Advice

[Thelostboys]

Hello everyone my doctor has phoned me and told me my thyroid is hardly functioning i was on Levothyroxine fora year but the side effects were horrific so he told me to stop them. I stopped for two months so they were clear out of my system and had a blood test done he has now prescribed me Eltroxin 25 mg has anyone taken this brand and if so what are the side effects. He told me levothyroxine is in every brand but i hope these work for me.I would appreciate any advice Thank You.

[Jaydee1507 Administrator]

There are no side effects as such from taking Levo although some brands suit some more than others. More likely that not taking enough will be causing you symptoms rather than the hormone itself.

You had a lot of suggestions in your first post here: healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Have you managed to get vitamin levels tested as likely these will be low if not deficient which will make your symptoms a lot worse.

You may indeed go through a period of feeling worse before you begin to feel better. You will need regular blood tests - every 6-8 weeks and dose increases inbetween.

[Thelostboys in reply to Jaydee1507]

Thank you for the list off brands it was very helpful i asked the nurse when i was having my blood test if she would check my vitamins and she said no. I have to go back in six weeks so i will ask again i bought some multivitamins because i am a vegetarian so i knew i would be lacking in something. But she was very ignorant she wouldn’t do it.

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to Thelostboys]

Multivitamins are never recommended in thsi group for multiple reasons including not high enough dose to raise your level to optimal, poor quality, inactive vitamins, contain iodine which isnt recommended etc

If you are vegetarian then at a minimum you should be taking a high dose B12 mouth spray or sublingual. Either 1 of these would be good:

cytoplan.co.uk/vitamin-b12-...

amazon.co.uk/Better-You-Boo...

GPs arent obliged to test vitamins but sometimes they will. If they wont then you need to take responsibility and buy a private blood test as many thousands of members in this group already do.

See link for companies offering private blood tests & discount codes, some offer a blood draw service at an extra cost. thyroiduk.org/testing/priva...

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.

[Thelostboys in reply to Jaydee1507]

Thank you for letting me know 😊

[greygoose]

Yes, levothyroxine is in all the brands: that's why you're taking it. It's the thyroid hormone T4. It's thyroid hormone replacement replacing the hormone that your thyroid can no-longer make enough of. Because you cannot live without thyroid hormone.

What differs is the fillers/excipients. And sometimes some people find that certain of the fillers don't agree with them. That's why it's a good idea to try different brands. But doctors don't seem to understand that.

But, be aware, 25 mcg is only a very small dose, and starting on a dose that is too small can often cause more problems than it solves by making you more hypo. Another thing doctors don't understand. Were you taking only 25 mcg before? If so, that could have been the problem rather than the tablets themselves. Plus, it's not unusual for symptoms to exacerbate when starting levo, or for new ones to appear. Your body has been existing on too low levels of thyroid hormone for too long and has adjusted and adapted to that. Now, starting levo, it has to adjust and adapt all over again, only more brutally. Because your hypothyroidism came on slowly, bit by bit, but you're suddenly hitting it with a 'large' dose of hormone all in one go. You can't blame it if it complains.

[Thelostboys in reply to greygoose]

No i don’t suppose i can 🤣 i was on 50 mg i have to go back in six weeks i really hope i can tolerate the new brand i feel so bad. The nurse wasn’t very helpful she wouldn’t check my vitamins thank you for replying.

[greygoose in reply to Thelostboys]

You're welcome.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

as a vegetarian likely low iron/ferritin and B12

Suggest you get tested yourself and look at improving low vitamin levels

50mcg levothyroxine is only the standard STARTER dose of Levo

How long were you left on just 50mcg

Levo doesn’t “top up” failing thyroid….it replaces it

Typically dose is increased SLOWLY upwards in 25mcg steps after each blood test until TSH around 1, Ft4 and Ft3 at least 60-70% through range. Typically this might be approximately 1.6mcg per kilo of your weight per day

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose change or brand change in levothyroxine

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested

Also both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once to see if your hypothyroidism is autoimmune

Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum

Low vitamin levels are extremely common when hypothyroid, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease

About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease, usually diagnosed by high TPO and/or high TG thyroid antibodies

Autoimmune thyroid disease with goitre is Hashimoto’s

Autoimmune thyroid disease without goitre is Ord’s thyroiditis.

Both are autoimmune and generally called Hashimoto’s.

Significant minority of Hashimoto’s patients only have high TG antibodies (thyroglobulin)

20% of autoimmune thyroid patients never have high thyroid antibodies and ultrasound scan of thyroid can get diagnosis

In U.K. medics hardly ever refer to autoimmune thyroid disease as Hashimoto’s (or Ord’s thyroiditis)

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)

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