Just been discharged from hospital, went in with high blood pressure of 230/110.
Been given Amlodipine tablets 5mg to take once a day. I asked two doctor’s and they said it is ok to take with my thyroxine, but just wanted to check on here as most medications I’ve read should be taken at least 2 hours apart from thyroxine?
Had thyroid blood test too and the results were TSH 1.14 (0.25-5)
Free T4 19.8 (9-23)
A couple of other blood test results also have * next to them? Creatinine 88 range 45-84
And RBC 4.87 range 3.8-4.8.
Any advice please?
Wishing you all a happy Christmas x
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Lordy40
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Levothyroxine should always be taken on its own on empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after. No other medications for 2 hours minimum
How much levothyroxine are you currently taking Do you always get same brand
When were thyroid levels last tested
Extremely important to regularly retest vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 too
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
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)
Is this how you do your tests?
Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or thyroid antibodies or all relevant vitamins
Thank you for your reply. I take 150mcg levo thyroxine a day. I normally have blood taken early morning before taking my thyroxine, as I was sent in from GP to the hospital at 4pm the above result was taken after I’d taken my morning dose. Last tests were September I’d have to look them up. I’ll ask GP to test vitamin levels.
Did wonder if I’m taking too many vitamin supplements, just restarted vitamin D, also take vit b complex, folic acid and Vit c with ferritin and at night magnesium and B6 with another ferritin tablet.
The hospital doctors are also looking into if a hormone is casing the high blood pressure so I’ve got to have outpatient appts and my urine tested over a 24 period?
Have you put on weight quickly? do you struggle to sleep, to lose weight? I'm wondering if the doctor wants to test to see if you are producing too much cortisol, especially with the test that he has suggested.
My weight fluctuates between 4-6lb over a few weeks, I struggle to lose weight sometimes lose 2lb a week then it goes back on and back and forth.
I’ve been waking up in the night lately but normally sleep well. I wonder if I produce too much cortisol, i feel a little like I’m excitable abs by partner says I’m talking to fast, and I feel a little manic I’d there makes sense, I’m sitting down but feel like I’m full of adrenaline that I need to burn off.
Hopefully it isn't due to producing too much cortisol, I think your symptoms would be much more pronounced if it was, but it's good that the doctor wants to check. One warning about Amolodopine, it can cause gum issues according to my dentist.
I was taking Amlodipine 5mg until a few weeks ago. It is fine to take it when taking Levo but not at the same time. I was told to take my Amlodipine at bedtime and I take my Levo around 5am when I need the bathroom so there was no problem with timing. As SlowDragon says, no other medication (or supplements) for 2 hours either side of Levo (some need longer).
Ferritin too low and obviously heavy periods won’t be helping
Heavy periods are common hypothyroid symptom
Eating iron rich foods like liver or liver pate once a week plus other red meat, pumpkin seeds and dark chocolate, plus daily orange juice or other vitamin C rich drink can help improve iron absorption
This is interesting because I have noticed that many patients with Hashimoto’s disease and hypothyroidism, start to feel worse when their ferritin drops below 80 and usually there is hair loss when it drops below 50.
Thyroid disease is as much about optimising vitamins as thyroid hormones
Thank you, I will look into all you have written. I do take ferrous sulphate 2 tablets a day.
I agree with the heavy period being linked to hypothyroid symptom just a shame the doctors just say ‘your thyroid is normal, it’s not that’. They think it’s my age (46) and low progesterone level.
Suggest you get TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 tested 6-8 weeks time after improving low vitamin D
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)
I’m taking Tesco higher strength vit D 25ug . My family think it’s all the vitamin supplements I take making my blood preside high, I don’t think it is, by they won’t stop telling to stop taking everything.
I am on 5mgs Amlodipine too and checked with my endocrinologist who said it’s okay with controlled thyroid prob. I have an old MIMS booklet pharmacies use and it also says not suitable for uncontrolled thyroid probs. I got admitted with spike in bp but mine was only 164/81 with small intracerebral bleed, was told I was lucky.
The way to read the creatinine result as I was informed by a doctor -
1)If the level compared to the previous level, while high, is about the same, then it's not such a worry. However, if there's a big difference between the two readings, then it warrants investigating.
2)For consistently high readings, the protocol would be to monitor through regular blood tests. If there are possible causes that can adjusted, these should be done to see if the levels improve.
Hi and Merry Christmas! I'm on levothyroxine which I take first thing every day. The advice on the pack is to wait at least 30 mins before taking any caffeine containing drinks. I usually take them very early then follow through with amlodipine later on in the morning, certainly waiting at least a few hours. Hope this helps.
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