my doctor has been getting me to reduce my thyroxine now for years based on my suppressed tsh result. My t4 and t3 had gone just above range so I agreed to reduce from 100 mcg every day to 100 mcg for 2 days and then 75 on the 3rd day. They wanted me to go to 75 every day and have stopped me getting 100 mcgs but I managed to get them as a one off. I’ve just had my results in and tsh is still suppressed but t3 has gone from 6.6 to 5 when the range is 3.8-6.6. I don’t think my t3 has ever been as low as 5. If I had done what they wanted and been on 75 every day, then my t3 would have probably been bottom of the range. My t4 is 16.5 (range 8-18) and was 18.1 May 2024.
Do you think I should stay on 100 for 2 days and 75 on third day or ask to go back to 100? Don’t think they’ll agree anyway. I want to at least be able to get 100 mcgs again.
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Tjqui00
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I’m on levothyroxine and always take the same brand. My tsh has been suppressed over 10 years, no matter what dose I’m on. I have gained a few pounds when I don’t usually and feel more tired.
No I haven’t gone gluten or dairy free. Haven’t had my vitamins tested for a while but last time I did, my vitamin b12 had gone up quite a bit after taking vitamins. Vitamin d was 90 I think. I haven’t been taking vitamins as often lately.
Yes, I took last dose 24 hours before and 75 mcg the day before.
I’ve always had good conversion and t3 is usually high end of the range or over range, so this result is the lowest it’s ever been I think. Think if prefer going back up to 100 mcg.
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This is interesting because I have noticed that many patients with Hashimoto’s disease and hypothyroidism, start to feel worse when their ferritin drops below 80 and usually there is hair loss when it drops below 50.
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Does ft4 usually reduce when ft3 raises? Blood test in May, on the same dose, my ft4 and ft3 was above range.
About 52 kg, which is actually the highest weight I’ve been for years, so I have put weight on, on this dose. I was under 50 kg for years, was probably a bit underweight maybe at 5 foot 4.5. I’ve always been slim though.
I am in a similar position as you. My TSH has been suppressed since starting to take levothyroxine more than 20 years ago. I also tried to go down to 75mcg alternating with 100mcg, but my TSH never budged and I became unwell. I need my T4 fairly high, so my T3 can come up to 5.5. I am currently experimenting going 75mcg one day per week (tried 75mcg 2 times but that was a no no).
Ideally, we want the T4 not right on top of the scale, so it might be worth experimenting a bit and trying to lower the dose slightly. Try going slowly and do perhaps 75mcg once per week and see how you feel. You might have to try and stay on it for about 5-6 weeks as apparently you can feel a bit off by week 4-5, but things could improve again after that. See how you go, if its okay, you can try to go 2 x 75mcg and see. It is a bit of trial and error.
The TSH will probably not come up again, but obviously you want to see, if you can tolerate a slightly lower dose. If it works great, if not you can always go up again - but I would try and see. Good luck.
I’m taking 100, 100, then 75, then back to 100. I was on 100 before that. This had made my ft3 go from top of range to now 5 which is the lowest it’s ever been, I don’t want to reduce any further. Do you think my ft4 is too high? If I reduce further, my ft3 will end up being bottom of the range.
Well, 18.1 is right on top of the range, so ideally it would be good to have it a bit lower. Having said that, it really depends on how you are feeling. If you need this to be well and for your T3 being high in range, then you have to have it this way. Still, I would try to do 75mcg for one day a week and see how you get on. If it still does not work, the go back to 100mcg as before, but at least you have given it a try.
mine is 16.5 and range goes up to 18. I’m currently taking 100 for 2 days, then 75 on the 3rd day. Have been for about 6 months. Was on 100 before that for a couple of years. Before that I was on higher.
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