Hi, just wondering what anyone thinks of this or has had something similar.
I received 50mcg Levo after I had a level of TSH 4.87 (0.27 - 4.20) Serum free T4 11.6 pmol/L (9.0 - 26.0) Free T3 5.2 pmol/L (3.1 - 6.8) this took me to TSH 2.68 (0.27- 4.20). Serum free T4 level 15.4 pmol/L (9.0 - 26.0) Free T3 not tested this time. Then I was prescribed 100mcg of Levo which I have been taking for 4 days. I take Levo first thing in the morning and my problem is during the evening I start to feel a little uncomfortable in the chest and stomach like jittery and a bit like my chest is racing and I have butterflies. I also only sleep for three hours at a time, every night I sleep at 11.00 and wake at 2.00 and struggle back to sleep, then if I get another hour or two that will be all, along with the same feeling in chest and stomach. This didn’t happen before. I’m wondering if I should ask to drop to 75mcg of Levo or go back to 50mcg, I felt ok at 50mcg with only mildish symptoms. I’m not taking Levo this morning and see how I feel tonight. I have plenty 50mcg left and was thinking of taking this until I get to speak to doctor. I hope this makes sense.
B12 and folate normal / Serum cortisol normal / Vit D 49nmol/L (50-) and now taking supplements / Serum ferritin 18ug/L (10 - 150)
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Flump12
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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 is another option that contain folate, but is large capsule
If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 7 days before ALL BLOOD TESTS , as biotin can falsely affect test results
With such low B12 result taking a B12 supplement as well as 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.
Hi thanks for all your help so far, just a little update and query, I’ve been reduced to 50mcg and 75mcg on alternate days. This is fine but on the 75mcg day the tablets are made up from a 50 tablet and a 25 and the brands are different, the 50 is mercury pharma group ltd and the 25 is teva uk, hoping this is usual and won’t present any probs?
Many people find Levothyroxine brands are not interchangeable.
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
Teva, Aristo and Glenmark are the only lactose free tablets
Most easily available (and often most easily tolerated) are Mercury Pharma or Accord
Note Accord is also boxed as Almus via Boots, and Northstar 50mcg and 100mcg via Lloyds ....
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
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
GP should have done full iron panel test for anaemia
Never supplement iron without doing full iron panel test for anaemia first
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.
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