over medicated?

[Ajva]

hi there,

I am currently on 1 grain armour and added in 25mg of levo (tirisont) 3 weeks ago. I can not up the armour as my body can not tolerate anymore than 1 grain armour. My t3 is already on the higher end near 6 (have posted recent labs a few weeks ago). So my functional Dr suggested adding in extra t4 as my t4 is low and tsh high, t3 high.

It is too early to do bloods I need to wait another 3 weeks. But I am getting some hyper symptoms for example sweating, extremely hot constantly, shaky breathless and feel quite anxious, extreme fatigue.

Overall I am just wondering if it is normal to have symptoms when increasing meds. Does it take time for your body to adjust?

Any help would be appreciated.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Ajva

Don't forget that with the extra Levo that you have added, depending on what natural conversion you have some of this will convert to T3 so you may have pushed your T3 level up even more.

Perhaps you should reduce your NDT to 3/4 grain.

[Ajva in reply to SeasideSusie]

I have a feeling that I do convert really well as my t3 is always top range. I might even be better off on just t4.

That’s what I am thinking reducing 1/4 grain and keeping the 25mg levo still. Just so I still have some t3. Do you think I should do bloods or just start over with a 1/4 grain reduction?

[Josephineinamachine in reply to Ajva]

How were you feeling before you added T4?

[Ajva in reply to Josephineinamachine]

Awful extremely hypo but not hyper. Had bad body aches and extreme fatigue, muscle weakness.

[Josephineinamachine in reply to Ajva]

Could you have been experiencing overmedicated symptoms instead of being hypo maybe? This happened to me… they can be really similar? Did you check your blood results before taking NDT? I find T3 works for a few months and then it turns round and bites me on the @rse! 🫣

[Ajva in reply to Josephineinamachine]

So bloods showed I was really hypo before starting the added t4. I am without a doubt over medicated at the moment because I have a lot of weird symptoms. If I over dose on NDT I feel dreadful. But I don’t feel that level of dreadful over dosed on t4 (currently)

[Josephineinamachine in reply to Ajva]

Yes I get that too (on added T3) and it was really debilitating. Overmedicated on T4 I just get super sleepy and can’t make it through the afternoon…even with splitting it. I’ve seen you’ve said you might try T4 only. That’s what I’m doing and (according to blood results) I’m running myself slightly under medicated. Can’t get any higher. It’s not perfect but it’s better than adding T3 in the long run for me. Trouble is you can start off feeling great and then it doesn’t last, I find.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Ajva]

I think I'd probably reduce the NDT now and wait 6-8 weeks before retesting.

I have a feeling that I do convert really well as my t3 is always top range. I might even be better off on just t4.

In that case why did you go onto NDT and not just Levo? NDT isn't for everyone.

[Ajva in reply to SeasideSusie]

I have had a lot of trouble the past few year tolerating thyroid meds. I couldn’t tolerate any generic levo brands. Have allergic reactions (I have pots & MCAS) so the fillers were causing me issues.

Have only recently been able to source tirosint. I tried to do a straight swap from NDT but did not go well. I seem to be able to tolerate a low dose of NDT but not over 1 grain. It has been very complicated but I am looking at increase tirisont and decreasing NDT so eventually on just t4.

I hope that all makes sense?

[adin in reply to Ajva]

Have you tried to split your ndt dose? 1/2 +levo in the morning and 1/2 at noon.

[Ajva in reply to adin]

Yes I take 1/2 grain am 25mg after lunch and 1/2 grain pm. So I am splitting 3 times throughout the day

[PixieElv in reply to Ajva]

I used to take my NDT 3 times a day but recently switched to 2x. And that works much better. I now take 2 grains in the morning and 1.25 at 3pm. That is the same dose as before, which is obviously much Higher than yours

[adin in reply to Ajva]

Many patients find that Armour is too strong for them, maybe you should try with another NDT. Have you checked your adrenals?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Ajva]

Are you in the UK? Your profile doesn't show your country.

[Ajva in reply to SeasideSusie]

Yes I am I live in Essex. I will have to update my profile

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Ajva]

So we don't have "generics" of Levo, not in the same sense that they do in the US.

Have you checked out helvella 's list of thyroid meds and their ingredients? Click on link then on yellow T4 tab under UK, that will take you to page 28 which is the start of the UK brands, a summary which shows the main excipients that cause adverse reactions then each brand is detailed in the following pages

dropbox.com/s/wfhrlmb5983co...

[Ajva in reply to SeasideSusie]

Ah sorry I am getting confused. I mean brands for example teva, mercury pharma etc I have tried them all and do not do well unfortunately. I will have a look at the list

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Ajva]

If you don't get on with the tablets then there is liquid Levo which some members have found better, it's more expensive so doctors aren't always keen to prescribe but we need what we need and cost of medication shouldn't be a barrier.

It is in the NICE guidelines that liquid Levo can be prescribed:

cks.nice.org.uk/topics/hypo...

Scroll down to:

Adverse effects

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

No reason at all for you not to be prescribed liquid Levo in your circumstances.

[Ajva in reply to SeasideSusie]

I have tried liquid levo I couldn’t get on with that either. I seem to be able to cope with tirisont but it is costing me a bomb for that and NDT every 3 months.

[Gingernut44]

Have you tried Wockhardt, it’s the only Levo I can tolerate?

[Ajva in reply to Gingernut44]

Yep I have. I get the same reactions with all brands. Plus my GP won’t even put me on a substantial dose because I have heart problems. So they decided it is best to under Medicate me instead.

[Gingernut44 in reply to Ajva]

They don’t seem to know that heart problems can be exasperated by under medication 😱

[Ajva in reply to Gingernut44]

I know they wanted to keep me on 50mg when my tsh was 8 and t4 below range. I give up with being treated under the nhs now

[Gingernut44 in reply to Ajva]

I actually meant exacerbated but my silly phone just likes changing my words 🤨 I don’t blame you for giving up on the NHS. I have as well. Good luck with finding your answer.