Undertreated - Low Dosage of Levo

[HypoHelen2867]

I really suffer with fatigue, I am 4 stone overweight, it’s an effort to get dressed daily. I am 15 stone and only on 75mg & 100mg Levo alternate days. But according to my weight I should be on 150mg of Levo daily, should I double my 75’s to make 150mg, GP is no use and doesn’t understand hypothyroidism. Presently on a waiting list to see a Endo. Vits and Iron are all normal mid range.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

No, dose levothyroxine needs increasing slowly upwards. Maximum dose increase is 25mcg

What are your most recent thyroid and vitamin results and ranges

Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription

ALWAYS Test thyroid levels early morning, ideally just before 9am and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

Do you have autoimmune thyroid disease, also called Hashimoto’s usually diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies

Push GP to increase dose levothyroxine to 100mcg daily

Retest thyroid levels in 6-8 weeks

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Previous post…..ferritin was really terrible at 3

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Optimal vitamin levels are

Vitamin D at least over 80nmol

Serum B12 at least over 500

Active B12 at least over 70

Folate and ferritin at least half way through range

Ferritin at least over 70

Are you now on strictly gluten free diet

[HypoHelen2867 in reply to SlowDragon]

After infusions ferritin is at the higher level now along with everything else. Something that’s normal. Thank you I will try taking 100mg everyday instead of 75 one day and 100 the next. If I don’t start to feel better I will ask my GP for 25mg extra. Thank you for advice 😀

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to HypoHelen2867]

Get full thyroid and vitamin testing done after 6-8 weeks on 100mcg everyday

What brand levothyroxine are you currently taking

75mcg tablets will be Teva

Teva brand upsets many people

What brand is 100mcg

When were vitamin D, folate and B12 last tested

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

Common to need to supplement vitamin D and vitamin B complex daily

You will need to work on maintaining ferritin…..or very likely will be back to low levels within a year

[HypoHelen2867 in reply to SlowDragon]

Many thanks 👍😀

[HypoHelen2867 in reply to SlowDragon]

Sorry it’s Teva, I will request a Brand change might make the difference 👍

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to HypoHelen2867]

So you can know what is possible:

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...

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to HypoHelen2867]

So both 100mcg and 75mcg tablets are Teva?

Teva is lactose free

Are you lactose intolerant and on dairy free diet?

If you change brand levothyroxine you will need to retest 6-8 weeks later

What are your current TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 results

[HypoHelen2867 in reply to SlowDragon]

I’m not lactose free

[Buddy195 Administrator]

Can you share your most recent thyroid blood test (TSH, FT3 and FT4), so members can best advise.

[humanbean]

After infusions ferritin is at the higher level now along with everything else.

Iron infusions will obviously raise ferritin and serum iron, but someone who had a ferritin level of 3 obviously had that level for a reason. Since doctors rarely look for causes for things they consider unimportant (like low iron) they just treat symptoms (if you're lucky) so the reason for your low ferritin is still there (whatever it is).

You haven't mentioned how long ago your infusion was. There is a very strong chance that your iron and/or ferritin levels will drop rapidly.

I've never had an infusion but I have taken iron pills for long periods of time. Once I overdid it and raised my ferritin to 170 when I wanted to keep it at 90 - 100, so I stopped taking iron pills and my level dropped to 80 in just four months. So iron can disappear extremely fast if you don't absorb it well.

I would suggest that you have a full iron panel done every 3 - 4 months so you can monitor if your levels are dropping and how quickly.

You may have to take a maintenance dose of iron pills to prevent your iron dropping too low. There is a finger-prick test you can buy from Medichecks :

medichecks.com/products/iro...

There is a 10% discount code available on this page :

thyroiduk.org/help-and-supp...

If you register with Medichecks they will send you emails about any sales they have which can save you worthwhile amounts of money.

Once you have some results you can post them on the forum and ask for feedback.

Please note that iron pills - including the ones that doctors prescribe in the UK - can actually be bought from pharmacies without a prescription. See this link for more info on what's available :

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Regarding weight loss and iron, you might find this link of interest :

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[HypoHelen2867 in reply to humanbean]

Thank you. Iron infusion was last summer and my levels are mid higher of range still

[humanbean in reply to HypoHelen2867]

That's encouraging.