Liquid levo

[nettiboo1982]

Hello all I've recently started taking liquid levothyroxine 125mcg after not being able to source the brand of tablets I was taking. On the run up to changing I had to drop my level to 100mcg as I ran out of meds and unable to source the wockhardt levo. It was basically a week of staggering the meds then a couple of days of 100mcg alone.

I started new levo Saturday and today I feel so fatigued and symptomatic similar to when I would change tablet brands my understanding was the liquid was less likely to cause the side effects. Is that a wrong assumption?

Thanks

[helvella Administrator]

Many people find that the levothyroxine oral solutions and gel caps (Tirosint, not in UK) are better absorbed than tablets. Could be that you achieve a 10 to 40% higher absorbed dose.

Changing from 125 tablet to 125 oral solution could represent a significant increase in dose. But you had to drop to 100 first, so 100 tablet to 125 oral solution would certainly be a higher dose.

Also, some people find the effect of relatively large quantities of glycerol on their digestion are not good.

Oral solutions will avoid the side effects caused by the ingredients that are in tablets. But they potentially add their own from whatever excipients they contain.

[Jaydee1507 Administrator]

I would suspect that you are now suffering the effects of taking the lower dose for a while, your body will have noticed! Keep going at the 125mcg liquid and it should settle. If you have switched from tablet to liquid you should get a blood test anyway 6-8 weeks after a constant dose.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Many people on liquid levothyroxine split the dose as it’s absorbed quicker

Half in morning and half late afternoon or bedtime