How long before reduced Levo is felt?

[Girlslovescifi]

Because of some symptoms I’m experiencing, together with a free T4 blood test being over normal, my GP has reduced my Levo from 100mcg to 75mcg. I also take 30mcg t3. How long before the full consequences on the reduction are felt?

[Yeswithasmile]

I’ll throw in my experience. I’m sure you’ll get more accurate info soon.

When I felt over medicated on levo only I halved my dose for 2 -3 days. So in your case I would have dropped to 50mcg for a couple then back to 75mcg. I felt improvement within a few days. It wasn’t long. I knew I was over medicated because I couldn’t move and was in pain. Within a few days I felt so much better. If you keep in mind that you get a 10 day reservoir of t4 for your body to draw from. So when on a consistent dose you are just topping it up so to speak. Once that dips a bit you should start to feel improvement but as you know the thyroid is slow to react. Maybe I was lucky to feel better so quickly but I’m sure it won’t take long before you feel better too. Good luck.

[Girlslovescifi in reply to Yeswithasmile]

Thank you. That gives me hope. I’m more anxious, dry eyes, dry skin, can’t sleep, emotional, jumpy and I get so tired at times I don’t want to do anything. Other times I just can’t sit still despite being tired. Just hoping it helps! 🤞🏻

[Yeswithasmile in reply to Girlslovescifi]

I hope it helps you too! That’s rotten feeling like that.

When I take t3 it lowers my ft4 as that what it seems to do so with an over range ft4 whilst taking 30mcg t3 would make you think that’s the problem. What is your ft3 like?

[Girlslovescifi in reply to Yeswithasmile]

It tends to be max normal range but it wasn’t tested this time.

[Yeswithasmile in reply to Girlslovescifi]

So if it wasn’t tested You don’t know how over range that is too?? No wonder you feel crap!! I’d do monitor my health blood test so I know what they both are.

[Girlslovescifi in reply to Yeswithasmile]

Normally it’s checked but for some reason it wasn’t this time. Being redone with more tests in a month and it will be checked then.

[tamina786 in reply to Yeswithasmile]

How did you know that you was overmedicated

[Girlslovescifi in reply to tamina786]

I didn’t except the T4 result came back slightly over. My symptoms are more nervous, insomnia, dry eyes & skin, fatigue, restlessness, jumpy, weight loss.

[tattybogle in reply to Girlslovescifi]

"My symptoms are more nervous, insomnia, dry eyes & skin, fatigue, restlessness, jumpy, weight loss."

in my experience these were all symptoms of overmedication.(on levo) with the possible exception of 'dry skin'

[Girlslovescifi in reply to tattybogle]

I think that’s what my doctor thinks. Time will tell.

[tattybogle in reply to Girlslovescifi]

it took me a long time to see that a whole bunch of my symptoms were because i had become overmedicated. and just so you are forewarned ...the first approx 5 weeks on lower dose were rubbish .. i felt undermedicated and even got a bit constipated for the first couple of weeks , i was utterly convinced the GP was wrong to lower dose, and i was pretty pissed off about it to be honest ..... however, after 2 months i was improving slowly and by the time i got to 6 months it was really apparent that my previous dose was responsible for all sorts of problems .that had now melted away , and i realised my sleep was better than it had been for years

So try to keep an open mind and give it a long enough trial .

[Girlslovescifi in reply to tattybogle]

Thank you! I’ll try to be patient.

[Yeswithasmile in reply to tamina786]

I knew because pain is my first symptom and I couldn’t move. I also over think as soon as I’m overmedicated. This is how I knew. Hope it helps?

[humanbean]

together with a free T4 blood test being over normal,

How much over range was it?

A 25mcg drop in dose may be far too much in one go.

[Girlslovescifi in reply to humanbean]

It was only a tad over but I think she was going on symptoms. My t3 wasn’t tested this time but it tends to be max normal range.

[Girlslovescifi in reply to humanbean]

I measured 18.8 and the range was 7.8-18. I’m going to take 100mcg one day and 75mcg the next for a bit and see what happens.

[humanbean in reply to Girlslovescifi]

Good idea. And you can fine tune your dose doing that too. You'll need a weekly pill box if you haven't already got one.

7 days at 100 mcg per day = average dose of 100mcg per day

6 days at 100 and 1 day at 75 = average dose of 96.4mcg per day

5 days at 100 and 2 days at 75 = average dose of 92.8mcg per day

4 days at 100 and 3 days at 75 = average dose of 89.3 mcg per day

3 days at 100 and 4 days at 75 = average dose of 85.7 mcg per day

2 days at 100 and 5 days at 75 = average dose of 82.1 mcg per day

1 day at 100 and 6 days at 75 = average dose of 78.6 mcg per day

7 days at 75 mcg per day = average dose of 75 mcg per day.

[Girlslovescifi in reply to humanbean]

Thank you. That’s most useful. I do have a pillbox.