Will being on optimal Levo dose for weight make a big difference in mood etc?

[Hoop1888]

hi all.

I was prescribed 100mg (increase of 25mg) after insisting the doctor speak to an endo, who then advised I should be on around 150mcg for my weight. Will a change from 100 to 150 really make that much of a difference?

Also, I feel like I’m always bloated and gaining a little weight. I tried missing a dose to see how I felt and think I was less bloated plus in a better mood!

Could levothyroxine be making me feel worse or could it just be that I’ll not see the improvement I’m looking for until I’m around 150mcg mark? Could it be the brand? How will I know! I’ve been taking vitamin gummies for months and ensuring I don’t have iron, ant D’s close to Levo.

Honestly so tired of the merry go around and not being myself

[humanbean]

This is just a personal anecdote...

At the start I struggled to tolerate anything with T4 in i.e. neither Levo nor NDT suited me, and instead I took T3-only for a few years.

My mood didn't improve until :

1) I got my thyroid hormone levels much closer to optimal.

2) I started optimising my iron and ferritin, and my mood started to improve part way through this process.

3) I started optimising my vitamin B12, folate, and vitamin D as well, and my mood started to improve part way through this process.

4) I reduced my over-the-range cortisol.

As all the above things improved I was able to start taking Levo in "normal" doses, and with T3 added to my Levo dose.

I can't predict whether doing any of these things will affect your weight or energy levels in any way.

[Hoop1888 in reply to humanbean]

Hmm I often hear of people using T3 instead which is meant to be better than T4. Think I’ll need to get very particular about my vitamins as it sounds like it matters a lot.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

It takes 6-8 weeks for each dose increase in levothyroxine to have full effect

Then get bloods retest

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

Which brand of levothyroxine are you currently taking

Many people find one brand better than others…..you may need to experiment

Exactly what Vitamin supplements are you taking and what were most recent vitamin results

[Hoop1888 in reply to SlowDragon]

I’m taking Accord and have done since I started last December. I’m actually getting tested tomorrow at 8.45am but forgot, so didn’t have my dose yesterday and was going to have this morning then remembered the test! I also had a vitamin gummy with biotin earlier🤦🏻‍♀️

Vitamin level in gummy (boots strawberry):

Vitamin A 300 µg RE 38

Vitamin D3 5 µg 1100

Vitamin E 6.7 mg a-TE 56

Vitamin C 40 mg 50

Vitamin B6 0.5 mg 36

Folic Acid 120 µg 60

Vitamin B12 2 µg 80

Biotin 30 µg 60

Pantothenic Acid 1.5 mg

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Hoop1888]

So rebook test

A) it’s waste of time if last dose levothyroxine longer that 24 hours before test

B) you need to stop any supplements that contain biotin 5-7 days before test

[SlowDragon Administrator]

It’s well known phenomenon that if stop levothyroxine, or miss a few days dose you can temporarily feel better

But that’s only a very temporary result, before becoming significantly worse

As discussed in this recent post here

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Essential to take same dose levothyroxine everyday, then get next test in 6-8 weeks, and likely then ready to increase dose again to 125mcg

[Hoop1888 in reply to SlowDragon]

This is very interesting, didn’t know that, yet that how I feel when I don’t take it for a day. I tried taking it at night a few times and felt that helped but not sure if that’s because I wasn’t absorbing it properly compared to first thing in the morning.

The endo spoke to my gp and told them I could go up to 150mcg, so surely if I speak to the doctor and say I want to go up to that (seeing as that is what is optimal for my weight/height), they should prescribe it?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Hoop1888]

You have to increase dose SLOWLY upwards

Maximum increase of 25mcg at any one time

Retest 6-8 weeks after each dose increase

Levothyroxine is an extremely fussy hormone and should always be taken on an empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after

Many people take Levothyroxine soon after waking, but it may be more convenient and perhaps more effective taken at bedtime

verywellhealth.com/best-tim...

markvanderpump.co.uk/blog/p...

markvanderpump.co.uk/blog/p...

No other medication or supplements at same as Levothyroxine, leave at least 2 hour gap.

Some like iron, calcium, magnesium, HRT, omeprazole or vitamin D should be four hours away

(Time gap doesn't apply to Vitamin D mouth spray)

If you normally take levothyroxine at bedtime/in night ...adjust timings as follows prior to blood test

so that last dose is 24 hours before 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

[ShelWhitt]

Sorry I can't really be of much help as I also have fibromyalgia and lots of the symptoms of hypothyroidism overlap so it is difficult to know what is causing the problem a an given time. After over 30 years I've come to the conclusion it is a case of trial and error, and I don't think the doctors have a clue!

[silverbelle51]

Myself I think being on Levo should be the last resort. When you are exhibiting sx of low thyroid functioning you NEED to know why. Too easy to write a script. for Levo and send people through the fires of hell! How is your iodine level ? Are you suffering from too many toxins exposed to or ingesting ? These things can cause reverse T3 and if that were the case then you could max out on Levo and be as sick as a dog as the expression goes! I am no expert except in receiving extra poor health and trusting them cause "they were the experts".