Trying to get the right dose

[Jessica1987]

Hi all

75 mcg gave me a TSH of 0.005 and T4 just above top range and 50 mcg (after 6 weeks) has given me a TSH of 8 and T4 just within range. Which is a huge drop.

GP reduced me from 75 to 50 in December 2020 but I want to get the right dose, it just seems such an extreme swing from 0.05 on 75 to plus 8 on 50

Before I started any thyroid meds my TSH was 7 and T4 just in range, which is why I am surprised that on 50mcg it’s fallen so low

Any advice anyone?

[greygoose]

Do you have Hashi's?

You really need to have your FT3 tested to know exactly what is going on.

[humanbean]

Just wanted to point out that someone taking thyroid hormones won't top up what their thyroid is producing. The added thyroid hormones replace what the thyroid produces by itself. So, if you aren't taking enough your levels of T4 might actually drop and your TSH might go up which is what seems to be happening with a dose of 50mcg.

When your dose changed did the brand change as well? That could also make a difference.

When you were on 50mcg presumably you were on a single 50mcg tablet.

When you were on 75mcg what dose sizes were you dispensed? Was it 50mcg + 25mcg or was it 75mcg?

If you had 50mcg + 25mcg you could switch to a dose of 62.5 by cutting the 25mcg tablet into two and taking each half over two days along with the 50mcg tablet. Another possibility is that you could take 50mcg one day and 75mcg the next. to average out at 62.5mcg per day.

Alternatively, I think there might be a 12.5 mcg tablet available, but I don't know how easy it is to get, and it is a Teva product which is not terribly popular - it's a marmite product - you either love it or hate it.

I really think you need to get a full set of TSH, Free T4 and Free T3 tested - but the only way most of us can get that is by private testing and paying for it as so many people on this forum already do.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Looking at previous posts you have Hashimoto’s

More likely the low TSH test coincided with temporary Hashimoto’s flare

Your results now show you are under medicated and need dose increase in levothyroxine

You could increase to 67.5mcg daily and retest 6-8 weeks later

Which brand of levothyroxine are you currently taking

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

When were vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 last tested

[Jodypody]

Hi Jessica did you take your thyroid medication prior to the test or did you leave it 24 hours from your last dose? Also what time of day was the test taken, same on both? Assuming that the tests were taken without meds in your system you could try alternating 50 one day 75 the next ?