I've always been ok (ish) while taking my thyroxine for hypothyroidism. These past months have been a nightmare, severe palpitations that are lasting for days on end. I feel lightheaded and dizzy at times. I've been checked at the hospital, had ECG.s and blood tests etc. I have been told that I am being over prescribed and have to wait 6-8 weeks between blood tests and lowering my dose. Over the past few months I've gone from 175mg to 125mg and still getting the palpitations. I now have to wait until mid to end September before I can have another blood test. My GP says it's due to some weight loss I've had (19lb) but I've lost weight and gained before in my life and never had palpitations so bad that they are every minute of the day. I have been offered beta blockers! My 25mg is Teva and my 100mg is levothyroxine. I've never really paid attention to the brand before but reading some of your posts it could be a factor. I'm sure that my thyroxine should be working now as it's been 4 weeks since my last adjustment. Any advice or have any of you experienced similar?
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Whatever brand it is, they're all levothyroxine. What is the brand name of the 100mcg, it will be on the box and it will also be on the foil back of the blister pack.
Teva upsets many people and if your palpitations started after you added Teva then this could be the cause of them.
Can you post some results, along with their reference ranges, so that we can see what's happening and whether you really are "over prescribed". If you are in England you may be able to get online access to your results, if your surgery doesn't offer this then ask for a print out, we are legally entitled to our results in the UK.
Hi Seaside Susie, thank you for replying. I have been recently checked for everything under the sun, liver, kidneys, b12, iron etc. Before I lost weight my GP suggested that I might benefit from taking an extra 25mg so it increased my daily dose to 175mg which I've never been on in all my thyroid days. I lost the weight but thinking about it I began to feel like I do now since that change! The 100's are Accord. I feel like I'm just going to break down it's hard going with these palpitations. I was feeling better Monday and Tuesday but then back they came yesterday. I don't really ever see my results just get told to adjust dose if required. I have IBS and so many foods my stomach can't handle. Also eggs have become another. I avoid gluten and dairy. My GP was adamant there is no quick fix. 🙏
Before I lost weight my GP suggested that I might benefit from taking an extra 25mg so it increased my daily dose to 175mg which I've never been on in all my thyroid days. I lost the weight but thinking about it I began to feel like I do now since that change!
Since you added the extra 25mcg? If so it might be the Teva.
I don't really ever see my results just get told to adjust dose if required.
So it's time to understand, learn and take a bit of control.
Please ring the surgery tomorrow morning and ask the receptionist for a print out of your test results. We are legally entitled to them without question or charge.
You can ask if there is online access, if so arrange to register for it. If not then tell them you would like a print out and will pick it up later tomorrow or Tuesday if that suits them. A GP has to have seen the results first and give the OK for you to have a copy, but you cannot be refused. As for your most recent ones and any thyroid results going back to when you were on 150mcg and then were increased to 175mcg. Let's see why your dose was changed.
Unfortunately we can't help you unless you have the results, and include the reference ranges.
When we reduce dose levothyroxine, frequently vitamin levels drop too
Do you have autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto’s diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies
Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after any dose change or brand change in levothyroxine
Low FT3 can also cause palpitations
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 with autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s or Ord’s thyroiditis)
Or especially after reduced dose levothyroxine
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)
Is this how you do your tests?
Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins
If TPO or TG thyroid antibodies are high this is usually due to Hashimoto’s (commonly known in UK as autoimmune thyroid disease).
About 90% of all primary hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto’s. Low vitamin levels are particularly common with Hashimoto’s. Gluten intolerance is often a hidden issue to.
Thank you for all this info I will go through it. Reading how you all talk about your thyroid stuff I feel I'm not paying enough attention! I'm not in control enough. I was over active, then had radioactive iodine treatment, then had leukemia. Have thyroid eye disease but had several operations to correct. I feel like my head is throbbing when I'm having palpitations. It's easy to let your mind wonder and end up thinking is there more to how I'm feeling. Thank you 🙏
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