Does levo dosage become less effective over time

[Jelley93]

Just been doing some working out. I started my dosage of 125mcg on may 8th 2021. So around 320 days ago. I have took every day without fail been very strict about it. I still await my thyroid function results which the drs said will come separately. However I know in myself I will need a increase, last time I felt like this my TSH was 8.3. Way off the scale. So I guess that 125mcg doesn't cut it anymore.

[greygoose]

It's not that the dosage becomes less effective, but that our needs change, for whatever reason. Could be that your absorption has got worse, or that your activity has increased. We don't always know why. But, it's not realistic to expect the same dose to suit us all our lives.

[Jelley93 in reply to greygoose]

I cycle everyday around 5 miles plus extra at weekends. Possibly a factor

[greygoose in reply to Jelley93]

It could indeed be, yes.

[RedApple Administrator]

Jelley93, If you don't already do so, you could try taking your levothyroxine at bedtime. Some people find this is more effective than taking it in the morning. Be sure to leave a gap of two hours after eating though, for maximum absorption.

[Jelley93 in reply to RedApple]

I normally take it around 310am two hours before breakfast. As I have to start work around 645am.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

As an active young male 125mcg is not a high dose

You need TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 tested, not just TSH

Lots of exercise (like cycling) will lower Ft3

Important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 too

You need good vitamin levels for good conversion of Ft4 (levothyroxine) into Ft3 (active hormone)

Test privately if GP only tests TSH

[Jelley93 in reply to SlowDragon]

was thinking whether to start self medicating on to 150mcg. I have a spare box of 100mcg and was going to cut each tablet in half and would have 56 50mcg tablets along with my usual 100mcg dosage. Has anyone tried this before. I am quite bad today at work with the unbalanced symptom and want to get the ball rolling asap as I know a dosage increase will resolve things.