I was put on levo t4 50mg 2.5 weeks ago. I was on NDT armour for 6 months. Had to come off of it due to heart issues.
The heart isssues are probably worse on the levo, plus I have a really swollen thyroid and glands. It started as soon as I switched over. It is actually causing me issues struggling to get oxygen to my lungs.
I did have an ultra sound a few weeks back which showed a goitre. But what ever is going on has got really bad since being on levo.
I am a bit stuck what to do and wondered whether anyone else has had the same issue.
Written by
Ajva
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I was only on 1 grain armour. These were my last labs. As you can see my t3 was getting really high & t4 low. I have bloods booked for a few weeks time which will be 6 weeks after starting levo. I do understand I am on a small starter dose so will need an increase.
I am getting all vitamins and iron tested as iron is low. I supplement alot take iron, magnesium, pro biotic, omegas, multi vit and vit D.
I guess I won’t really know what is going on until I get lab results will I. I am waiting to see if my private thyroid Dr can get my levo compounded at their pharmacy, will also add in some t3 after next bloods.
I am on strictly GF diet. I have not had bloods done for coeliac so that is something I can do. I am taking 2,000 vit D. My vit D levels are actually quite high according to my last blood test. I weigh in stone around 8.9. I would say I am slightly over weight for my height at the moment. I am usually 8 stone and that is fine. But my medication and energy levels are causing me to gain weight even though diet is good.
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 next 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
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
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.
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)
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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