Side effects from low dose levo: After starting... - Thyroid UK

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Side effects from low dose levo

Vic56 profile image
20 Replies

After starting on 50, then 25 and getting bad epigastric pain and palpitations on two different brands, I've now been on 12.5 teva for two weeks and just upped 4 days ago to 25 on advice of endo.

The good news is that I'm not getting the epigastric pain and other gastric symptoms are being controlled by famotidine at night. But since upping the dose I've been getting tingling lips and across cheek, , like having been to the dentist. Also feeling a bit dizzy and a weird not quite a headache.

I asked about it in the pharmacy today as was there for something else, just got a shrug and go back to doctor in a week if still happening.

Has anyone had any similar issues?

TSH was 5.21

vit d around 55 ( up from 17 , now on otc High strength year round)

ferritin 33 ug/

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Vic56 profile image
Vic56
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20 Replies
Lalatoot profile image
Lalatoot

Had forgotten about the tingling lips symptom. That for me was an undermedicated symptom.

crimple profile image
crimple

What brands of levo were you given?

Vic56 profile image
Vic56 in reply to crimple

Started off with almus and Mercury pharma. Was going to be trying wockhardt but they couldn't get the 12.5, so teva it was.

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministratorThyroid UK in reply to Vic56

There isn't a Wockhardt 12.5 microgram tablet! The only 12.5 product is Teva.

Almus is actually manufactured by Accord.

helvella - Thyroid Hormone Medicines

I have created, and try to maintain, a document containing details of all thyroid hormone medicines in the UK and, in less detail, many others around the world.

From Dropbox:

dropbox.com/s/wfhrlmb5983co...

From Google Drive:

drive.google.com/file/d/11z...

Vic56 profile image
Vic56 in reply to helvella

Thanks helvella - that would be why they couldn't get it! Was on a private prescription and only other alternative they said they could get was going to be over £100 (they didn't say what) so switched pharmacy.

Your doc is very helpful thank you - looks like lactose free for me going forwards.

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministratorThyroid UK in reply to Vic56

Unfortunately the Glenmark product which looked very promising appears to to be short supply.

But if you do OK on Teva - that's great. Some do; some don't. And it is unpredictable.

Marz profile image
Marz

Hopefully your low Ferritin is being treated. As your VitD and Ferritin are LOW it usually follows that B12 & Folat will be LOW and could be causing your symptoms.

It is often reported here that we need to have GOOD levels of B12 - Folate -Ferritin and VitD for thyroid hormones to work well.

B12 is good around 500 - Folate and Fertitin around mid range and VitD at 100++

Do you have Hashimotos ,?

Vic56 profile image
Vic56 in reply to Marz

Thanks Marz - sorry forgot to mention that I had a positive antibody test 3 years ago, was 407, but gp said not to treat as I didn't have enough symptoms and tsh wasn't above 10?

Have I made a mistake trusting my gp? They said all levels were normal once vit d was back above 50.

I'll get my own testing done as will take forever, if at all, at the gp, but we're off on hols for two and a half weeks as well in three days, is it OK to start supplementing before the test?

Marz profile image
Marz in reply to Vic56

Which test ?

Vic56 profile image
Vic56 in reply to Marz

Sorry - b12

Marz profile image
Marz in reply to Vic56

Once supplementing B12 further testing will reveal skewed results. Maybe wait until you have had the results. Folate must also be tested as they work together in the body in an important way. How is your low in range Ferritin being treated ?

Vic56 profile image
Vic56 in reply to Marz

Thanks for the advice. Ferritin isn't being treated as Dr said was in normal range

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Tingling lip…..yes a hypothyroid symptom

Ferritin is very low

Has GP done full iron panel test for anaemia. If not request they do so

Also request B12 and folate levels tested

Have you had thyroid antibodies tested for autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto’s

About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease

Vic56 profile image
Vic56 in reply to SlowDragon

Thanks for the advice slowdragon - what is the full panel for anaemia, is that the fbc?

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Vic56

Low vitamin levels are direct result of being hypothyroid

cks.nice.org.uk/topics/anae...In all people, a serum ferritin level of less than 30 micrograms/L confirms the diagnosis of iron deficiency

Also See page 7 on here

rcn.org.uk/-/media/royal-co...

Medichecks iron panel test here shows what you should have tested for anaemia

medichecks.com/products/iro...

Never supplement iron without doing full iron panel test for anaemia. It’s possible to have low ferritin but high iron

Are you pre or post menopause

Or Vegetarian or vegan

….Look at increasing iron rich foods in diet

Eating iron rich foods like liver or liver pate once a week plus other red meat, pumpkin seeds and dark chocolate, plus daily orange juice or other vitamin C rich drink can help improve iron absorption

List of iron rich foods

dailyiron.net

Links about iron and ferritin

An article that explains why Low ferritin and low thyroid levels are often linked

preventmiscarriage.com/iron...

irondisorders.org/too-littl...

davidg170.sg-host.com/wp-co...

Great in-depth article on low ferritin

oatext.com/iron-deficiency-...

drhedberg.com/ferritin-hypo...

This is interesting because I have noticed that many patients with Hashimoto’s disease and hypothyroidism, start to feel worse when their ferritin drops below 80 and usually there is hair loss when it drops below 50.

Thyroid disease is as much about optimising vitamins as thyroid hormones

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

restartmed.com/hypothyroidi...

Post discussing just how long it can take to raise low ferritin

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Iron and thyroid link

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Posts discussing why important to do full iron panel test

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Chicken livers if iron is good, but ferritin low

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Heme iron v non heme

hsph.harvard.edu/nutritions...

Good explanations of iron

theironclinic.com/iron-defi...

theironclinic.com/ironc/wp/...

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply to Vic56

Vic56

what is the full panel for anaemia, is that the fbc?

Yes. The iron panel will show if you have iron deficiency. You can have iron deficiency with or without anaemia. It's the full blood count - specifically haemoglobin and haematocrit - which show if you have anaemia.

Vic56 profile image
Vic56

Thanks slowdragon for all the pointers, will be reading up on these this evening, really appreciate the help.

Thanks SeasideSusie - last fbc had haemoglobin at 129g/l and hematocrit at 0.391l/l.

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply to Vic56

last fbc had haemoglobin at 129g/l and hematocrit at 0.391l/l.

Were these within range. I think Hb has to be a couple of points below range for doctors to take any notice of it.

Vic56 profile image
Vic56 in reply to SeasideSusie

Both were in the normal range, hb towards the lower end

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply to Vic56

So this would rule out anaemia I'm sure.

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