Help with histamine/levothyroxine query

[CernCrystal]

Hi wanted to check with the wonderful fountain of knowledge and experience on this:

I have no thyroid and currently take 75 mg of levothyroxine. I am treating some of my hypothyroid symptoms with sublingual B12 and homemade liver pate for folate - the combination has made a significant improvement.

I was recently changed to TEVA for the 25 dose and felt I had an alergic reaction to it (inside of mouth and lips slightly swollen, looser stomach and slower than normal (normal is rather slow at mo). So I stopped it and next prescription asked for another manufacturer which doesn't contain manitol.

To test this (and prove to Dr) I took my 75mg dose as all TEVA on Wed night at 3am (I take then to preserve integrity of levo and prevent problems of taking with other drugs etc - this works well for me as due to age I inevitably have to use the loo in the night and am incredibly fortunate in that I have a CPAP machine which aids fast and good sleep. CPAP machine given post Thyroidectomy due to impact of very large goitre).

I currently have more swelling in mouth and lips, feel very tired, dizzy and drunk. Thus indicating to me an allergic response to ingestion (as opposed to hay fever etc). Has anyone else experienced this? I then wondered if there is a block to effective use of/uptake of levo within the body if histamines are present and causing inflamation. And then wondered about something else I'd noticed that when hayfever is bad, life seems much more of a stuggle energywise until I take Acrivastine (Benadryl). Benadryl improves things but today has not brought me back to my current usual level of energy.

I wondered what people's throughts and experiences are? I'd love to back up my experience with other info as I'm seeing the Dr next week (after another useless TSH test).

Thanks everyone.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Many thousands of people react badly to Teva

Very common to have note added to all presentations “No Teva”

Or to specify one brand of levothyroxine

How long have you been on just 75mcg dose

See you were previously on 150mcg

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

Only drink water between waking and test

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

ESSENTIAL all four vitamins are regularly retested and maintain at optimal levels

Retest at least annually

Low vitamin levels results in low TSH

Being on too low a dose levothyroxine results in low vitamin levels

Liver pate will improve ferritin (not folate)

If you’re taking B12 it’s recommended to also take daily vitamin B complex to keep all B vitamins in balance

Low B12 symptoms 

b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

methyl-life.com/blogs/defic...

With serum B12 result below 500, (Or active B12 below 70) recommended to be taking a separate B12 supplement and add a separate vitamin B Complex after a week 

Then once your serum B12 is over 500 (or Active B12 level has reached 70), you may be able to reduce then stop the B12 and just carry on with the B Complex.

If Vegetarian or vegan likely to need ongoing separate B12 few times a week 

B12 drops 

natureprovides.com/products...

Or

B12 sublingual lozenges 

uk.iherb.com/pr/jarrow-form...

cytoplan.co.uk/shop-by-prod...

B12 range in U.K. is too wide

Interesting that in this research B12 below 400 is considered inadequate 

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

supplementing a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in (not folic acid) 

This can help keep all B vitamins in balance and will help improve B12 levels too

Difference between folate and folic acid 

healthline.com/nutrition/fo...

B vitamins best taken after breakfast

Thorne Basic B recommended vitamin B complex that contains folate, but they are large capsules. (You can tip powder out if can’t swallow capsule) 

Thorne currently difficult to find at reasonable price, should be around £20-£25. iherb.com often have in stock. Or try ebay 

Other options 

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu....

IMPORTANT......If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 7 days before ALL BLOOD TESTS , as biotin can falsely affect test results

endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

In week before blood test, when you stop vitamin B complex, you might want to consider taking a separate folate supplement (eg Jarrow methyl folate 400mcg) and continue separate B12

[Marymary7]

Sorry I can’t really help but I hope others will. I don’t get how you can be expected to convert T4 to the active T3 if you don’t have a thyroid any more? Surely you should be prescribed T3?

[Poppycat999]

Hi l take 75levo one day and 50 the next. I finally have got my TSH to 0.99 and feel better. I only have Almus brand 50s l cut mine for the 75 dose its fairly easy. I have heard Teva isnt good try cutting for correct dose.