.
I used to be happily medicated on 250mcg but when the menopause hit they said it was too high and slowly reduced it to the now 100 mcg but I have not felt as well since and have experienced different ailments which could be a contributory factor.
I have experienced anxiety most of my life but more so since they reduced the dose.
Many thanks again.
Sorry meant to add, that as I was diagnosed when I was 11 and I am 63 now and am unsure if I have Hashimoto’s but I do know that on an MRI my thyroid was not apparent and I was advised that it had probably shrunk over the years?
I take 5-HTP and have done for nearly ten years. I only take a tiny dose - 50mg per night - and I only take that 3 or 4 nights a week. I used to take it every night.
I also take thyroid hormones for hypothyroidism.
5-HTP raises cortisol levels, and I know my cortisol is already high, which is the main reason I keep my dose low.
Please note that 5-HTP doesn't work for everyone.
I started taking 5-HTP and noticed an improvement in my mood within about 2 days. I noticed an improvement in getting to sleep in about 3 weeks.
I know that some people need far more 5-HTP than I've ever taken, but if you want to try higher doses you should build up to it.
Amazon has lots of reviews on 5-HTP and it would be worth reading a few of them.
...
Ashwaghanda is very popular, but the only effect it had on me was making me feel sick, so I'm not a fan.
...
I forgot to say - if you already take something which affects your serotonin levels e.g. prescribed SSRIs or other anti-depressants, please be aware that combining anti-depressants of any kind is dangerous.
Thanks so much humanbean, I have no idea what my cortisol level is, should I get this tested as well first?
I did read some reviews on Amazon and it seemed to suggest if your cortisol levels are low it could have an adverse affect?
When I told my GP that I felt was tired and brainfoggy and I thought either my thyroxine dose was too low or else I needed T3, he referred me to a herbalist who prescribed ashwagandha . I'm no longer taking it as I cannot afford it at the moment but I must say it did make me feel more energetic.
Do you take medications for the GAD? If so this medication can cause issues with thyroid meds ... I found this out the hard way with cymbalta.
Hi, no I don't. I have been prescribed propranolol for when I get panicky but have resisted taking any yet. I just about manage on a lot of rescue remedy, kalms, calm teas and mindfullness etc but only just. I would normally find exercise a release, especially tennis but I have a bakers cyst behing my knee which has become enlarged during lockdown and I am waiting to see a consultant and have to limit which exercise I do. I do have a very good councellor who will be there for me more or less when needed.
I think the current situation has increased the anxiety.
Nausea with Levothyroxine 
ASHWAGANDHA, and bladderwick. v levothyroxine
When is best to take levothyroxine
Anyone taking 5- HTP?
ashwagandha and levothyroxine 
