Can a change in batch be the reason my thyroid hormones have dropped so low?

[ockerdoc]

I was on 100mcg a day at the end of November and my results were

TSH - 0.011 (0.27-4.2)

Free T4 - 21.6 (12-22) (96%)

Free T3 - 5.8 (3.1-6.8) ((73%)

I thought the T4 was a bit high and I was having some mild palpitations so I reduced to 4 Days 75 mcg and 3 days 100mcg. After 7 weeks I retested and results were

TSH 1.62 (0.27-4.2)

Free T4 15 (12-22) (30%)

Free T3 3.7 (3.1-6.8) (19%)

Can this drop that much by reducing 100mcg a week? this has coincided with a new batch order from an online pharmacy. I’m now doubting whether I can trust ordering online. I’m feeling so crap this is probably the worst winter I’ve ever been through. I’m wondering now whether to go back to my GP and start from scratch and explain that I’ve been self medicating. Either that or try another pharmacy. I’m now doing 5 days 100mcg and 2 days 75mcg and will retest in 5 weeks. These results have completely thrown me ! Vitamins optimal.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

yes that’s quite a drop in dose

I’m now doing 5 days 100mcg and 2 days 75mcg and will retest in 5 weeks.

Retest in 6-8 weeks

Are all tablets same brand

Personally when fine tuning dose I only change dose Levo by maximum of 25mcg PER WEEK

[ockerdoc in reply to SlowDragon]

Ok thank you 🙏 yes it’s the same synthroid brand I order all the time but obviously it was a different batch recently.

[Yeswithasmile]

I posted something similar last week.

I can add just 18.75 mcg a week split in 3 doses and it takes me to 18 (11 - 22) this is too high for me but if I take those 3 doses out I drop to 14.5 (12 - 22) which is too low for me. I like to be at 50% of the range on an early fasting blood test and I can often find that the dr blood tests differ from my monitor my health ones a fair bit.

I would add also that sometimes you need to wait longer to see where your levels balance out. Now I wait around 12 weeks to see how I feel before testing.

On my last post I believe SlowDragon has said similar. She can get a much higher reading from only a weekly 12.5 mcg increase. It was suggested to change timing of levo to see if that improved the absorption. So considering sticking to the lower dose but maybe at bedtime or part of the dose then.

It’s a complicated affair and very frustrating. I wish you lots of luck trying to get it right!!

[ockerdoc in reply to Yeswithasmile]

Thank you 🙏 yes it’s very frustrating !

[HealthStarDust]

I’m wondering now whether to go back to my GP and start from scratch and explain that I’ve been self medicating.

I think even when your GP isn’t prescribing, it’s important to inform them of your treatment so it’s reflected in your medical records. So, be they of help or not, it could be of benefit in an emergency situation.

Other than that, I believe I have mentioned this before, it would be wise to stay on a dose for 3 months, perhaps longer, before making decisions on next steps when it comes to fine tuning a dose.

I don’t believe the availability of self testing and self medicating is always helpful, particularly when we are feeling desperate. Numbers should not be paramount in guiding decisions. There is not enough research to exclusively suggest that being slightly over or under range is good or bad. Or, even on how long one should remain on a dose.

So, my suggest remains the same as previous times. Decide on a dose that is most comfortable (including brand and batches) for 3 months at least, retest, and decide again taking into account numbers, how you feel, and any non-thyroid illness including stress before making a decision. Remember, if there is reason to believe any non-thyroid illness is having an impact, then give the dose more not less time.

Edit - due to typos and expanding thoughts.

[ockerdoc in reply to HealthStarDust]

Yes thank you I agree.. I didn’t realise dropping 100mcg a week would lead to such a drastic reduction. I’m gonna stay on this now for while and see where I am.

[Ontherun81]

Hi I'm very sensitive to medication changes and I had similar situation last June/Dec. You can ask your GP to only prescribe a certain brand of meds. Pharmacies just go for availability & cost not specific brands. If you think this is the case its worth a go. Let the online know pharmacy too.

Good Luck 👍

[ockerdoc in reply to Ontherun81]

Thank you 🙏