Doubling Levothyroxine during pregnancy?

[Mlove12]

I just wanted to get some opinions as my doctor wasn’t to up my Levothyroxine from 25 to 50 as I am now pregnant, even though my levels are good. Anyone else had similar experience?

Thanks

[Jaydee1507 Administrator]

Welcome to the group. Please complete your profile to enable members to help you better.

The body does require more thyroid hormone during pregnancy. I'm not sure if you are saying your doctor has or hasn't given you 25mcgs extra?

25mcgs is a starter dose of levo so unlikely to be enough for you even without being pregnant. How long have you been diagnosed?

Do you have a copy of your latest blood results that you can share with us? You are legally entitled to this, ask at GP reception. In England you can get the NHS app and ask for permission to see your blood results on that by asking at GP’s reception.

It's ideal if you can always get the same brand of levo at every prescription. You can do this by getting GP to write the brand you prefer in the first line of the prescription. Many people find that different brands are not interchangeable.

When hypo we get low stomach acid which means we cannot absorb vitamins well from our food, regardless of a great diet. For thyroid hormone to work well we need OPTIMAL levels of vitamins. Have you recently or could you ask your GP to test levels of ferritin, folate, B12 & D3? Private tests are available, see link for companies offering private blood tests & discount codes, some offer a blood draw service at an extra cost. thyroiduk.org/help-and-supp...

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

Well first off, congratulations.

What we really need is to understand why you are on 25 micrograms of levothyroxine in the first place. And to understand what your tests have shown.

Do you have thyroid test results - including reference intervals (ranges)?

For a lot of women who get pregnant, an increase of 25 micrograms is suggested in order to ensure thyroid hormone levels don't drop. But that is a sort of "emergency" approach. And it should be reviewed as soon as you have had test result and assess what they mean.

However, the majority to whom this is applied are on higher doses to begin with - maybe 75 to 150. So a 25 microgram increase is a modest percentage. A 100% increase simply would not apply to them.

Post back with more information and you will get some answers.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

How long since thyroid and vitamin levels tested

ESSENTIAL to test TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 plus both thyroid antibodies and vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Please add most recent results

If not tested in last 4-6 months retest now

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...

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

Stop any supplements that contain biotin 5 days before test

[Mlove12]

Hi all,

Thanks for replies, so I was put on levo a year ago when starting fertility treatment as my levels were 4.56, so not over the UK threshold to actually start any medication for my thyroid however my fertility clinic said that it needs to be under 2.5 for treatment. I had a private test a couple of months ago and came back at 1.2 so was in a good range. Overall I dont suffer from issues with my thyroid but now my doctor wants to double my 25 to 50 dosage.

Hope this makes a bit more sense!

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to Mlove12]

Have you had your thyroid antibodies tested? If not then you should do. NHS only test one type - Thyroid Peroxidase but there is another type - Thyroglobulin. It would be useful to know if you have autoimmune thyroid disease aka Hashimoto's.

I would go along with what your doctor suggests as we do need more thyroid hormone in pregnancy.

Also get them to test your ferritin, folate, B12 & d3. You can also buy a private test for these.

Congratulations!

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Mlove12]

had a private test a couple of months ago and came back at 1.2 so was in a good range. 

Was test done early morning

Obviously just testing TSH completely inadequate

What were Ft4, Ft3, vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

[mistydog]

NICE guidelines say TSH should be below 2 for a healthy pregnancy. That's a random number be should be regarded as a minimum level or miscarriage is likely. Good luck with the pregnancy.

[eeng]

The bottom line is that your doctor is right about increasing your dose. Go with it.