Anxiety

[Judthepud]

Hi, I'm 67 and was diagnosed with hypothyroidism in my early 50s. A couple of years ago I was started on Atorvastatin for raised cholesterol and suffered anxiety, which went away when I came off the medication. I was then started on Rosuvastatin and after a few months developed anxiety again. However this didn't stop when I stopped the medication. Realising the symptoms I was having could also be due to over-medication with Levothyroxine (anxiety, weight loss, diarrhoea, irritability), and my blood results were edging towards hyperthyroidism, I reduced my meds from 125mcg 4 times weekly + 150mcg 3 times weekly to 125mcg daily. How long should it take for the effects of over-medication to go away? It's now 5 weeks and I'm still having symptoms of hyperthyroidism (well that's to say anxiety etc). Should this have gone by now if over medication was the cause, or am I focusing too much on my symptoms which is stopping them from going away?Also, do statins interact with Levothyroxine, causing you to require a lower dose, and/or does aging and lifestyle cause you to require a lower dose? I retired from nursing a couple of years ago so I'm much less active than I was.

Would be interested to know if anyone has any advice for me.

Thanks

[Jaydee1507 Administrator]

Anxieety is often caused by being on too low a dose of Levo or perhaps if you are not converting well. Do you have a copy of your latest results to include FT3? FT3 is the active hormone and not everyone can convert it from Levo well, also as you get older conversion rate can suffer.

It should only take a few weeks for overmedication symptoms to go away, thats if you were over replaced which is not necessarily likely.

The fact that you needed statins indicates that your Levo dose is not enough or not working effectively for you and your FT3 might be low but you need to get it tested, likely with a private blood test. Low thyroid hormone = high cholesterol.

What supplements are you taking?

What are the latest results for 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...

There is also a new company offering walk in & mail order blood tests in London, Kent, Sussex & Surrey areas. Check to see if there is a blood test company near you. onedaytests.com/products/ul...

Only do private tests on a Monday or Tuesday to avoid postal delays.

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.

[Ernest2]

Statins and some other drugs (check them all out) put a load on your liver (like drinking too much). As I was on Statins I've stopped drinking. Statins still seem to inflame my liver so I'm currently on a break from them but concerned what to do next and if it's worth trying switching my station type again etc.etc. Taking meds that make you unwell is hard to get your head round.

Best wishes,

Ernest