TSH Levels

[Gyp101]

HI

Im very new to this condition so can you help. I have been prescribed 50mg of Levothyroxine due to a TSH level of 6.8 . After staying on this dose my TSH is 0.61 but my dose has now increased to 75mg

I really don't know if I'm over or under dosing

Should i be asking for information on my T3 and T4 levels in order to be able to establish the right dose for me .

I'm not really getting any help from my doctors and i really need to manage and understand this condition if I'm stuck with it.

Any advice and help would be great

Thank you all so much for your time

[DippyDame]

When correctly medicated TSH will be 1 or under

So 75mcg is probably fine for you.

Do you take it roughly 1 hour away from food and drinks?

TSH fluctuates throughout the day

So, the most important result is FT3 followed by FT4 they give a more accurate picture of your thyroid health

thyroidpatients.ca/2021/07/...

But....medics haven't caught up!!

This might help

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

[Gyp101 in reply to DippyDame]

hi … thank you for this. I take it at 7am every morning normally at least 1.30 mins before anything and I totally get what you say about the medics .. lol

[DippyDame in reply to Gyp101]

Good luck!

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Welcome to the forum

Which brand levothyroxine was 50mcg

Which brand are you now taking for 75mcg

You should have FULL thyroid and vitamin testing 6-8 weeks after this latest increase

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested

Also both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once

Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum

Request GP test antibodies and vitamins now, or at next test

About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease, usually diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies

Autoimmune thyroid disease with goitre is Hashimoto’s

Autoimmune thyroid disease without goitre is Ord’s thyroiditis.

Both are autoimmune and generally called Hashimoto’s.

Low vitamin levels are extremely common when hypothyroid, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease

20% of autoimmune thyroid patients never have high thyroid antibodies and ultrasound scan of thyroid can get diagnosis

In U.K. medics hardly ever refer to autoimmune thyroid disease as Hashimoto’s (or Ord’s thyroiditis)

Recommended that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

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...

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning.

Link about thyroid blood tests

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

Link about Hashimoto’s

thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...

Symptoms of hypothyroidism

thyroiduk.org/wp-content/up...

Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Medichecks and BH also offer private blood draw at clinic near you, or private nurse to your own home…..for an extra fee

[Gyp101 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you so much for this. I will have a good read and take it all in .

That’s so helpful

[Gyp101 in reply to SlowDragon]

Forgot to add the Levothyroxine is the same brand just one is 50mg with another 25mg to top it up

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Gyp101]

Excellent…..which brand

[Gyp101 in reply to SlowDragon]

slight mistake .. the 50s are accord - in an orange and white box and the 25s are Mercury Pharma -in a blue and white box

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Gyp101]

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, 

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. including ingredients

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

[Gyp101 in reply to SlowDragon]

I’ve been on the increased dose for a week now … will I have to wait 8 weeks before getting a blood test to see if I’m on the right dose

Sorry for all the questions

[tattybogle in reply to Gyp101]

TSH can take at least 6 weeks to reach a settled level after any dose change , so yes you need to be on same dose for at least 6 weeks before there is any point doing blood tests.

6-8 weeks is the usual time to test after a dose change.. some guidelines say 3 months, but when first starting and trying to get up to the right dose as soon as possible 6 weeks is about right .. it's long enough to allow TSH to move , but isn't leaving you for months stuck on too low a dose ,

[Gyp101 in reply to tattybogle]

thank you for your advice … I’m learning so much