Increased resting heart rate when taking Levo

[borahae]

So it has been a week since I started taking Levothyroxine 50mg. I've notice that my resting heart rate has increased from 65bpm to 75bpm. And in general my heart rate has been higher than usual. Is this normal to experience when first starting Levo? Will my heart rate stabilise and go down after a while?

[Lalatoot]

For me the higher heart rate is a sign of hypo and not enough medication. You have just started on levo so you are likely to need increases in your dose.

[borahae in reply to Lalatoot]

Just asking but why would my heart rate increase if my dose is too low? Wouldn't it get higher with more medication?

[Lalatoot in reply to borahae]

Many hypos have low heart rate caused by too few hormones. Some of us get increased heart rate with too few hormones as the body is working harder to do more with less.

It is not the levo that is causing the increased heart rate it is that your hormone levels are too low.

When we start on levo our symptoms can get worse. This is because the thyroid which has been struggling for a long time takes a rest as the body senses hormones from elsewhere (levo). However the starting dose of levo is not always enough to make up for what your thyroid has stopped making so you can feel worse.

[Meanbeannyc in reply to Lalatoot]

Same. Low levo, high HR.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

50mcg levothyroxine is only a standard starter dose

It’s common for symptoms to improve initially, then as your body gets ready for next increase symptoms return. High heart rate can be linked to low Ft3, when under treated

Have you had thyroid antibodies and vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 tested?

These are frequently very low when hypothyroid

Anxiety is common hypothyroid symptom

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose increase

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

Ask GP to test vitamin levels and antibodies if not been tested yet

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)

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

Thriva also offer just vitamin testing

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...

Many people find Levothyroxine brands are not interchangeable.

Once you find a brand that suits you, best to make sure to only get that one at each prescription.

Watch out for brand change when dose is increased or at repeat prescription.

Many patients do NOT get on well with Teva brand of Levothyroxine. Teva contains mannitol as a filler, which seems to be possible cause of problems. Teva is the only brand that makes 75mcg tablet. So if avoiding Teva for 75mcg dose ask for 25mcg to add to 50mcg or just extra 50mcg tablets to cut in half

Are you currently taking Teva?

Teva, Aristo and Glenmark are the only lactose free tablets

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Teva is Marmite brand - Teva poll

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

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).

Levothyroxine is an extremely fussy hormone and should always be taken on an empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after

Many people take Levothyroxine soon after waking, but it may be more convenient and perhaps more effective taken at bedtime

verywellhealth.com/best-tim...

No other medication or supplements at same as Levothyroxine, leave at least 2 hour gap. Some like iron, calcium, magnesium, HRT, omeprazole or vitamin D should be four hours away

(Time gap doesn't apply to Vitamin D mouth spray)

If you normally take levothyroxine at bedtime/in night ...adjust timings as follows prior to blood test

If testing Monday morning, delay Saturday evening dose levothyroxine until Sunday morning. Delay Sunday evening dose levothyroxine until after blood test on Monday morning. Take Monday evening dose levothyroxine as per normal

Come back with new post once you get next test results