Thyroid blood test

[VivGrn]

I have been on Thyroxine since the 1980,s when I was diagnosed with Hashimoto,s .

I have regular blood test and few months ago was told my results were slightly higher and had my dose reduced from 125mg to 100mg.

Can you tell me is there any procedure that I should take prior to having the test?

with kind regards

Vivien

[crimple]

VivGrn what were your thyroid results before the reduction in levo dose and what were the results after the reduction in dose. Please include the ranges - (figures in brackets) It's very likely that they, GP, are only looking at TSH result and to get T4 and T3 results you will need to test privately e,g, Medichecks , BlueHorizon which many members on here use.

[VivGrn in reply to crimple]

Will check next week when I get the blood test.

Thank you, Crimple

[SlowDragon Administrator]

ALWAYS test thyroid levels early morning, ideally just before 9am and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

Never agree to dose reduction based just based on TSH

Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription

Essential to test vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin at least once year

On levothyroxine we must have good vitamin levels

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

As you have Hashimoto’s are you on strictly gluten free diet and/or dairy free diet

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

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options and money off codes

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

If you can get GP to test vitamins then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3

£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off down to £26.10 if go on thyroid uk for code

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

monitormyhealth.org.uk/

Monitor My Health also now offer thyroid and vitamin testing, plus cholesterol and HBA1C for £65 

(Doesn’t include thyroid antibodies) 

monitormyhealth.org.uk/full...

10% off code here 

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £29 via

vitamindtest.org.uk

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning. 

Watch out for postal strikes, probably want to pay for guaranteed 24 hours delivery 

Come back with new post once you get results

What were results that caused dose reduction in levothyroxine

Do you now feel worse?

[VivGrn in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you, Slow Dragon for your prompt response.

I have been on Levothyroxine for many years.

Dr also requests B12 vitamin D, ferritin and Folate when I have tests.

I am a Vegan and take vegan vitamins, Multi vitamins with minerals, vitamin D3, Vitamin C, Probiotic and Q10 as Intake Simvastatin.

The blood test next week is the follow up after the 25 reduction.

will let you know the results when I get them.

Thank you once again for the information.

Kind regards

Vivien

[VivGrn in reply to VivGrn]

Sorry forgot to mention brands.

Now and then I notice they have given me different brands ,did not pay much attention to this as it still was Levothyroxine the brand by Almus.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to VivGrn]

many people find different brands are not interchangeable

Which brand were you taking before

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

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

Mercury Pharma also boxed as Eltroxin. Both often listed by company name on pharmacy database - Advanz 

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

 Many patients do NOT get on well with Teva brand of Levothyroxine. Teva is lactose free.

Teva contains mannitol as a filler instead of lactose, which seems to be possible cause of problems. Mannitol seems to upset many people, it changes gut biome 

Teva is the only brand that makes 75mcg tablet. 

So if avoiding Teva for 75mcg dose ask for 25mcg to add to 50mcg or just extra 50mcg tablets to cut in half

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

Aristo (currently 100mcg only) is lactose free and mannitol free. 

Wockhardt is very well tolerated, but only available in 25mcg tablets. Some people remain on Wockhardt, taking their daily dose as a number of tablets 

 

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).

[VivGrn]

Thank you again, Slow Dragon,

To be quite honest I never took notice of the brand on the 25mcg, now I come to remember they were in a white and blue box whereas the Almus (via Boots ) are in a gold and blue box.

Kind regards

Vivien