Hi,
What can cause high blood pressure in hypothyroid people?
The doc put me on a BP med 2 days ago. It was 150/100. I am also suffering from bronchitis since last wweek.
My TSH last tested was 1 and Ft4 was low normal. Iron was low. Vit D and b12 were low normal because I was self supplemting vt d and b12. I am taking 75mcg levothyroxine currently but I am always so tired, brain fog is getting worse and now I am also dealing with increased allergies, anxiety, palpitations and high BP.
Im just dragging myself around with pretty much the same as you...but my GP ignores low Vit 12 so Im trying to sort it myself!! Good luck youve got a few years to go to catch up with me!!
sa1234
75mcg Levo is just one step up from a starter dose.
With FT4 low normal it is highly likely that you are undermedicated.
High blood pressure can be a sign of hypothyroidism, as can anxiety and palpitations, again all suggesting undermedication.
Back in May you posted asking how to increase FT4 and FT3 and said
I am on thyroxine and I have noticed that my TSH would be optimal but ft4 and Ft3 would still be low.
It was explained to you that TSH is largely irrelevant once on thyroid hormone replacement and it's the FT4 and FT3 levels which should guide treatment. It was also mentioned that optimal nutrient levels were important. You were asked to post your results but you didn't come back for us to help you further.
So why not post all your current results, with their reference ranges, because your low nutrient levels wont be helping, as well as your low FT4. Once we see those we can start helping you.
Please add actual results and ranges
75mcg is only one step up from starter dose
Unless extremely petite likely very under medicated
How much do you weigh in kilo approx
guidelines on dose levothyroxine by weight
Even if we frequently don’t start on full replacement dose, most people need to increase levothyroxine dose slowly upwards in 25mcg steps (retesting 6-8 weeks after each increase) until eventually on, or near full replacement dose
NICE guidelines on full replacement dose
nice.org.uk/guidance/ng145/...
1.3.6
Consider starting levothyroxine at a dosage of 1.6 micrograms per kilogram of body weight per day (rounded to the nearest 25 micrograms) for adults under 65 with primary hypothyroidism and no history of cardiovascular disease.
Also here
cks.nice.org.uk/topics/hypo...
gp-update.co.uk/Latest-Upda...
Traditionally we have tended to start patients on a low dose of levothyroxine and titrate it up over a period of months. RCT evidence suggests that for the majority of patients this is not necessary and may waste resources.
For patients aged >60y or with ischaemic heart disease, start levothyroxine at 25–50μg daily and titrate up every 3 to 6 weeks as tolerated.
For ALL other patients start at full replacement dose. For most this will equate to 1.6 μg/kg/day (approximately 100μg for a 60kg woman and 125μg for a 75kg man).
If you are starting treatment for subclinical hypothyroidism, this article advises starting at a dose close to the full treatment dose on the basis that it is difficult to assess symptom response unless a therapeutic dose has been trialled.
BMJ also clear on dose required
bestpractice.bmj.com/topics...
You need vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 all at optimal levels as well
What were most recent results
Optimal vitamin levels are
Vitamin D at least around 80nmol and around 100nmol maybe better
Folate and Ferritin at least half way through range
Serum B12 at least over 500
Have you had coeliac blood test done
Are you on, or tried absolutely strictly gluten free diet
overmedicated adrenals causing very high BP?
How common is it for BP to rocket on one dose of 50ug Levo?
High blood pressure and levo dose
