Feel weird

[Nathy1]

Hi everyone, I want to ask if you felt weird when you started with Levothyroxine 25mg?I don't know ,but I just don't feel myself at all,so stressed and anxious

Thank you 🫨

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Nathy1

What brand is your Levo? Teva brand causes adverse reaction in a lot of our members.

25mcg as a starter dose is usually for children, the elderly and those with a heart condition, otherwise it should be 50mcg .

How long have you been on 25mcg?

[Nathy1 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you for reply..I been on them only for 3 days to be honest,but I don't know what to expect, I haven't see my results, but she said antibody test is raised. I been tested for 2 years now,she always said we don't have to treat you and now because of antibody raised she put me on 25mg and I need to get a bloods done in 3 months.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Nathy1]

What brand?

[Nathy1 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Teva

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Nathy1]

Then ghe brand could be causing you to feel like this.

Can you describe exactly what you mean by "weird ".

[Nathy1 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Tbh am not myself, dizziness, so moody,less energy then before...🫥it's only 3 days like,but my anxiety is up the wall

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Nathy1]

Contact GP on Monday and say you are having a bad reaction to Teva brand and can you have a new prescription that states NOT TEVA and see how you get on with a different brand. Don't accept Northstar 25mcg as that is made by Teva.

[Nathy1 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Definitely I will give them a ring on Monday. I don't know if to take it in the morning or just leave it,what do u think?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Nathy1]

You've only been on them 3 days. If these feelings coincided with you starting them then it would be a good idea to stop them and see if these feelings stop, if so that is evidence to tell your GP the tablets caused them and why you should try a different brand .

[Nathy1 in reply to SeasideSusie]

I will ,thank you for your messages and info.if I will get any news on Monday I will let you know.🙂

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Nathy1]

Yes, do come back and let us know how you're getting on .

[Nathy1 in reply to SeasideSusie]

I am not too bad today 🙂but I will speak with the doctor tomorrow anyway and ask about the bloods results copies as well 🙂

[Nathy1 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Good morning, right i spoke with the receptionist about my bloods results if they can print them out for me or send them to me,they said no they need a permission from the doctor,soooo I ask when can I speak with the doctor ?she said next appointment is available next week on monday.🫣🫣

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Nathy1]

Receptionist is being difficult, she can speak to the doctor herself, no need for you to. All she has to say is "Nathy would like a copy of her test results, is it OK for me to print them off and pass them on?"

It's normal practice tha the GP has to see the results before they're made available to the patient, this is because if there are any abnormal ones they may wish to speak to the patient first before making the results available to them.

At my practice I ring up 2 or 3 days after the test has been done, just say "I had some blood tests done on XX (date), can you print me off a copy and I'll call in later on (or tomorrow) for them". Their reply is always "I'll need to ask Dr X first" to which I reply that's fine.

Some practices in England have online access to results, you could ask if yours does and if so then register for it then you can check online for them. If not you'll need a print out. I'd ring the surgery again and say "Can you tell me whether Dr X has looked at my blood tests results from XX (date) yet and if so can you please ask if I can have a copy of them and I'll pick them up tomorrow".

[Nathy1 in reply to SeasideSusie]

They can't be bothered to ask,I don't like the way they speak with the patients,so rude some of them.i will see maybe u will give them ring tomorrow again 🫥🙃

[SlowDragon Administrator]

welcome to the forum

Can you tell us a little more

How long since you started on 25mcg levothyroxine

Are you taking levothyroxine in morning or at bedtime

Always on empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after

Approx how old are you

What were thyroid results that got you diagnosed as hypothyroid

Ideally you would have TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 test results and ranges

Have you had vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 levels tested

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

Standard STARTER dose levothyroxine is 50mcg unless over 65 years old

Starting on 25mcg can make you feel worse

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose change or brand change in levothyroxine

ALWAYS test thyroid levels early morning and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

[Nathy1 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hello and thank you..I was told to take them the morning on empty stomach,so I do.I am 37.i haven't see my results,she just said if my antibody isn't raised they no gonna treat me..🤔 it is only my 3rd day on them.I don't understand this things so I am little bit confused if they doing what they should.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Nathy1]

Teva brand levothyroxine upsets many people

See how you are on Monday

You can ask to try different brand

But it could be because you have been started on too low a dose

Try different brand

Mercury Pharma is usually well tolerated and makes 25mcg, 50mcg and 100mcg tablets

Wockhardt also well tolerated but only makes 25mcg tablets

Teva contains mannitol as a filler, which seems to be possible cause of problems.

But for some people (usually if lactose intolerant, Teva is by far the best option)

Most easily available (and often most easily tolerated) are Mercury Pharma or Accord

Mercury Pharma make 25mcg, 50mcg and 100mcg tablets 

Accord only make 50mcg and 100mcg tablets 

Accord is also boxed as Almus via Boots, and Northstar 50mcg and 100mcg via Lloyds ....but Accord  doesn’t make 25mcg tablets

beware 25mcg Northstar is Teva

List of different brands available in U.K.

thyroiduk.org/if-you-are-hy...

Posts that mention Teva

healthunlocked.com/search/p...

Teva poll

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Once you find a brand that suits you, best to make sure to only get that one at each prescription.

Watch out for brand change when dose is increased or at repeat prescription.

Government guidelines for GP in support of patients if you find it difficult/impossible to change brands 

gov.uk/drug-safety-update/l...

If a patient reports persistent symptoms when switching between different levothyroxine tablet formulations, consider consistently prescribing a specific product known to be well tolerated by the patient. 

academic.oup.com/jcem/artic...

Physicians should: 1) alert patients that preparations may be switched at the pharmacy; 2) encourage patients to ask to remain on the same preparation at every pharmacy refill; and 3) make sure patients understand the need to have their TSH retested and the potential for dosing readjusted every time their LT4 preparation is switched (18).

Levothyroxine is an extremely fussy hormone and should always be taken on an empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after

Many people take Levothyroxine soon after waking, but it may be more convenient and perhaps more effective taken at bedtime

verywellhealth.com/best-tim...

No other medication or supplements at same as Levothyroxine, leave at least 2 hour gap.

Some like iron, calcium, magnesium, HRT, omeprazole or vitamin D should be four hours away

(Time gap doesn't apply to Vitamin D mouth spray)

If you normally take levothyroxine at bedtime/in night ...adjust timings as follows prior to blood test

If testing Monday morning, delay Saturday evening dose levothyroxine until Sunday morning. Delay Sunday evening dose levothyroxine until after blood test on Monday morning. Take Monday evening dose levothyroxine as per normal

[SlowDragon Administrator]

You are legally entitled to printed copies of your blood test results and ranges.

The best way to get access to current and historic blood test results is to register for online access to your medical record and blood test results

UK GP practices are supposed to offer everyone online access for blood test results. Ring and ask if this is available and apply to do so if possible, if it is you may need "enhanced access" to see blood results.

Link re access

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

In reality many GP surgeries do not have blood test results online yet

Alternatively ring receptionist and request printed copies of results. Allow couple of days and then go and pick up.

Important to see exactly what has been tested and equally important what hasn’t been tested yet

If you had two blood test results in last two years with TSH over 5 and high thyroid antibodies and symptoms you should have been started on levothyroxine after 2nd test

Starting levothyroxine - flow chart 

gps.northcentrallondonccg.n...

High thyroid antibodies confirms autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto’s

Low vitamin levels are extremely common

[Nathy1 in reply to SlowDragon]

So I need to take them if the antibodies are raised?or I think I just give the GP a ring on Monday and let's see what they said.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Nathy1]

Ring receptionist and request printed copies of your blood test results from last 2 years

Allow 2-3 days and go pick up

Or perhaps they can email you copies

[Nathy1 in reply to SlowDragon]

You know what the GP like,I will do my best.thank you again for quick reply 😀

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to Nathy1]

It's much easier if you have the NHS app to ask receptionist for access to your online test results and also full notes if possible. Not every GP surgery does this yet but worth a try. Then you will be able to see your results on the NHS app.

[Nathy1 in reply to Jaydee1507]

I will ask them on Monday, thank you. I have nhs app but I need the codes or something.

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to Nathy1]

Your surgery needs to give you permission and the receptionist should be able to organise that.

[arTistapple]

Nathy1. Welcome to the forum. The short answer is yes and you might not feel anything but weird for a bit. There will be lots happening in your body right now! Your advice given above will keep you occupied whilst you sort out this new state and work towards feeling better.

[Nathy1 in reply to arTistapple]

Thank you 🙏

[BlueKeith]

Yes . I started on 50mcg and was nervous all the time , which I something I never am. After a few months it started to ease then it got increased to 75mcg . Thats when it was at it's worst . I was going to ditch the pills altogether. I was getting stressed over the slightest thing and couldn't think properly. The doctor said give it time so I did. He was right . It went completely after a month or two.

[Nathy1 in reply to BlueKeith]

Thank you, I hope it will go soon 🤞🤞

[elaine2447]

I am already stressed but i found that the Teva 25mcg didn't agree with me and made me feel very nauseous so I asked the doctor to change it to Wockhardt which is tiny in comparison with the Teva but does contain a bit of lactose, whereas the Teva is a lot bigger and contains (maize starch, mannitol (E421), microcrystalline cellulose, sodium citrate, acacia and magnesium stearate). I believe it was the mannitol that was causing it. By the way, I take mine late at night as I have severe osteoporosis and take calcium and other supplements in the morning and I couldn't be messing around waiting hours etc. after calcium or food etc.

[ICE187]

My symptoms were a roller coaster. When I first started on Levothyroxine, I had a racing heart, bad palpitations, dizziness and so on. I was started on 75mcg. I began cutting mine in half for 37.5mcg which stopped the symptoms until week 5. At that point, my symptoms returned. I had my 6 week blood test. My TSH was much higher. I took the 75mcg then. This time, my symptoms eased up. At week 5 on that dose, my symptoms returned, but not as bad. 6 week blood test, my dose was increased to 100mcg. My symptoms began to go away, slowly, but definitely. My TSH is in range, but not in optimal range. My dose hasn't been raised since being put on 100mcg. I feel great unless I have been glutened. If I have gluten, all of my symptoms return for a week or 2. Before I was put on Levothyroxine, my dr told me that it may take a week or months before I would feel the effects.

[Hrosmund]

What symptoms have you been having? I was borderline for years before GP persuaded me to take meds and they made me feel so bad that I stopped them and only went on them because I had to, for a GA. Tired all the time during the day and anxiety trying to sleep at night so I reversed it and took them at night. Symptoms lasted about 3 weeks and I got the same symptoms with a raised dose.

[Nathy1 in reply to Hrosmund]

Not much to be honest,tiredness, no energy and I think I put little bit of weight on.they been checking my thyroid the for 2 years and she said they don't have to treat me and now I had a bloods done and my antibody raised so that's why they put me on meds,I don't know if that is really necessary 🤨I will ring them tomorrow.

[Hrosmund in reply to Nathy1]

This might not be the popular opinion but honestly I would stay off the meds unless you really need them. I believe that there are people who are genetically low who don't need meds, that's not taken into consideration. But I'm a consumer, (reluctant, )not a GP.

[Kimkat]

I was on Teva and they make me feel dreadful, Also Northstar which I think is by the same company. The only make I feel anything like normal on is Mercury Pharma . Hope this helps

[CapnM]

I bounced around with levo when first started taking it, it took about 3-4 months to settle down. If you don't feel right you should ask your doctor especially if BP is up but its perfectly normal to expect to some weirdness to start as your body gets used to new hormone.

I did consider going back to the GP but I found it settled after a while, ultimately I had 3 or 4 distinct cycles of weirdness before I settled for good. Symptoms to describe where I went a bit hyper, a bit scatty , stressed out a bit racy I seem to remember using that phrase, for about a week then settled, then again and it settled etc etc. I remember going round friends houses thinking this is wierd in an out of body way, some of it was actually kind of funny .... so i might be tempted to give it a few days to see.