i want to reduse from lt4 75 to 62 as i feel very bad

[morcan54]

i want to reduce levothyroxine 12mg down i became very irretable anxious tight chest i feel angry and breathless hot head . my tsh 3 months ago was 14.89 a month later was 12.83 and now is 2.81 i think i may be taking too much as i dont feel good on 75mg and tsh gone down very fast i cant even talk without shouting feel depresed and stomach is bad diarea constibation in same day if i reduce maybe i relax.. apreciate any advice thanks

[Jaydee1507 Administrator]

Symptoms of under replacement can be very similar to over replacement and if your TSH is still over 2 then likely you need MORE and not less Levo. I wouldn't recommend reducing your dose.

It looks as though your TSH has been quite high for a while so it will take some months for symptoms to begin to resolve even though the numbers are coming down.

What are your latest vitamin results for ferritin, foate, B12 & D3?

What supplements are you taking?

[morcan54 in reply to Jaydee1507]

b12 345 d3 is very low14.5 folate was good i got bthalasimia and i canot take iron

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to morcan54]

You have a lot of recent posts but I'm not sure if anyone has advised you about taking vitamin supplements to raise your levels to a more optimal point?

We need all our vitamin levels to be OPTIMAL for our thyroid horomone to work well.

I would recommend a high dose methyl/active type B complex. I have attached a label from Thorne Basic B which you can use to compare what is available to you.

Vitamin D should be around 100 - 150. Buy one that includes vit K2 to help it go to your bones. Some are available in oil or you can take it with an oily meal for better absorption. Many members like the ‘Better You’ range of mouth sprays that contain both bit D & K2. Use this calculator to work out how much to take to get your level to 100-150.grassrootshealth.net/projec...

Just getting your vitamins higher will improve how you feel.

Suggest you ask to raise your dose of Levo.

[SovietSong]

You definitely don't need a drop in dosage.Your last bloods show T4 around 70% but T3 just 13% and conversion over 5(recommended on here under 4).I had lots of your symptoms when my T3 was low and had to add a little lio to my Levo but it's too early for that yet as 75mcg is just one click up from the starter dose.Your next step should be 100mcg daily. Getting your vitamins at decent level will aid conversion also.

[morcan54 in reply to SovietSong]

but feel too many symptoms and the worse is irregular heart beats and tight chest

[Singwell in reply to morcan54]

Irregular heart beat happens with hypothyroidism- so you may not be on enough replacement yet. I have heart arrhythmia so I know what it feels like. Mine recently got worse because my TSH doubled even though it was not out of range. I've increased my dose by 5mcg now for almost a week and my heart has settled down again.

[NanaV54 in reply to morcan54]

When your levels are low, your heart has to work harder and can actually stiffen your arteries, long term. Low levels also weaken your respiratory muscles and makes it harder to breath. Many symptoms of under replacement feel the same as over replacement... Which is why you need to go by your thyroid hormones levels (FT3 and Ft4) and not just TSH.

[Buddy195 Administrator]

How long have you been taking 75mcg? Is it always the same brand?

I just wanted to reassure you that it took me months to feel well & find an optimal dose. I need to increase ‘super slowly’ as otherwise I can get spikes of anxiety. As others have said, you will likely need more not less Levothyroxine.

Have you tried taking a magnesium supplement to help ease anxiety/ aid relaxation? I find magnesium glycinate is easy on the stomach.

[morcan54 in reply to Buddy195]

is six weeks now i raised lt4 levo to 75mg and i started having skiped heart beats tight chest and lots other symptoms and worse anxiety feel as if is too much as in two months droped from tsh12.89 to 2.81 thats why i think maybe is too much now

[Buddy195 Administrator]

I experienced massive anxiety spikes until my optimal dose was reached. With a TSH above 2, pleased be assured that you are not over medicated.

[morcan54 in reply to Buddy195]

i have to wait untill i have bloood test and this will be in another two months or i will reduce in lower and see if i b feel beter .. thanks for advice

[HealthStarDust]

This sounds very bad. I’m similar in that I have not having a good time with Levothyroxine and it’s been a year!

It is often said that you will need to increase your Levothyroxine. However, many of us simply do not feel well on Levothyroxine. I actually feel worse since using it and now I’m considering other brands or trying NDT.

I hope we both work it out.

[morcan54 in reply to HealthStarDust]

i live in cyprus and is only two brands euthyrox and lt4 i tried both . i hope we can find our way to health..soon

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Try taking 50mcg levothyroxine in morning and 25mcg at bedtime

Retest 6-8 weeks after increase in dose

Meanwhile get iron and ferritin levels tested if doctor not tested yet

Low iron/ferritin can cause breathlessness

[morcan54 in reply to SlowDragon]

i canot take iron i have b thalassimia trait but i can take b12 and vit d thank you your advice is a big support thanks

[arTistapple]

I get those symptoms too. It’s hellish. If you do decide to reduce (although I would try SlowDragon suggestion first) please only reduce by the minimum. Otherwise all your hard work getting to here will be held back.

75 mcg is often reported on the Forum as a ‘difficult’ dose. SlowDragon says it’s the dose at which the medication kind of takes over from the failing thyroid itself. I definitely found that dose very difficult. I even got ‘new’ symptoms. Not just raking up old ones.

Times like these I wished I had a hand to hold. Sending a virtual hand hold to you now.

[Singwell in reply to arTistapple]

That is interesting re the handover of thyroid function. I had happily settled on 75mcg or so I thought. And then after about a month my heart started up again. Looking back I realise I'd had symptoms for about 6 weeks. Slowly titrating up now. It's tricky isn't it?

[NanaV54]

I do understand your frustration. Although target TSH for optimal health is usually closer to 1 or 2. Do you have your labs for FT4? Or FT3 (although, I do realize most Drs go by TSH and FT4, believing that everyone can convert T4 into T3, the active hormone that regulates body temp, metabolism, and affects virtually every system in your body, including pulmonary). Low thyroid levels (FT3) can cause the heart to work harder and lessens the ability of the lungs to work as they should, which causes shortness of breath. There are also many deficiencies that have crossover symptoms, and, because you can get those symptoms due to too much, too little, or just because your body is still trying to adjust since, as I said, your thyroid hormones affect EVERY system. Have you been checked for Vit, B12, folate, iron/ferritin, magnesium and zinc? Vit D deficiency is important for conversion of T4 to T3 and absolutely affects moods, depression, etc. Iron deficient anemia can cause shortness of breath also. I found that I had been under-dosed for 4 years! I recently started iron supplements and I creased my Armour by 30. I realized yesterday that I no longer get short of breath going upstairs or going for walks! Please have deficiencies checked, since another change will cause your body to go further into adjustment mode. Without knowing your FT3 or FT4, it's hard to know if you need an adjustment. Low T3 can also cause arteries to become stiff from the effort to pump blood and lead to high blood pressure. It's all a balancing act.

[morcan54 in reply to NanaV54]

ihave very low vit d i tried defferent brands as i have very bad bowell promplems every thing feels not working in my body and mind thaks for support

[NanaV54 in reply to morcan54]

If you have constipation, that is another symptom of too little thyroid. Magnesium supplements may help that, (another common deficiency) or even a small dose of milk of magnesia. Bowel problems can affect absorption, so you may not be getting all of your levo into your system where it's needed. I found a great D3 supplement by "life enhancement". It contains vitamin K2, which helps direct calcium to your bones and teeth and (potentially) helps prevent calcification of the arteries. Someone else mentioned methylated B12 and folate, so it's more easily absorbed. I'm so sorry you are going through this... It's very depressing when it seems it's never getting better. There is a very recent study that found that, not only does Vit D help with mood and the immune system, it has a direct affect on the activation of T3. Have you considered taking your levo at night, before bed, and taking your supplement in the morning? Just be sure to wait 4 hrs after eating and take only with water. It might help so e of your symptoms. Whatever time you take it, try to be consistent. Good luck my dear... Truly hope you get relief soon!

[morcan54 in reply to NanaV54]

i mostly have loose stools i have tried many vit d3 but as my stomach is bad i cant so i stoped i will get something like spray to mouth and hope i will soon feel beter ,, brain fog i feel as if i am loosing my mind i dont remember a lot of things all this i feel since raised levothyroxine thank for advice appreciate a lot

[morcan54 in reply to NanaV54]

thank you i did get blood test but dr only test b12 and vit d d is very low b is 345 she said is fine as for iron suplement i have b thalasimia trait and i cant take iron thnks for advice