I was diagnosed with hypo 2 years ago and was put on 50mcg of Eltroxin. Seemed to have work for over a year until August this year. My doc felt like I needed to be on a higher dose. Bumped me up to 62.5
About 2-3 months in, I started experiencing severe anxiety and panic attacks. I had breathing issues, itchy skin and sleep issues.
Ran a blood test and my TSH was 0.01 and T4 was 20.5.
My doc now said I was overmedicated and needed to get down to a lower dose. Up until this point, I've always followed my dosage and instructions diligently.
However, this time, in my desperate state, I dropped my dose back to 50 instead of a gradual decrease. In under 4 weeks, my results changed again. TSH is at 1.79 and T4 is at 10.35.
I don't have the panic attacks anymore but I now have vivid dreams every single night. If I take even the shortest of naps, I'll experience this. My mind seems to be always alert and racing. Many nights I wake up from a vivid nightmare with my heart racing. And, throughout the day I'm experiencing a shift in moods, from anxious to normal.
Is this to be expected? Did I mess up by lowering my dose too fast?
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Zak312
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Have you ever had a full thyroid blood panel to include TSH, T3, T4, and antibodies run ?
Do you have a diagnosis of a thyroid autoimmune disease ?
You should only adjust any T4 medication dosage by 25 mcg at any one time but you say you were on 62.50 mcg and you have dropped to 50 mcg - so that is only a 12.50 mcg reduction.
Your T4 has now dropped by 50% so in turn your T3 will have also dropped lower in the range and it is T3, the active hormone, that gives you the uncomfortable symptoms you now describe.
Hi Penny, I really appreciate the reply. The only full thyroid blood panel that I have is my second test from 2018 which was 2 months after I was put on 50mcg of Eltroxin.
These were the results from May 2018:
TSH 2.84 (0.35 - 4.94)
FT3 - 3.4 (2.6 - 5.7)
FT4 - 11.2 (9.0 - 19.0)
Anti-TG Antibody - 25.98 ( <4.11)
Anti-TPO Antibody - 1000 ( <5.61)
I also was diagnosed previously with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Autoimmune diseases seems to run in my dad's side of the family. One brother having the psoriasis and the other a thyroid disease.
Your antibodies are over range and this is suggestive of Hashimoto's AI thyroid disease:
I see SlowDragon has " picked you up " and offered all the relevant information.
You might like to read up further on the Thyroid UK website as this is the charity that supports this amazing forum :
I read of people following Dr Izabella Wentz and understand many people are having to change and adjust diet so to calm down their immune system response to certain foods.
I'm sorry it seems we are adding another AI disease to your medical records.
I suggest you read up all you can, as there does appear to be little thorough knowledge of the implications of Hashimoto's in mainstream medical.
It is imperative that you maintain your ferritin, folate, B12 and vitamin D at optimal levels in order to assist the T4 - thyroid hormone to convert to T3 within your body, which is the active thyroid hormone that the body runs on.
You may find that you will need to supplement these yourself, as you may well be within in the NHS ranges but not at a high enough level for optimal thyroid hormone conversion.
I'm with Graves post RAI ablation and managing lingering Graves, thyroid eye disease and hypothyroidism.
Likely you have autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto’s
Levels swing around a lot in early stages
Please add ranges on these results (figures in brackets after each result)
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?
Are you in the U.K.?
Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or thyroid antibodies or all relevant vitamins
Getting vitamin levels regularly retested and maintaining OPTIMAL vitamin levels will help reduce symptoms and helps tolerate increases in levothyroxine easier
Thank you for the reply Slow dragon, I appreciate all of that advice. I haven't been able to locate my very first test when I got put on Eltroxin however I have my second result from 2018.
These were the results from May 2018:
TSH 2.84 (0.35 - 4.94)
FT3 - 3.4 (2.6 - 5.7)
FT4 - 11.2 (9.0 - 19.0)
Anti-TG Antibody - 25.98 H ( <4.11)
Anti-TPO Antibody - 1000 H ( <5.61)
I'd also like to add that I was diagnosed with 2 other autoimmune diseases before that, Psoriasis and then psoriatic arthritis.
Also, I have relatives including my fathers brother who had Hashimotos.
If you want to edit anything on a post you've written, click on More (along from the blue Reply button) and you can amend your post if necessary.
All blood tests for thyroid hormones have to be at the earliest possible (TSH is highest then) fasting (you can drink water) and some doctors only look at the TSH).
I don't think your doctor (like many) really understand about treating a patient who has a dysfunctional thyroid gland when first diagnosed and prescribed levothyroxine. After each blood test a small increase in levo is usually warranted. The usual starting dose is 50mcg of levo (unless the person is very frail with a heart complaint). 1.
First, the aim is to reduce the TSH to around 1 or lower and to get a Free T4 and Free T3 in the upper part of the ranges (ranges are in brackets after the results). The latter two are rarely tested but private labs can do these for you and we have a list.
Also ask for B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate if not already tested. when you're due your next blood test.
Take levo on a fasting stomach with one glass of water and wait an hour before eating. Food can interfere with the uptake of levo.
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