TSH reduction in 1 week

[Compostella1]

Hi All,

I took 50mcg of Eltroxin for 1 week and had bloods yday- owing to symptoms I was feeling, TSH in gone from 63 a week ago to 53. My FT3 and FT4 are relatively the same which is way below the markers.

Both were taken after a cup of tea but before food at approx 9am.

This is quite a quick reduction I am thinking-

Last year I came down from 41 to 8 in 5 weeks on 25 mcg

Is this why I am feeling so bad ?

I am lost!

[SlowDragon Administrator]

It takes many months for levels to recover

Obviously 50mcg is only a starter dose and dose is stepped slowly upwards in 25mcg steps until TSH is always under 2

As soon as you start taking levothyroxine, TSH starts to drop and your own thyroid output starts to reduce.

In an ideal world you would start on higher dose, but often that’s not tolerated, especially when been hypothyroid a long time before diagnosis

You could discuss starting on higher dose....but you might find that more difficult

[Compostella1 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thx for ur reply.

Yes I am feeling if it has to be awful than can I not jst up the dose now and get it over and done with.

I jst find the intensity of what I feel on the drugs is awful and I dot. Know which is worse- to be unmedicated or this. If it’s 6 months of feeling like this on the medication I find it difficult to see how I can be a parent and hold down my job. I have just had to take 2 days off.

I am normally very practical, put my head down and get on with things but the side effects scare me and cannot function most days.

I won’t receive a endo apt for weeks so the options are to take to my gp who is clueless or make some decision myself. I am contemplating splitting the dose between morning and evenings and seeing if that helps. I am also feeling pressure as don’t want to stop and start meds. I only missed yeaeterdays dose so feel I shd start bck on it tonight if I am to continue.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Compostella1]

Splitting the dose can help. Morning and evening

Or even more frequently

Which brands of levothyroxine have you tried?

Do you suspect lactose intolerance or gluten intolerance?

Is it possible to see thyroid specialist endocrinologist privately

Roughly where in the U.K. are you ?

Email Thyroid UK for list of recommend thyroid specialist endocrinologists...NHS and Private

[e-mail]

The aim of levothyroxine is to increase dose upwards in 25mcg steps until TSH is under 2

When adequately treated, TSH will often be well under one.

Most important results are ALWAYS Ft3 followed by Ft4. When adequately treated Ft4 is usually in top third of range and Ft3 at least 60% through range (regardless of how low TSH is)

Extremely important to have optimal vitamin levels too as this helps reduce symptoms and improve how levothyroxine works

[Compostella1 in reply to SlowDragon]

I’m only on 50 - on eltroxin (25s) so can do 1 tab evening and 1 tab morning. I will do that starting this evening. I actually want to cry thinking abt it but has to be done. I am hoping that not all of this journey to the right dose has these experiences attached.

I have been referred to Dublin endo- I am in Ireland. Dr Carla Moran

I have gone gluten free a week (all ok) and not sure what I shd be looking for to suspect lactose intolerance.

I am addressing some vitamin deficiency with vit d- my b12 is v good.

I am conscious of not starting too much supplements at the same time.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Compostella1]

Yes definitely...only add one supplement at a time. Otherwise you can’t tell me what’s going on

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Compostella1

Both were taken after a cup of tea but before food at approx 9am.

We advise water only before a blood test. Tea contains caffeine, and as coffee can affect TSH it's possible that tea or other caffeine containing drinks can as well.