Im currently trying 25mcg of Levo (northstar) after reacting badly to a trail of 50mcg. I am 3 weeks in and am feeling slightly worse than before. Last time I posted it was suggested that my B vitamins were on the low side (in the low 300’s)
My question is; Should I wait for blood test results after 6 weeks before I try taking vitamin B? Im wondering if it would confuse things if I tired vitamin D now. Conversely - it may help me absorb the Levo better? My main symptoms are tingling in hands and feet, foggy thinking, weakness, aching muscles, which do seem related to low B after following a link I was sent previously.
Thanks for any advice
Written by
Artynorthener
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Im currently trying 25mcg of Levo (northstar) after reacting badly to a trail of 50mcg. I am 3 weeks in and am feeling slightly worse than before.
That's not unusual with such a low dose. It has switched off your own production of thyroid hormone but is not enough to replace that and give you the extra that is needed due to your hypothyroidism.
It's also worth noting that Northstar 25mcg tablets are made by Teva and many members don't get on well with Teva. Northstar 50mcg and 100mcg tablets are made by Accord.
**
As there are 8 B vitamins we should clarify which one you are talking about and which supplement you mean.
Tingling in your hands and feet may suggest low B12 and it was suggested in reply to your previous post that you check for symptoms of B12 deficiency and if you had any then discuss with your GP and ask for testing for B12 deficiency and Pernicious Anaemia. So this should be done before supplementing any B12 or folic acid or folate because if you have B12 deficiency ad it is not detected and treated then this could affect your nervous system. B12 deficiency should be treated before starting folic acid because folic acid can sometimes improve your symptoms so much that is masks B12 deficiency.
My question is; Should I wait for blood test results after 6 weeks before I try taking vitamin B?
This question is asking if you should wait for your thyroid blood test before taking any B vtamins. No, go ahead with your thyroid test but as above, get tested for B12 deficiency if necessary before taking any B vitamins.
Im wondering if it would confuse things if I tired vitamin D now.
You were given suggestions for Vit D supplementation 2 months ago, have you not started taking this yet?
Conversely - it may help me absorb the Levo better?
Optimal levels of all key nutrients are needed for Levo to work properly.
Thanks so much for the quick reply. Makes sense about the low dose. I was tested for B12 in Dec21. B12 335 pg/ml (187 to 883)
Endo said no evidence of pernicious anemia and GP said it was fine to try B vitamins. I have bought Thorne B vitamins but I was unsure about trying them due to advice on the forum saying not to try more than one thing at once.
I thought my D may have been low in December due to less sunshine and I was holding off with this for the reasons above-but I will get retested.
Was endo basing his decision on testing for B12 deficiency, pernicious anaemia, homocysteine and MMA tests? Did they come back negative? There are many cases of false negatives.
If you are not going to pursue that and just supplement, then a B Complex doesn't contain enough B12 to raise your low level, it's more of a maintenance dose, there is 400mcg B12 in Thorne Basic B and most B Complex supplements contain a similar amount. You would need a separate sublingual B12 methylcobalamin supplement in addition to the Thorne Basic B. For example:
Note that the Nature Provides supplement contains a much higher dose than the Cytoplan one.
According to an extract from the book, "Could it be B12?" by Sally M. Pacholok:
"We believe that the 'normal' serum B12 threshold needs to be raised from 200 pg/ml to at least 450 pg/ml because deficiencies begin to appear in the cerebrospinal fluid below 550".
"For brain and nervous system health and prevention of disease in older adults, serum B12 levels should be maintained near or above 1000 pg/ml."
So the first thing to do is get your B12 up to 550pg/ml with the B12 (also taking the Thorne Basic B). I would suggest you take one bottle of B12 then retest. If you've not reached 550pg/ml then get another bottle. Once you've reached 550pg/ml you can stop the B12 and just continue with the Thorne Basic B.
When doing any blood test you leave off the B Complex for 3 or 4 days before the test as it contains biotin and this causes false results for any blood test.
I was unsure about trying them due to advice on the forum saying not to try more than one thing at once
The advise is to not start them all at the same time. You start with one, give it 2 weeks and if no adverse reaction you add in a second one, wait 2 weeks, if no adverse reaction you add in the next one, etc. This is so that if you do have an adverse reaction you will know what caused it.
Come back with new Vit D result for suggestions of D3 dose required.
You need bloods retested 6-8 weeks after each dose increase in levothyroxine
Very very common to feel worse on low dose levothyroxine.
Symptoms should slowly improve as dose is increased slowly upwards over coming months
Are you lactose intolerant?
If not try different brand levothyroxine at next prescription
Teva brand upsets many people
Which brand of levothyroxine was 50mcg tablets
Get FULL thyroid and vitamin testing done BEFORE even considering booking any private consultation
It typically takes 6-12 months to SLOWLY increase dose levothyroxine up until on full replacement dose
Unless extremely petite likely to be eventually on at least 100mcg levothyroxine per day
Standard starter dose of levothyroxine is 50mcg unless over 60 years old. So at 61 …..perhaps better to start slowly…..some people need to start on lower dose initially and you may need to increase slowly
Usually increases are in 25mcg steps….but increasing in 12.5mcg step initially for first few weeks after each dose increase may be necessary
Essential all four vitamins are tested and at optimal levels as helps tolerate levothyroxine and improve how everything works together
That frequently means supplementing vitamin D and vitamin B complex continuously
Some also need separate B12 as well, especially if vegetarian
Looking at previous posts
Iron/ferritin were on high side
May be because of being post menopause. But keep an eye on that. No iron supplements.
Vitamin D likely better at least over 80nmol and nearer 100nmol may be better
GP should do coeliac blood test if you aren’t already on strictly gluten free diet
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
B vitamin supplements 
Vitamin B Complex Vitamins -What to look for?
Biotin in Vitamin B complex supplements 
Vitamin B complex side effects?
Vitamin E and Vitamin B ok to take with Levothyroxine? 
