I posted a week or so ago about my symptoms which have been ongoing for 13 years and received such good advice, I was on 50mg thyroxine for all that time, doctor agreed to up to 75mg as my Tsh level was 3.29 and hasn’t really budged in the 13 years, I’ve been taking this dose for a week but I honestly feel even more tired and lethargic? Any ideas? Waiting for blood results from blue horizon but not holding out much hope as I used all 3 lancets and didn’t get very much blood from my fingers
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Dondays
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Hiya yes it’s accord/ North Star that’s all I’ve ever had, good to hear that it’s normal to feel worse before you fell better on an upper dose as honestly I feel so much worse I was going to drop back down to 50 but I’ll persevere now thank you, Doctor did some tests I know my Vit D is 44 she’s ringing me back with any other results in a minute, think she did b12 and Ferratin possibly?
Be aware that Northstar isn't a brand - it's packaging, If you look at your tablets carefully you will that these are different brands. The 25 mcg - which are new to you - are made by Teva - which is lactose-free but which lots of people don't get on with (probably because it contains mannitol as a filler instead of lactose). If you're one of them, it would be just as easy to get 50 mcg tablets only, if you can get this put onto your prescription, and cut one in half every other day to get the 25 mcg dose.
[best to use the two halves of one tablet before cutting another, as this makes sure you get a whole tablet's worth if your cutting isn't exactly even or a tablet crumbles]
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
But for some people (usually if lactose intolerant, Teva is by far the best option)
Teva, Aristo and Glenmark are the only lactose free tablets
Most easily available (and often most easily tolerated) are Mercury Pharma or Accord
Accord is also boxed as Almus via Boots, and Northstar 50mcg and 100mcg via Lloyds ....but doesn’t make 25mcg tablets
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)
Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after being on constant unchanging dose and brand of levothyroxine
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
REMEMBER.....very important....stop taking any supplements that contain biotin a week before ALL BLOOD TESTS as biotin can falsely affect test results - eg vitamin B complex
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FED UP FEELING TIRED.
is levo making me ill?
Upping levothyroxine dose incrementally
Levothyroxine making me worse
