Last week I allowed myself to be talked into increasing my levo dose to 120mcg. The lower dose was not helpful and GP was guided by an endo I have never seen. Instruction was given by letter from endo to GP previously. I had my COVID jab three days before starting the new dosage. Anyway now I am almost certain I am suffering from too much levo. New symptom very bad Raynauds type symptoms. Coming and going. Patchy. But losing use of left arm mostly (also right but not so much) and hand temporarily. I used to get Raynaud (or whatever) when I was a child so this is why I recognise it. However along with other symptoms I am used to, losing vision in eye, headache, nausea, dizziness and faintness I am feeling quite ill and apprehensive. I am fairly sure it’s the levo. Anything I can do to shorten this episode. Can I just stop the levo for a few days and reintroduce only back at the previous dosage? I have no wish to visit A&E for many reasons. Mainly that most of this is so familiar.
Too high dose?: Last week I allowed myself to be... - Thyroid UK
Too high dose?
Addendum. Right arm worst not left.
Some of us need to increase/ decrease medication super slowly. As I react badly (both physically and anxiety wise) to changes in medication, I’m more of a tortoise than a hare when making adjustments. I only add/ reduce by 12.5mcg of Levo alternate days at first. I have a pill-cutter to help with this. When I’ve been in a consistent dose for about 8 weeks I will retest my thyroid levels.
Why didn’t I think of that? This off course has been highlighted before on the forum. It makes loads of sense. I did nothing to question the raise. I was quietly convinced it would be useless but obviously also thought it would have NO effect. What an idiot I am?!
What do you think of dropping the whole dose/extra dose? Whole dose dropped for a couple of days and then reintroduced without the increased part of the dose?
I have a private endo appointment but it is six weeks away.
Thank you for taking this desperate question late on a Friday night.
How much was the increase? Looking at your last results, your FT3 was pretty low, so it would take a hefty increase to push it over the top.
I had a problem some years ago, losing the use of my right arm. It turned out to be my low B12 that was causing it. Have you had your B12 tested recently?
B12 is 136 (37.5 - 150). However it’s actually good to learn the symptom is not entirely unknown. The increase was 25mcg, not 20mcg as previously implied through my state of extreme discomfort. I took my last tests really to check up on the ratio of T4 to T3 which showed to be pretty much the same as before - low. As I had a blood draw and it was an hour later than recommended, all thyroid levels were lower. I am definitely feeling better knowing I have likely c..cked it up! Thank you for checking in with me. Much appreciated.
The blood draw being later than recommended would only affect the TSH, not the Frees. . If the Frees were low it's because you're under-medicated. TSH is a very bad indicator of thyroid status.
I did initially think that but after my last testing SeasideSusie posted a chart of the Circadian? rhythm showing a drop in T4 within an hour after 9am, which off course having the blood draw meant that it was indeed an hour after 9am. The tests showed the proportion of T3 to T4 was pretty much spot on, the same as when the levels were higher. So I was still thinking only poor conversion. I feel better today but a bit fragile, so I am grateful for that. I have always been very sensitive to any drugs (and hormones). I lost my attention, probably due to under medication in the first place. I can’t thank you enough for ‘being there’. It’s a heaps better service than the NHS for our special group!
That chart shows the drop in FT4 in that hour is minimal. The numbers involved are between 16 and 16.5 and the 9am level looks to be about 16.4 at most and it doesn't look to drop lower than about 16.2.
The chart shows little difference over the whole day except for the biggest rise seems to be between 8-8.50am and the lowest point seems to be about 8pm, but overall it looks as though the lowest point is about 15.6 and the highest about 17.2
Oh gosh! Well that would appear like I have been under medicated after all. Hence also a brief return of heart symptoms as well as everything else going downhill. That should have been a red flag! I think sometimes I am just living on ‘wishful thinking’! I definitely felt an improvement when my Vit D improved but felt it had petered out. I was reluctant to take the extra T4 and my reaction to it has not been good. I can only apologise to you for my out of kilter thinking. So it seems like I do need more T4 but that in itself will still not attend to the T4 to T3 conversion?
do you always have the same brand of Levothyroxine
You know I have never given that thought. I do see it mentioned on the forum but as I did not seem to have that problem?? I have never checked. The new 25mcg might be a different brand. However I have managed a shower and back downstairs now. Pathetic but I just have not the energy to go back and check. I will check later. Thank you for mentioning.
I get dizzy and headaches, thirsty and just feeling achy and unwell with some brands Teva being the worst for me
I will definitely check it.
The new extra dosage is WockHardt. The old medication (still in use) is Aristo. Today I was thinking of reintroducing the Aristo which will be after 48 hours without. I won’t restart the WockHardt probably for another week clipped by the pill cutter. Hopefully that should give my body time to sense the familiar ‘old’ medication before having to adjust to the new. Then if it is bad for me I will notice more quickly this time. Thank you for your input!
On occasions when I’ve upped by Levo too quickly (even ending up in A and E with palpitations, fast pulse etc), I’ve stopped medication for 24-48hours, then resumed at a slightly lower dose than previously. For me, increasing by 12.5mcg alternate days is enough (in week one) then taking this daily (in week two if week one was tolerated). Other members seem fine increasing by larger amounts, but I’m far better following the ‘low and slow’ mantra!
Thank you Buddy195. It’s so good to get the advice. I really ought to have been more wary. Although the new symptom bothers me the most, I recognise the palpitations, fast pulse, sweating, nausea, feeling faint, ears pounding etc I am more used to. I hoped these were symptoms I would not experience again. It doesn’t do to get over confident I will follow your guidance to get over this. Can’t thank you enough.
sInce the last 2 years of having the covid jab my thyroid was all over the place so my dose was up to 100 I felt a bit unwell so they put me back down to 75 and it's been ok .I don't no weather the covid jab had anything to do with it but I'm dew my next jab next week
I think covid/covid jabs can upset thyroid if my own personal experience is anything to go by.
Yes that is a strong possibility. I can only compare my symptoms with old symptoms I am familiar with and I am slightly more sure of the dosage problem. I feel much better so far today and no thyroxine. I will see how it goes today. Thank you for your info. It’s much appreciated.
Hi. I got bad symptoms when my GP dropped my dose and I've had to add a little bit in to help myself. I was wondering if you were on too low a dose before the increase the symptoms you got were due to that as the new increased dose can take a while to have full effect? Maybe if you increase slowly as suggested and see how you feel in another couple of weeks. It feels like forever when you're waiting to see the effect of a new dose and it's tempting to swap about but then you just get confused about what dose is the best for you.
I totally agree Lulu2607. I was on 100mcg for probably longer than I should have been. With my low levels and a likely conversion issue, I really wanted, rightly or wrongly, to work out whether I need T3. It’s why I waited for another blood test to try to check that out. The test results did show that both T4 and T3 were lower but the poor ratio of T4 to T3 was almost exactly the same. T3 is not allowed in my area. However I ended up doing exactly what I was trying to avoid. I took the extra 25mcg offered and it should not have been done in that lump. The new dose should have been better introduced in smaller amounts. It’s a very delicate balancing isn’t it? I thought I knew this but obviously did not understand fully. It’s a hard lesson so I hope I have ‘got it’ this time. I really don’t want a repeat!
wow …. 
Did you know that the jabs are increasing thyroid problems in woman under a study from italy endocrinology? Also jabs do have their own set of debilitating side affects. It is a tricky one to decide which is doing the damage - I wish you well soon!
Yes I did hear about that. And you are so right about how tricky all this is. Every time we have to consider our symptoms (every day and more in my case - it’s with me morning, noon and night) so many issues to consider! I won’t go on at the moment. Thank you for thinking of me.
I’m similar I’ve never truly found a balance and I’ve now tried every scenario of patterns with dosing it’s a nightmare !
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