anti-histamines?

[turquoisea7]

very quick one - I can't find any contra-indications on my Levo leaflet about anti-histamines being contra-indicated, does anyone know of anything re. either loratadine or cetirizine?

thank you.

[RedApple Administrator]

 turquoisea7, I've been taking both for years now, although mostly cetirizine. Usually try not to take at same time as levo or other thyroid meds, but I doubt it would be an issue if it's only an odd occasion.

[turquoisea7 in reply to RedApple]

brilliant, thank you so much

[Realtiger]

Also take a daily Loratadine tablet at breakfast time away from Levo and no issues 🙂

[turquoisea7 in reply to Realtiger]

great, thanks for letting me know.

[Realtiger in reply to turquoisea7]

Just a thought - you mention internal shivering and wonder how this manifests? Could it be muscle fasiculations? For me they are like a mobile phone vibrating in a muscle group like an internal tremor - can’t do anything to control or stop it as completely involuntary. I think it’s mostly my psoas which is the main culprit in my musculoskeletal pain. Magnesium helps.

[turquoisea7 in reply to Realtiger]

yes, that's it. there are posts and threads about it all over the forum; Dr John Lowe described it and that the way to combat it is to get FT3 levels up. Magnesium doesn't do much for me, it's due to low cortisol & being too undermedicated to combat the work the adrenals are doing.

[radd]

turquoisea7,

No, they’re not contraindicated.

I remember a time years ago when it was recommended to take antihistamines to counteract an intolerance to a Levo excipient and it seemed half the forum were on them. Now a days it is realised that a change of Levo brand may be the better option - thank goodness.

[turquoisea7 in reply to radd]

thanks for this, what was the excipient, out of interest?

[radd in reply to turquoisea7]

No idea. I'm one of the lucky ones who seems to be able to take all brands regardless.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to radd]

I think the suggestion of an antihistamine was made primarily to prove the issue. That is, if an antihistamine helped, it suggested that there was at least a histamine-related issue.

Some might have had to take antihistamines long-term as they couldn't find any other path to tread. But I don't think they were positively recommended - just a necessary evil for some.

I agree fully that if a different formulation of thyroid hormone medicine works, that is very much a preferable approach.

[turquoisea7 in reply to helvella]

thanks for this. I'm just investigating it with regard to the 'internal shivering'. I realise that is with hypo essentially a low cortisol and/or autoimmune neuropathy issue & in both cases it seems getting FT3 levels up is the answer. Just clutching at a straw in an effort for some peace/comfort while I am undermedicated.

[csj113]

I take cetirizine at bed time along with my Levo (and Utrogestan for half of my cycle) No issues for me, not contraindicated as far as I was aware.

[FAB-jellybean in reply to csj113]

Hi csj113 , I've just been prescribed utrogestan for half my cycle after the norethisterone in the patch I was using didn't agree with me at all. I'm a bit worried about getting bad side effects from this too, and also take half my T4 dose at bedtime so trying to work out the best way to take it. Do you take the full 200mg dose (2 tablets)? And how do you take them? I've heard some people take them orally while others use them as vaginal pessaries, as the side effects are less when used as pessaries. I'm trying to discover how much of a difference there is in absorption depending on the delivery method. Do you leave an hour or 2 between your levo and the Utrogestan?

[csj113 in reply to FAB-jellybean]

hi, I take my Utrogestan orally at night at the same time as my Levo. I’ve had no problems with it, maybe a bit of a mild headache at times but I get headache pre-menstrually anyway so might just be that. Only other thing is I can get the odd spot on my face but nothing major.

[FAB-jellybean in reply to csj113]

Thank you, that's reassuring. 🙏

[turquoisea7]

very good to know, thank you