Hi, I am new to the forum. Was started on 25mg levothyroxine and felt better. However, after 8 weeks my results were
TSH - 12.2
T4 - 15.1
Thyroid peridoxaise Antibody - 188
So advised to increase dose to 50mg levothyroxine. After 10 days of increasing the dose I felt the worst I’ve ever felt. Severe depression and anxiety, constantly overheating, insomnia, bloating and constipation.
After only two days on decreasing to 25mg, my mood is better, I’m not as anxious and not constantly overheating. The bloating and constipation is going to take a little more time to improve! I know I should be taking more levothyroxine, but not sure why I had reacted in this way to the increase in dose.
Advice would be greatly appreciated 😀
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Lunar12
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What brand of Levo are you taking? Was the 50mcg brand the same as the 25mcg?
Can you edit the post to add ranges (in brackets after results) as these can vary between laboratories.
Do you know if FT3 was tested at all?
High thyroid antibodies show your condition is autoimmune (often referred to as Hashimotos)? Auto immune thyroid conditions often turn in families (although in my case I seem to be the only one!)
Anxiety has been the worst symptom of having a thyroid condition for me and it is always worse if I increase medication too quickly. I’m now a fan of ‘low and slow’- adjusting by 12.5mcg (even alternate days at first) until well tolerated. I suggest you try this approach when adjusting if you’ve had adverse effects. Highly likely you will need several small increases (as TSH should alone under 2, with many members reporting they feel best when this falls to 1 or under).
Also key is to have key thyroid vitamins optimal- ferritin, folate, B12 and vit D. Have you tested these at all?
If your GP is unable to complete all the above (eg if FT4 is within range, some surgeries may not be able to access FT3 tests), you could look to do this privately, as many forum members do, for a better picture of your thyroid health:
Thanks buddy 195, I’ll try and edit results using brackets. You are right the 25mg dose was Wockhardt and 50 mg was Hillcross. I’ll ask GP for Wockhardt again as reading other posts - others have mentioned experiencing side effects with other makes. Good idea about the 12.5mg increase, on alternate days to start with. Much appreciated 😀
Welcome aboard...Hillcross is likely the culprit as it is actually Teva which many people can't tolerate due to the excipients, if you have enough Wockhardt I'd suggest doubling up on those until you can get your prescription altered
I'll just go and have a look who makes 50mcg tablets
Thinking about it, as you are on the way up through the doses it would be worth requesting Vencamil which doesn't contain lactose, acacia or mannitol and as they have now bought out a full range of doses there'd be no more worry when altering your dosage to suit you....
Hillcross (Teva) can contain mannitol and acacia, one other or both can cause the issues you mention... though having just checked Hillcross 50mcg don't contain either it's just the 25mcg which is boxed as Hillcross with Teva inside 😖
I've just been updating my brain re-reading through 🍄's brilliant document!.... I hadn't realized that the new Wockhardt will do all dose sizes too but not actually available yet 😬
Eltroxin is Mercury Pharma Levothyroxine they do 50mg and 25mcg. Teva made me really ill so endocrinology prescribed Eltroxin. So that’s another option.
The UK document contains up-to-date versions of the Summary Matrixes for levothyroxine tablets, oral solutions and liothyronine available in the UK. Includes injectables and descriptions of tablet markings which allow identification. Latest updates include all declared ingredients for all UK-licensed products and links to Patient Information Leaflets, Dictionary of Medicines and Devices (dm+d), British National Formulary, NHS Drug Tariff, etc. PLUS how to write prescriptions in Appendix F.
Now also includes latest pricing information from dm+d..
Also includes links for anti-thyroid medicines (but not product details).
In a moment of brain clarity, I’ve just had a look at your blog and levothyroxine matrix and they’re both amazing. Thank you so much for compiling this for the less organised of us. I myself am very grateful to have this to refer to. I just hope my brain, which seems to be full of candyfloss, can actually remember to refer back to this when I need. That’s my fundamental flaw I think 🤣 memories just seem to fall right through.
I’m sure people do actually appreciate the hard work but just don’t express it at the time, I hope you know that. We are all here as we know how hard it is to navigate the thyroid minefield and sometimes I think we are so intent on trying to fix ourselves we forget to thank those that have helped along the way. So a very big thank you.
Of course! It's more that I think some people miss out by not realising. It is so easy to see "Here's a list" and just walk on by. I do it all the time. I know it has helped people.
You can cut in half with pill cutter or sharp craft scalpel
Suggest you get a weekly pill dispenser
Makes it easy to store cut tablets and easier to see if missed a dose
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
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
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
you should check with a doc or endocrinologist re your HRT and levothyroxine. As you are taking a HRT that contains estrogen, estrogen can block your thyroid from working properly. It affects how the levothyroxine is absorbed. I know as I was taking HRT for a very short period and it affected my TSH levels, 2 days after I had started the HRT I woke up feeling anxiety and panic attack, I consulted my GP and she was like it can’t be that and wouldn’t give me a blood form as I’d only just had my TSH t4 and t3 tested on nhs. So I had a private blood test done 5 days later, went from being 1.24 tsh and a week after taking the HRT it jumped to 5.64. I started doing my own research and was lucky enough to be able to consult with an endocrinologist and he confirmed my fears that the estrogen had messed with my thyroid function. I had to alter my levothyroxine dose to allow for this change. My nhs gp had to admit after my bloods were sent to her that this HRT had affected my thyroid. I too had troubles with the Teva due to the fillers, I’m now on Roseway labs compounded, no side effects at all but not viable in the long run as it’s a very expensive option, £100 for 100 tablets. When I have consulted my endo and needed to increase he would always say do 4 days at the normal dose then increase on the last 3 days, I’m take capsules so they can’t be split but if you have the tablet option you can cut them in half and adjust your dose accordingly. Hope you feel better soon.
Thanks Scruffy, can I ask if you were taking estrogen tablets? The reason I ask is that transdermal estrogen (gel or patches) which is absorbed into the skin isn’t supposed to react with levothyroxine, according to many medical articles on the web.
I was taking estrogen tablets… this did not agree with me. I have heard that patches are safer with thyroid issues. I didn’t really look into it as my doc prescribed them knowing I had the thyroid issue. It was only after I didn’t feel well that I researched myself and realised that I had a problem.
It's also worth noting that, due to the NEW inclusion of gelatin, the NEW Wockhardt formulation is no longer vegetarian/vegan (if that's important to anyone... it is to me)!
HillCross is a made by TEVA. Some people cannot tolerate taking TEVA a result of 12.2 TSH needs to be lower hence why increasing your dose. Many GPS do not test T4 T3 etc and only use TSH. There are hundreds of symptoms related to Hashimotos unfortunately and it's a lucky bag what affects or doesn't affect different people. I know some who have no issues at all with weight sleep etc and people who have put on 4 or 5 Stone and eat exactly the same as someone who loses weight amd have poor sleep too so always exhausted. Hopefully you will get to your optimum levels with everything but it ls just a lottery. Good luck.
I was told by pharmacist not to use any hillcross products at all as they are teva, or use same ingredients. Maybe they were being careful as they have advised me to use the same brands all the time. They make sure they order the same for me every prescription not only levo pills but all of them. Sorry if I upset anyone, not intentional, but I have severe allergic reactions to both teva and penicillin so maybe some connection.
It sounds like your pharmacist has not explained very well.
AAH Hillcross products are the products of several manufacturers packaged for AAH Hillcross.
For some medicines, the manufacturer of a product supplied in AAH Hillcross packaging could change between batches. But this never happened with the other levothyroxine products in packaging of Almus and Northstar.
And if all AAH products were Teva, how very odd that the 50 and 100 microgram products are Accord!
You can always check the box - it will state the manufacture and the PL number on the outside. No need to open the pack. So, before you go to a pharmacy, look up the PL numbers - make a note of them - and check at the counter.
I'm having some of the same issues. I'm on 87.5mg but my TSH came in at 4.2. I increased to 100mg a day and I experience overheating, racing heartbeat at night, and bloatedness. My plan us to do 87.5 one day then 100 the next. I'm using Pharmamercury brand as I had a terrible reaction to Alums / Accord. Funny thing is I was using this brand for ages then I get a reaction and it happened twice. My Folate came in lowish, so started taking a supplement. Removed refined sugar from my diet as watched the Glucose Goddess series. I was eating too much sugary stuff so see if that helps. Also no gluten. I'm trying so hard to try different things, just want to feel btr 😀
Sorry lunar I'm sill trying to figure mine out. Best thing is to go to the GP further medical attention. Incorrect thyroid tablets can cause side affects. Unfortunately with mine I knew it needed to be upped to 75mg because I felt tired, agitated, angry, mood swings. I had my T3, T4 done at hospital for free as I'm under a hospital.at present for other reasons.
Stress is a big one and lack of sleep. These can impact on your symptoms
But just cause I got those symptoms doesn't mean everyone suffers same as all bodies are diff Hope this helps
Started on 25mg on a certain brand, felt unwell, assumed more levothyroxine was needed, increased dose to 50mg, felt overheating anxious unwell, down, not good.
Decreased dose to 25mg Wockhardt and after a while felt more like myself again. This time though, I started exercising which had a MASSIVE positive effect. Felt more stable, energy levels up, no grogginess and generally better.
I know you may get scoffed at here for being on 25mg but it worked for me!!!!!
All the best for the future, and I hope you find the balance
I'd not scoff at all. You need what you need - neither more, nor less.
I'd only be somewhat surprised if it proves to be sufficient in the longer-term.
Going from 25 to 50, while it might look like a modest increment is, nonetheless, a 100% increase in dose. A halfway-house of 37.5 might be a better next step, should an increment be needed.
Hormones even chemical replacements are powerful. Is it possible that you may not be converting from T4 to T3 . It happened to me that is why I am asking . Good luck
After 4 3/4 years of feeling more and more awful like I was hyperthyroid I finally got the courage to do something on my own. I was always taught not to be your own doctor or else you have a fool for a doctor , but I couldn't take it . I started with drawing myself from the levothyroxine, but I was watching my diet and used supplements . I read a lot and used what I read as guidance. I did tell the doctor who was not at all happy. His response a little bit of anything won't hurt you. I knew with hormones even replacements that was not true. The problem with getting misdiagnosed and placed on a medication it can trigger all sorts of thing that are occurring due to the drug and not organically . There is a doctor who does extensive podcasts on You Tube about the thyroid who does a great job explaining function and that is how I figured out what had happened to me. If my then doctor had done any investigation besides TSH maybe I wouldn't have suffered so cause I had zero symptoms . I think here in the U.S. some doctors, many doctors get fixated on building "Problem Lists" and writing scripts they convince themselves they are doing no harm . Now after trying to balance nutrition I have settled on a T3 Conversion Booster supplement which I have been on for about 2 1/2 months and I really am convinced by how I feel I I have finally solved the mystery of what happened to me . Lots of my symptoms did go away after I had stopped Levothyroxine , but there was still muscle and joint issues , balance issues , and foggy vision I had to contend with , but I do seriously think I am seeing some improvement . I really like the topical organic castor oil for my dry eyes . I followed Heidi's recommendations from Rain Country Homestead. I don't think the site will have a problem with me mentioning her cause she doesn't sell herbs or supplements, but she seems to give good guidance on use, but I always tell people read and think for yourself. Even trusting doctors blindly is a HUGE MISTAKE! If things don't make sense or are not helping question and even challenge after all it is your life! Best of luck
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