Does anyone feel hungover?

[OudMood]

Silly question…

But is it normal to wake up feeling hungover after Levothyroxine at night?

I just took my first dose of Teva 50mcg last night and I feel so hangover and a massive headache including “eye strain” type headache..

Very puffy and painful eyes..

Also very tired.. (although I was getting better days by day for the last 1 month without meds.. 🤷🏼‍♀️)

Might be something else obviously.. but just wanted to see if it happen to anyone..

[SlowDragon Administrator]

It takes 6-8 weeks to get use to each dose change or brand change in levothyroxine

Teva brand upsets many people.

Obviously as this is your first prescription, difficult to know if that includes you

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, or Aristo (100mcg only) are the only lactose free tablets

Are you lactose intolerant?

Most easily available (and often most easily tolerated) are Mercury Pharma or Accord

Mercury Pharma make 25mcg, 50mcg and 100mcg tablets

Accord only make 50mcg and 100mcg tablets

Accord is also boxed as Almus via Boots, and Northstar 50mcg and 100mcg via Lloyds ....but Accord doesn’t make 25mcg tablets

beware 25mcg Northstar is Teva

List of different brands available in U.K.

thyroiduk.org/if-you-are-hy...

Posts that mention Teva

healthunlocked.com/search/p...

Teva poll

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Once you find a brand that suits you, best to make sure to only get that one at each prescription.

Watch out for brand change when dose is increased or at repeat prescription.

New guidelines for GP if you find it difficult/impossible to change brands

gov.uk/drug-safety-update/l...

If a patient reports persistent symptoms when switching between different levothyroxine tablet formulations, consider consistently prescribing a specific product known to be well tolerated by the patient. If symptoms or poor control of thyroid function persist (despite adhering to a specific product), consider prescribing levothyroxine in an oral solution formulation.

academic.oup.com/jcem/artic...

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

verywellhealth.com/best-tim...

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)

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

[chubi52]

Hi I take mine at night and do not wake up feeling hung over.. I do get puffy eyes, most of the symptoms you get are probably due to under medicated... If you put your blood results up,someone more knowledgeable will help you..

[OudMood in reply to chubi52]

This is my first prescription so definitely undermedicated…But my main issue is that if I am not taking the medicine I’m fine (ish) but when I do, I feel way more tired and have very puffy eyes and headache and I’m unable to wake up at my normal time!!

If I don’t take it I wouldn’t feel like that.

I had some early morning work commitments for this past week and I had to stop and I ensure I will be able to wake up!