levothyroxine advice

[PrincessAnnie]

Hi I’m looking for some advice on my levothyroxine please.

These were my latest blood results where I was taking 75mmcg one day and 100mcg the next and 20mcg of liothyronine,when the endo agreed to giving me the T3 he upped my levothyroxine to 100mcg a day but I just kept it at the 75/100 to see how I went,following these blood results I dropped the liothyronine to 15mcg a day and I’ve been feeling relatively ok.

The trouble I now have is I’ve just picked up my prescription and they haven’t given my the 50mcg or 25mcg of levothyroxine,they’ve only gave me the 100mcg,obviously due to the endo upping it to 100mcg,so do you think it’s worth upping my levothyroxine to 100mcg a day based on these results or do I call the doctors and explain I’d rather stay on the 75/100 alternate.

I know he’s going to say something about my TSH so would be grateful for the reasons for the low TSH as I’ve forgotten🤦‍♀️Also they keep giving me Lansoprazole when I haven’t even asked for them but I’m sure someone said to me before that they’re not good to take but I can’t remember the reasoning🤦‍♀️I don’t take them anyway.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

PrincessAnnie

The trouble I now have is I’ve just picked up my prescription and they haven’t given my the 50mcg or 25mcg of levothyroxine,they’ve only gave me the 100mcg,obviously due to the endo upping it to 100mcg,so do you think it’s worth upping my levothyroxine to 100mcg a day based on these results or do I call the doctors and explain I’d rather stay on the 75/100 alternate.

Take the prescription for 100mcg regardless, you can work out a way of giving yourself whatever amount you want/need (I am prescribed 100s and 50mcg tablets which the GP thinks I take, I self source T3 so don't need that amount of Levo and average 107mcg daily).

With an FT4 level of 35% through range, this may be OK for you but it may be too low (it would have me almost bedbound, I need FT4 roughly in balance with FT3 over half way through range). Try it and see. If you don't think you need 100mcg daily then drop it down gradually until you find the dose that's right for you. But it's better to have more prescribed than not enough!

And don't ask for your T3 prescription to be lowered either. Just tweak doses until you find the perfect dose for you to feel optimally medicated.

I know he’s going to say something about my TSH so would be grateful for the reasons for the low TSH as I’ve forgotten

Taking T3 lowers, even suppresses TSH, it's just what it does. If your endo is happy with your low TSH then it's nothing to do with your GP, endo trumps GP.

Also they keep giving me Lansoprazole when I haven’t even asked for them but I’m sure someone said to me before that they’re not good to take but I can’t remember the reasoning

There is a known interaction between PPIs and thyroid medication - the PPI decreases the absorption of your thyroid medication.

Do you have a repeat prescription form and have to tick what you want when you hand it in? If so just dont tick it. If not then if you don't want/need the Lansoprazole ask the surgery to remove it from your prescription.

By the way, are you working on your nutient levesl? Ferritin is too low, as are B12 and folate.

[PrincessAnnie in reply to SeasideSusie]

Ah you’re a genius Seaside Susie I never even thought of that🤦‍♀️So I would half my 100mcg tablet then half the half,I’m such a douche bag🤷‍♀️Oh don’t worry I’m not letting them drop my T3👍I’ll try the 100mcg a day with the 15mcg of liothyronine and see how I go.Yep I’m eating more iron rich foods and taking a b complex everyday.

I don’t have a repeat prescription form I do it online where I put down what I want so I’ve no idea why they keep giving me these🤷‍♀️

Thank you so much🙏

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to PrincessAnnie]

You're welcome.

If you have trouble halving the half tablet, then work it out by taking X amount for Y days then adding whatever is needed to make the amount up.

I make up my 107mcg by taking 5 days at 100 and 2 days at 125 (the 25 is from half a 50mcg tablet).

[PrincessAnnie in reply to SeasideSusie]

I’ve decided to try the 100mcg a day and see how I go,I’ve got a pill cutter and it’s pretty good😁

[PrincessAnnie in reply to SeasideSusie]

I’ve started taking the 100mcg of levo and was wondering how long to give it before you know if it’s not working for you as I’m feeling pretty tired now,do you need to give it time or is that an instant symptom that it’s not working?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to PrincessAnnie]

PrncessAnnie

Nothing is instant with thyroid hormones. After a dose change it can take 6 weeks for the full effect and even then we are all different. I tend to feel nothing at all and always wait to nearer 10 weeks to retest after a dose change, then I suddenly realise that I don't feel as bad as I did before, it's very very subtle with me.