Subcutaneous levothyroxine injections

[NicoleEast]

Has anyone tried levothyroxine injections? I can't seem to tolerate levothyroxine in pill form, regardless of the fillers. I'm wondering if the problem for me is the way the pills are getting absorbed in the digestive tract. (My levels are normal so I'm not having problems with absorption, in general, but I have terrible side effects.) I'm hoping to find an endocrinologist in the US (where I live) who will help me experiment with it. But I'd love to hear from the thyroid uk community. Please let me know if anyone has ever tried levothyroxine injections. Thanks!!

[Meanbeannyc]

Tirosint is another option.

[NicoleEast in reply to Meanbeannyc]

Tirosint killed my stomach, unfortunately. I suspect it was the glycerin.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

What are your most recent thyroid and vitamin results

For levothyroxine to work well we need optimal vitamin levels

Have you tried liquid levothyroxine

[NicoleEast in reply to SlowDragon]

I have tried liquid but it was very hard on my stomach. Are there particular vitamins I should be looking for? I'm often low in Vitamin D and B12. Thanks!!

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to NicoleEast]

That suggests you are under medicated for thyroid

Gut issues are extremely common when under medicated, especially if you have autoimmune thyroid disease (hashimoto’s)

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose change or brand change in levothyroxine

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested.

Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s or Ord’s thyroiditis)

Autoimmune thyroid disease with goitre is Hashimoto’s

Autoimmune thyroid disease without goitre is Ord’s thyroiditis. Both are autoimmune and generally called Hashimoto’s.

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 and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

On T3 or NDT - day before test split daily dose into 3 smaller doses, spread through the day at approx 8 hour intervals, taking last dose 8-12 hours before test

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

Have you had coeliac blood test done

If not, get tested BEFORE considering trial on strictly gluten free diet

[NicoleEast in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you so much for all of this helpful information!!

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to NicoleEast]

Recommend getting full thyroid and vitamin testing done

Come back with new post once you get results

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

In the UK, we used to be able to find the price of injectable levothyroxine - but I can't now find it. From memory, therefore, I am pretty sure it was over £100 per injection of 100 micrograms.

Obviously prices can vary by country, sometimes hugely, but I suspect cost would be prohibitive.