I was recently diagnosed with Hashimoto's and have been prescribed Levothyroxine, which I have never taken before. I have done some reading, which gave me the info that people respond differently to different brands. In your experience is there one brand that people prefer over others? Are there any brands that people generally don't get on with?
I have a phobia and anxiety and taking medications increases my anxiety considerably. I have issues swallowing even tiny tablets. Does anyone here chew or crush their Levothyroxine?
Any further advice or reading suggestions very welcome. Fortunately I have hardly any symptoms (anxiety/cold sensitivity), just unfortunate blood test results!
Thanks everyone.
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In your experience is there one brand that people prefer over others? Are there any brands that people generally don't get on with?
There isn't a particular make in the UK that people prefer over others that I'm aware of.
It is quite common for people not to get on with Teva Levothyroxine. But having said that there are some people who get on extremely well with it and prefer it to any other.
Does anyone here chew or crush their Levothyroxine?
The only problem with chewing Levo (or any other prescribed drug or hormone) is that bits might get stuck between the teeth then get spat out when cleaning the teeth so you lose bits of the dose. But I'm not aware that just chewing your Levo will be a problem.
If you crush Levo, would you plan to put it in water or swallow it as a powder? If you put it in water I'd expect a similar problem with that as with chewing it - bits might get left behind and then lost.
Thank you for your reply and insights. I guess I will have to trial and error a brand and see how it goes. I read a forum about side effects and it was just tons and tons of people complaining! Kind of made me wonder if certain brands are notorious.
I would probably crush and then just eat off a spoon or add to honey and then take a drink to make sure there is no missed residue.
Once you find the make of Levo that suits you best you can ask your doctor to name the brand on your prescription. (I'm assuming you live in the UK.)
I think there might be a specific form of wording that will force the pharmacy dispensing your prescription to give you the make you want. But I'm on shaky ground in saying that. And whether or not electronic prescribing changes that in any way, I really don't know.
It is very much trial and error I’m afraid. The problem is often the fillers we react to, not the Levo itself so as someone has already said, once you know what your body reacts to don’t order that brand in future. May be start off trying the more popular brands your pharmacy can order or already order so a chat with the pharmacy could help. I asked when I started out when asked what brand I wanted and was told back then Mercury Pharma was easy to obtain so got that and I was successful first time. If you pick one a helpful person on here recommends then make sure your pharmacy doesn’t have issues getting it with the risk they may let you down.
I tested positive for antibodies in 2016 and have been tested yearly for TSH with my GP. The results vary each time, this is highest my TSH has ever been, usually it swings between 4.something and 6.something.
Had anxiety my whole adult life, wondering if the whole time it was my thyroid, hypo runs in my family.
As you have high antibodies this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).
Hashimoto's frequently affects the gut and leads to low stomach acid and then low vitamin levels
Low vitamin levels affect Thyroid hormone working
Hence so important to regularly retest vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Poor gut function can lead leaky gut (literally holes in gut wall) this can cause food intolerances. Most common by far is gluten. Dairy is second most common.
According to Izabella Wentz the Thyroid Pharmacist approx 5% with Hashimoto's are coeliac, but over 80% find gluten free diet helps, sometimes significantly. Either due to direct gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)
Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and slowly lower TPO antibodies
While still eating high gluten diet ask GP for coeliac blood test first or buy test online for under £20, just to rule it out first
The predominance of Hashimoto thyroiditis represents an interesting finding, since it has been indirectly confirmed by an Italian study, showing that autoimmune thyroid disease is a risk factor for the evolution towards NCGS in a group of patients with minimal duodenal inflammation. On these bases, an autoimmune stigma in NCGS is strongly supported
In summary, whereas it is not yet clear whether a gluten free diet can prevent autoimmune diseases, it is worth mentioning that HT patients with or without CD benefit from a diet low in gluten as far as the progression and the potential disease complications are concerned
Despite the fact that 5-10% of patients have Celiac disease, in my experience and in the experience of many other physicians, at least 80% + of patients with Hashimoto's who go gluten-free notice a reduction in their symptoms almost immediately.
Wow, thank you so much for all that info. I have been working with a functional medicine doctor and have been gluten free now for almost 3 months. So far I have noticed a big difference in PMT symptoms. I also have lichen sclerosus, which I understand is connected with thyroid issues.
My FM GP is helping me with my supplements (I am v low on B12 and Vit D) and I'm currently trying to find someone to give me B12 injections (proving more difficult to find someone than I first anticipated!).
If you have B12 injections Or taking B12 supplements it’s recommended on here to also to supplement a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in (not folic acid) may be beneficial.
This can help keep all B vitamins in balance and will help improve B12 levels too
Igennus Super B is good quality and cheap vitamin B complex. Contains folate. Full dose is two tablets per day. Many/most people may only need one tablet per day. Certainly only start on one per day (or even half tablet per day for first couple of weeks)
Or Thorne Basic B or jarrow B-right are other options that contain folate, but both are large capsules
If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 7 days before any blood tests, as biotin can falsely affect test results
If Serum B12 result is under 500, then taking a B12 supplement and a B Complex (to balance all the B vitamins) initially for first 2-4 months, then once your serum B12 is over 500 (or Active B12 level has reached 70), stop the B12 and just carry on with the B Complex.
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