A slow increase

[Kazzyloulou]

I'm just wondering what is the slowest you can go with Levo increase? Such as one tiny 12.5mcg per week for a few weeks, then twice a week. I need to minimise the side effects of the increase as much as poss. Interested to hear the thoughts of this lovely community. xx

[PurpleNails Administrator]

I would say as slow as you need, some are very sensitive to fluctuations, other tolerate larger adjustments without issue.The only thing you need to be aware of is that your levels won’t settle until you been on an unchanged dose for 6 weeks.  So if you are testing within a few weeks of changing dose or doses - you won’t be getting an accurate result, it will continue to alter. 

[Kazzyloulou in reply to PurpleNails]

I am very sensitive to fluctuations. Thank you. 😊

[tattybogle]

anywhere between what you suggested (which might arguably be 'a bit to slow' and take a heck of a long time for you to find out the effect ) .......and 12.5mcg every day which might be a bit too much all at once for some . (and might be a bigger increase than you need).

Personally I don't change by more that 12.5mcg /day nowadays and then leave at least 6 weeks to allow that effect to settle in . (preferably longer)

I have in the past tweaked overall dose by 6.25mcg by adding / removing 3 doses of 12.5mcg a week . But i don't have any significant problems with adding / reducing dose.

My mantra for dose adjustment has become :

" if in doubt about "how much ?"..... go with 'less' ~ and for "how long ?" .... go with 'longer'

[Kazzyloulou]

I find that 12.5 a day is too much for me. I felt so awful for 6 weeks or so that I can't go through it again.... but taking a 50, a half of 50, and then a quarter is a bit of a faff. It would be good to somehow get to 100 and take one smaller tablet.... and less fillers. Thank you 😊

[tattybogle in reply to Kazzyloulou]

getting to 100 won't do you any favours if you only need eg 87.5mcg or 93.25mcg .

have you had any result from 87.5mcg yet Kazzyloulou ?

if you have only recently got up to 87.5mcg , are you sure you really do need to increase again yet ? eg how long have you been n stable dose of 87.5mcg ( if that is what you are currently on )

Perhaps you would do better to stay on current dose for a few moths longer to see how it goes once it has settled in , rather than increasing again straight away .

these seem to be from 75mcg a couple of months ago :

TSH 2.05 (0.35 - 4.94)FT3 4.0 (2.4 - 6.0) FT4 14.2 (9.0 - 19.1).

have you got anything more recent ?

[Kazzyloulou in reply to tattybogle]

Those are the last results from the 75mcg. The 87.5mcg will be the next one.

[tattybogle in reply to Kazzyloulou]

if quartering to get 87.5mcg from your 50's is a faff.... have you considered taking 75 one day and 100mcg the next alternate ?

Same overall dose 87.5mcg ~works just as well as long as you don't feel weird with the different dose each day (and can find a way to remember what day it is lol)

[Kazzyloulou]

I've booked my bloods for 15th March, by which time it would be about 3 months. So as you say I'll wait for the results of the 87.5mcg. I've also got Ferritin, Folate, B12 and Vit D. xx

[tattybogle in reply to Kazzyloulou]