Levothyroxine - seasonal changes: I’m wondering... - Thyroid UK

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Levothyroxine - seasonal changes

Plasterplate profile image
20 Replies

I’m wondering if anyone else changes there levo dosage in the summer, I’ve just reduced mine by a third, from75 to 50 mcg. A blood test, a few months ago now, showed me right at the top of scale for T4 and TSH, I’m usually mid range on my meds. And in recent weeks I was sleeping 5 or 6 hours a night and I’m usually a good 7 to 8hours, and also noticed awareness of heartbeat, so I decided the levels must be too high and I dropped the dose a few days ago and straight away noticed difference in my nights sleep, so just wondering if anyone else out there does the same, and notices such an immediate difference.

(I’ve been on steady75mcg for 20 ish years and this is third year I’ve noticed the seasonal changes)

Thanks

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Plasterplate
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20 Replies
Anthea55 profile image
Anthea55

Have a look at this recent post

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Plasterplate profile image
Plasterplate in reply toAnthea55

thank you, reassuring to know

Noelnoel profile image
Noelnoel in reply toPlasterplate

Your TSH was at the top of the range? I wouldn’t have been so hasty to reduce my dose

Plasterplate profile image
Plasterplate in reply toNoelnoel

My TSH was 0.4

Noelnoel profile image
Noelnoel in reply toPlasterplate

A blood test, a few months ago now, showed me right at the top of scale for T4 and TSH

I can’t see anywhere that you’ve provided reference ranges. Without those, opinions can’t be offered

Having said that, I’m not qualified to give an opinion other than if the range you have is the usual sort then your TSH was low, not high and your FT4 was moderate, not high, although I do appreciate FT4 may currently be running higher

I’m wondering if anyone else changes there levo dosage in the summer

Many of us do but I don’t usually notice an immediate difference, it takes about 3 days for me to feel an effect and another couple of weeks to feel the full effect, at which point I’ll know if I’ve reduced enough or too much

Plasterplate profile image
Plasterplate in reply toNoelnoel

TF4 was 18.1, either have ever been so high/low before

Plasterplate profile image
Plasterplate in reply toNoelnoel

neither!

Plasterplate profile image
Plasterplate in reply toNoelnoel

FT4….sorry

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply toPlasterplate

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SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

That’s a very large reduction

BEFORE reducing dose …..especially looking at your age

Essential to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Lower vitamin levels more common as we get older

For good conversion of Ft4 (levothyroxine) to Ft3 (active hormone) we must maintain GOOD vitamin levels

What vitamin supplements are you taking

Also VERY important to test TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 together

What is reason for your hypothyroidism

Autoimmune?

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)

T3 ….day before test split T3 as 2 or 3 smaller doses spread through the day, with last dose approximately 8-12 hours before test

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins

Post all about what time of day to test

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Testing options and includes money off codes for private testing

thyroiduk.org/testing/

Medichecks Thyroid plus BOTH TPO and TG antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes BOTH TPO and TG antibodies, cortisol and vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning.

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/testing/thyro...

Link about Hashimoto’s

thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...

Symptoms of hypothyroidism

thyroiduk.org/signs-and-sym...

Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test

support.medichecks.com/hc/e...

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

If, after testing and all vitamins at GOOD levels…..if Ft4 and Ft3 are too high…..initially reducing from 75mcg to 50mcg 2 days a week (a reduction of 50mcg PER WEEK) would perhaps be more suitable

Plasterplate profile image
Plasterplate in reply toSlowDragon

thank you

Plasterplate profile image
Plasterplate in reply toSlowDragon

that’s really helpful

posthinking01 profile image
posthinking01

Yes I reduce when hot weather and increase when cold ! A lot easier perhaps for me as I am on liquid thyroxine !

Plasterplate profile image
Plasterplate in reply toposthinking01

Thanks

Plasterplate profile image
Plasterplate in reply toposthinking01

how much do you reduce by?

posthinking01 profile image
posthinking01 in reply toPlasterplate

Sometimes by 10 mcg or 5 mcg - which is really easy as I said because its liquid ! If you have reduced by an amount more than that and you feel OK and cooler then fine - but it might be a few days before you realise perhaps you have reduced too much but you can increase again. I can always see in my face when I need more !

Plasterplate profile image
Plasterplate in reply toposthinking01

I can use a pill cutter, luckily my dose is divided into to 50mcg and 25 mcg tabs, so doable, and I will also implement slowdragon’s suggestion to reduce weekly. I was obviously doing way to higher reduction.

Reassuring to know its something others do,

Many thanks

Ellie-Louise profile image
Ellie-Louise

@ Plasterplate

Did you notice any difference in your heartbeat? Mine is worrying me atm.

Plasterplate profile image
Plasterplate in reply toEllie-Louise

That and the sleep were what made me reduce, and I haven’t noticed the heartbeat since I started reducing

Ellie-Louise profile image
Ellie-Louise in reply toPlasterplate

Thank you.

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