For a weight of 73kg what would be approximately the correct dosage of levo and lio

[musicaljune]

and what ratio is that? I understand that it’s a guide only and that ultimately the right dose is whatever makes a person well.

Thank you.

[Lalatoot]

There is no recommended dosage or ratio. You cannot predict what you will need.

[Sleepman in reply to Lalatoot]

NICE guidelines say for under 60 no heart issues, 1.6mg Levo/T4 x weight in kg

I am a newbie to this, 4 weeks on Levo, after finding my TSH was nearly 80.

Still feel tired and generally under par. I stopped gluten a year ago thinking it was all Celiac related.

I am concerned as I am only on 50mg and it seems like a long way to go for me to get to NICE value of 150 mg/m3. I understand it is related to blood results and T4 is very slow to build up and get used by the body.

Then 10 / 15 % people not adequately treated and many more months trying to get another solution with T3 or NDT. Whilst waiting for T4 levels to drop very slowly.

It all seems demoralising slow.

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to Sleepman]

It is unfortunately a slow condition to recover from with many pitfalls along the way, not least with doctors. The good thing is that you're here and stand the best chance of as swift a recovery as possible. You can't rush the body, it needs time to adjust to the new hormones just as it took for you to become hypothyroid.

[Sleepman in reply to Jaydee1507]

thankyou for guidance Jaydee.

[musicaljune in reply to Jaydee1507]

Thank you.

Yes it is and not helped by the fact that often, doctors themselves are the pitfalls!

[musicaljune in reply to Sleepman]

Try not to be disheartened or daunted.

You’ve taken steps to get well and only a few weeks until your next dose increase. Never hesitate to ask as much as you need to on here. There’s so much knowledge and support.

[musicaljune in reply to Lalatoot]

Thank you, I realise that

[musicaljune]

my understanding is that as a guide, for every kilo of weight a certain amount of levo is suggested. Am I mistaken?

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

The NICE guidelines mention that a starter dose of 1.6mcg Levo per kg of weight can be considered and adjusted as necessary but I agree with Lalatoot that it's not a recommended dose and can't be predicted. Starting at such doses has been disastrous for some people and I certainly wouldn't want to start that way.

As for liothyronine there is no such suggestion or recommendation and endos have varying ideas of how go start.

There is no suggested ratio, that's a very individual thing that takes a lot of gradual tweaking to find.

[musicaljune in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you and I understand it’s a guide only and not a recommendation.

[Digger0]

I weigh 62kg and I am now stable on 100/125 mg Levo on alternate days. It took over 9 months to get me sorted.

[MissAC28]

As others have said the NICE guidelines are just that. I would advise the following:

1. Take the prescribed dose and keep a diary of symptoms.

2. Dont expect any sustained change until you’ve taken the tablets for 6/7 weeks.

3. Ask your GP to ‘write up’ an open blood test request so that you can book in for a follow up test after 7 weeks.

4. Once you’ve had the blood test ask for a print-out/details of the results.

The key is to be guided by how you feel and the blood test results. I weigh 84kg and am on 175 mg of Levo. I feel rubbish unless my TSH is at the very bottom end of the range & over the years GP has needed some persuading to maintain at this level of medication… so if you still feel rough persevere. Wishing you the very best

[musicaljune in reply to MissAC28]

Thank you so much.

[FAB-jellybean]

I'm 73 kg and take 125mcg T4 4 days a week and 150mg T4 3 days a week along with 20mcg T3 daily. Just waiting on updated tests results to see how I'm doing.

On 125mcg T4 and 20mcg T3 my results in Aug were:

TSH 0.02 mU/L (0.27 - 4.2)

T4 14.9 pmol/L (12 - 22)

T3 4.52 pmol/L (3.1 - 6.8)

However, I do weight training 3 days a week most weeks which increased my need when I started. Your body composition, activity levels and absorption efficiency will affect how much you need.

[musicaljune in reply to FAB-jellybean]

helpful FAB, thank you.

[FAB-jellybean in reply to musicaljune]

musicaljune I should also have said that I needed a dose increase after starting HRT patches too.

[musicaljune in reply to FAB-jellybean]

coincidentally I’ve been wondering about the effect of HRT on efficacy of thyroid replacement. Not taking HRT yet but it’s in my thoughts.

Thank you.