Weaning off Synthroid

[Eshep]

My doctor has me slowly weaning off of my synthroid since I had my baby. I am down to .25mcg and feeling fine. Do you think taking away the .25mcg will make me feel terrible, or is .25mcg such a low dose I shouldn’t be able to really tell a difference? I also plan to split it, taking .0125mcg away, then after two weeks, taking the other .0125mcg away.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

Trying to ensure that we don't get lots of confusion!

You have put doses of .25 mcg and .125mcg. Which are certainly mistakes.

But did you mean 25 micrograms and 125 micrograms?

Or 0.25 milligrams and 0.125 milligrams (250 micrograms and 125 micrograms, respectively).

I tried to work it out but however I try to interpret - together with your words - doesn't seem quite to make sense. Let us know and we'll try to help.

[Eshep in reply to helvella]

Oh goodness, you’re right. Let me edit it. Thanks so much!

[SlowDragon Administrator]

You need to get FULL thyroid and vitamin testing 6-8 weeks after each dose change

Reducing levothyroxine dose tends to lower vitamin levels

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

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

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)

If/when also on T3, make sure to take last third or quarter of daily dose 8-12 hours prior to test, even if this means adjusting time or splitting of dose day before test

Is this how you do your tests?