Hi, I upped my levo dose from 50 to 75mcg on 27.2.25 as I still wasn't feeling great (tired, low mood) and my latest blood results on 21.2.25 were TSH 4.64 (0.27-4.2) T4 13.9 (12-22). Vit D test result 7 March 146.95 (50.1-220) - I supplement 5000iu per day. Nothing has improved, I feel devoid of personality, I've become emotionally unstable and want to cry a lot without real cause. Then two days ago I woke up with compromised hearing in one ear. The pharmacist had a look and there is no wax blockage. I see that hypothyroidism and hearing loss are connected. Any advice appreciated on both the hearing issues and the depression. Have I increased too much? This treatment, ie Levo, which was supposed to help me seems to be doing nothing but bringing me down and, although I have every reason to be happy (and I am at heart a happy, energetic person) I feel I'm losing myself. Thank you.
Levo and hearing issues?: Hi, I upped my levo... - Thyroid UK
Levo and hearing issues?
Everything you're saying above relates to being hypo. You're under-medicated and still hypo. Even 75 mcg is only a small dose, and levo is not going to help you unless you take enough of it.
Unfortunately, we have to go very slowly: starting on a low dose and increasing by small amounts. But going any faster would be countre-productive and you'd end up back where you started. Patience is the key. Nothing happens rapidly with hormones. 
Retest thyroid levels just before or just after Easter
Likely ready for next increase to 100mcg by then
Very helpful profile
Have note added to all future prescriptions “no Teva”
Which brand levothyroxine are you currently taking
Thanks for your response. I'm taking Almus/Accord and have a note on my records/prescription "Almus only". They don't supply 25mcg so I'm cutting 50s in half. The doctor is yet to approve my dose increase and I will run out before the next script is available. I have an appointment in 2 weeks time which is cutting it fine. I've diarised 10 April to retest which will be 6 weeks since increasing dose. Have you come across hearing loss? The internet says levo can cause it. I hope it is temporary. Thanks again.
SD can that be true that T4 can cause hearing problems, I would be very interested
Re hearing loss. Before being diagnosed I became severely hypothyroid (TSH nearly 200) and one symptom ( of many) was hearing loss. I had to keep asking people to repeat themselves and come closer so I could hear them. It was awful. Once treated it resolved thank goodness. I would say your hearing loss is more likely due to not being adequately treated yet rather than side effect of tablets.
Have you come across hearing loss?
Being hypo can cause (temporary) hearing loss …..sounds like you have cotton wool in your ears
I wonder whether I should reduce my dose either to 62.5 or back to 50. I wasn't feeling 100% on 50 but can barely function after 3 1/2 weeks on 75, and the hearing loss has crept in on the higher dose. It seems I'm much much worse on 75 despite the numbers. By much worse, I mean staying in bed and cannot stop myself from crying much of the time. I just want to add THIS IS NOT ME! I've always been a strong person.
As others have said, the 75mcg is the most difficult dose to cope with
It’s enough to virtually shut your own thyroid output down, but not enough to offer full support
You could try splitting the dose
Taking 50mcg in morning and 25mcg at bedtime (or vice versa)
Try to stick with it …..3 and half weeks…..it’s only just beginning to build your level up you will start to see improvements by 5-7 weeks
Retest at 6-8 weeks
Likely ready for next increase by then
Years ago when I started I didn't feel too bad on 50 Levo per day. I hated 75 Levo a day. I felt horrible on that. But started to improve on 100. Eventually I settled on 125mcg Levo a day for quite some time. So I'm afraid it's horrible, but you just have to stick with it and low and slow is the way to go. Increases of 25mcg Levo a day, sometimes we need to cut that pill in half and just take 12.5mcg a day. Wait 8 weeks and then retest. It takes at least 6 weeks for the hormones to level out and for some problems to start being addressed by your body.
Remember you might not look it, but this is an illness. You are sick and must cut yourself some slack. Tell your family how rubbish you feel and that you can't do what you would normally do for them. Rest often. Sleep. And don't push yourself. No amount of gym or exercise will help you, in fact it will make it worse. That all comes back later.
Thank you for your reply. I don't want to upset my husband by letting him know how bad I feel. I don't want anyone to worry about me. Thanks for sharing your experience. Running and fitness is part of what makes me whole and has been my safe place when life has thrown challenges. But I hear what you say and am not doing it, despite my "use it or lose it" belief, especially at my age. You're right, I don't look sick which makes it harder to share how I feel because I feel people will think I'm making a fuss. Each day I wake up hoping I'll have turned a corner. I hope the hearing will resolve. I was gutted to discover this too could be Hypo/Levo related.
You are on a very low dose still. This medication doesn't top up our failing thyroid gland, it shuts it down and takes over. That's fine, because yours wasn't working properly anymore and you TSH was getting higher in order to thrash your thyroid gland into producing moe hormone. That's a hiding to nowhere long term. In the early days you reach a point where it's shutting down but you aren't taking enough to fully resupply your body. But you still have to go slow.
The thyroid is our battery pack and right now not only are your batteries pretty flat, someone has unplugged the charger. I can't imagine going through what you are going through and not telling your husband how you feel. That's not a good plan. It can take many months to get this right, you will need his help and support. You can't help how it makes you feel and what to stops you doing. You just have to keep going. For your own sake, please tell him. I tried to hide my disease from family and friends for years (never my husband, he's my rock, I need his support and help). It was a bad idea. The friends got bored and started to think I was just lazy and my mum just ignored my slowing down and continued to keep asking me to do things for her and being a bit critical when I wasn't doing what she thought I should be doing. Not all of us get well on Levothyroxine so my journey is measuring in years not months. But I never give up. I will ride a bike again and do my gardening all by myself. I will be able to go for cross country hikes again. But it takes work.
I will cross everything for you that you are able to achieve full return to health quickly on Levo. Many thousands of people do. Those of us here tend to be here because we have problems and have to try to sort themselves out with help from others who make have gone through similar. But it's a lifelong condition that you have to manage now, don't hide it from your closest supporters.
Hi Fancy Pants I have very recently joined this forum , mainly out of desperation, having read your messages and some similar, I am so glad I have, as you have literally described my current condition. I decided to read your message out aloud to my husband and half way through it I burst into tears as it sounded like I had written it. The long and the short of it, is I have been pretty unwell for the past 22 months having regular tests and scans, seeing various consultants. I am currently being monitored by Cardiology, Neurology and Spinal Orthopaedics. Now Finally having had a recent consultation with a surgeon who specialises in thyroid, I feel that there maybe light at the end of my tunnel.
My symptoms have been endless, however now that I have been prescribed thyroxine I have started seeing some improvement , however I am fully aware that things won't be getting better over night. I was diagnosed with hashimotos disease 28 years ago having had a partial thyroidectomy/ Parathyroidectomy due to a large goitre. For the past 24 years like you I have lived a full and active life swimming, cycling , kayaking and working very hard for the nhs aswell as caring for family members. So I would just like to thank you for posting that message.
*Tge1230 * I tried to conceal my pain , weakness and overwhelming sadness etc from my husband , kids, family and friends. Only to find they were going along with me. They are now all my rocks that are helping me through a pretty rubbish time.
* Fancy Pants* I will also ride my bike again one day and I most certainly will be laughing out loud when I do so 🙃
What a lovely reply. Thank you for taking all the comments on board and talking to your husband about them too. Print them out and stick them in a notebook so that you have easy reference to them for the inevitable wobbles to come on this difficult journey.
We have to really learn about this condition. We can't rely on our doctors. They just aren't good enough.
Please let me encourage you about running! I loved running in my 30s+40s but then life took over - job, kids etc etc. Then time went by+my underactive thyroid was not well managed by GP practice+I looked and felt like Michelin man for so long! Fast forward to my seeing private Endo from Thyroid UKs list, and here I am aged 75 running again!! I mix it with speed walking as I build up my time and it feels so good! She don't give up. Keep getting info+encouragement here+believe you will improve and you will begin to run again - and I am sure that will happen when you are on the correct dose of T4 or T4/T3 combo!! Give yourself time. Be kind to yourself and allow friends+family to be your support, as well as here on this wonderful forum.
Well done Lottyplum . That's wonderful news. And well done you for getting back into it. My aim is to get back on a bike, to walk across the fields again and to get back into my beloved hula hoops. But I currently have terrible neuropathy in my feet and heaviness and pain in my legs so even walking down the garden hurts right now. I'm trying to find answers, but it's very hard.
Have you heard of Dr Eric Berg? He is very good at explaining how different vitamin+minerals impact on different parts of the body, ie if you have certain symptoms it could mean lack of or low specific vitamins or minerals. He discharged sses co factors to a variety of vitamin bs, ie you need your Vit D3/K2 along with magnesium. You may find it helpful to look him up - he can be found on YouTube and Facebook. I do trust you find the help you need.
I've long been aware of and watched his videos, but thank you. He's definitely one of the good ones. My vitamins and minerals have been watched for a long time, I test them twice a year. I struggle to raise them with supplements, but over time it's got better. I suspect my next, imminent, set of iron bloods will be interesting as I had a series of serious nosebleeds in November and lost way too much blood for my liking. I'm on iron (3-Arrows Heme Iron) but I still think it's going to come in low. I take magnesium and Vitamin D3 with K2 (BetterYou spray). I take my magnesium at night though and my D3 spray in the morning.
Check out Gary Brecka - another guy with great info that GPs don't seem to have a clue about to benefit out long term health. Again, he is on Facebook+YouTube. 👍
That's exactly what I am going through, I am in constant pain with my legs and although most days I do manage to accompany my husband on a short dog walk, by the end of the day they sort of seize up. Some days I struggle to get out of bed, because of the weakness. However since changing from nerve pain killers (Pregablin and Notriptyline) to an anti inflammatory (Naproxen) I have seen some improvement. I used to go to bed hoping that I wouldn't wake up the next day as the pain was so unbearable , thankfully that is nt the case now , as the pain is more of a discomfort. My arms were also very weak, I had to support them with pillows, I often wonder now, how on earth I got through those days. My consultants have been very good sending me for various tests, nerve conduction, mri' s , numerous blood tests. They are finding it difficult to get to the root of the cause, as I also have mild spinal stenosis. So here I am in limbo . But the more I read on this forum , the more I am convinced it is my Hashimotos, causing the many issues.Initially I had Blurred vision, had
terrible hair loss, and talked
gibberish.
My lack of concentration prevented me from watching tv, reading a book and listening to music.
I felt like I was in a dense cloud , some days I was nt even sure if I was going to fall asleep and never wake up , but here I still am, taking each day as it comes, improving slowly with the levothyroxine and the helpful advice on this forum.
Have you any white spots on your finger nails as a lack of zinc can cause hearing loss
Thanks for your response, no white spots.
Hi, as regards the hearing loss, I started with this before I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism, at age 48. However, I believe I was suffering with hypothyroidism at the time the hearing loss was diagnosed. I firmly believe they’re related. I can’t say whether or not the levothyroxine makes it worse. I do feel that my ears are dry and itchy though. I have asked my audiologist if the hearing loss could be a result of the disease, but they just put it down to genetics. I don’t think anyone has researched this.
I totally understand a lot of how you feel and a lot of the time I feel like I’m just going through the motions. I try and tell my husband and family how I feel, but it sounds pathetic even to me. No one really understands what this unseen condition does to you.
I hope you get to where you need to be with your medication and that you feel well enough to do the things you want to do.
Good morningAll of the above is great advice. I will add I have the same in my ears ever since I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism but also it was the same time I was put in medical menopause and there symptoms are very similar. So it's been a long hard road to navigate as I was dealing with various illnesses, anyway 75 is a very small dose and as said you will need a few more weeks to feel if any changes, I upped my dose on 31st Jan from 125mcg per day to 150 and 125 alternative.. It's now end of March and I'm now only just starting to feel some changes, so now I will get my bloods done next month as I feel only then can I get a better result. I hope this helps as time really does matter when we are trying to feel normal. Look up menopause and tinnitus, I am dealing with this as don't sit in silence background white noise helps, if I let it it drives me nuts. I wish you well
I started with tinnitus the day I started levothyroxine. It was too big a dose (100mcg) and ended up in A&E with ischemic irregularity. It felt like syncope, which has not gone away. When I was given Liothyronine, pressure in ears increased like descending in a plane. One day I'll try NDT.
Nowhere else have I read about ears and hypothyroid- this forum is brilliant.
I started with ear problems. Itchy, feeling blocked and tinnitus, which was horrible. All improved with slowly increased dose of levothyroxine. Can I also mention that I suffered from reflux but this manifested as throat and ear problems, so I don't eat after 7pm. All related to thyroid.
Many of us watched The Scottish parliament discussions on the petition lodged by three women. One of the conclusions reached was that if hypothyroidtreatment was unsuccessful the sufferer was in danger of permanent deafness.
I understand. Keep working on it. It took me 2 years to get stable. We'll at least comfortable
hi, was it a pulsing in one ear?
Hi, I wouldn't describe it as pulsing, rather stuffed with cotton wool. Every day I wake up hoping to have a good day but it seems something else gets thrown into the mix. This morning at work my back went. It is confounding that this tablet which was supposed to fix a condition I didn't know I had has made me so Ill, yet I must keep taking it.
Maybe ask for mother brand?
I have had inner ear issues both from being hypo and from Levothyroxine. One thing I don’t see mentioned very often is that levothyroxine is an ototoxic medication. Most people do not have a problem with it but I happen to be one that does. Ototoxic medications can cause hearing loss among other ear issues. A quick google can tell you all about it. I ended up switching to NDT and have not suffered any negative ear impacts. I’m not sure what your situation is but it’s worth looking into.
Thanks, what is NDT?
NDT is natural desiccated thyroid. It’s the treatment made from pig thyroid. In the US you get it with a prescription at the pharmacy. Not sure about the UK. I am a person that cannot tolerate any ototoxic medications. The catch is that being hypo can cause the ear issues also, but specifically it’s the low T3. Levo is a T4 only medication so if you’re not converting T4 to T3 that can also cause ear problems. NDT is high in T3 so it helps with that piece. I have been through the wringer with ear issues and thyroid. I’m sorry you are too.
I couldn't see Levothyroxine on lists of otoxic medications. Could you give the URL of the source you found, thanks 🙏
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articl...
Here’s one. This is mostly about high dose levo. I have a doctor that specializes in ototoxic medications and it’s on the list there. In my experience, the higher the dose and longer you’ve been on it is when the effects happen. I am extremely sensitive so it happened to me fairly quickly on a low dose and some people do well on high doses forever with no problems. Lucky me! (Sarcasm)
ok, from my own experiences....You upped your med on Feb.27, 2025 so thats not all that long ago...I mean you might feel a tad better, but i think at about 8 weeks you would see the improvement if there was one..(a little longer)...Were only at March 22, 2025...Your tsh is still pretty hypo...not off the charts in Canada(where i am), but almost. That reading 4.64 would make me feel empty, and not wanting to do much...I have lost hearing before in my left ear and im hypothyroid, and sometimes get tinnitus..I think though mostly when i was over medicated and maybe my blood pressure was higher...They actually gave me steroids when that happened so i would not permanently lose my hearing..no one checked my blood pressure, but they should have..They even thought i may have had lupus, cause i had a funny ANA, but I dont have lupus...I just think odd stuff with thyroid, Levo and hearing happens..I probably didnt help here, but yup ive had hearing issues and im hypo
Thanks for your response. Did your hearing loss correlate with a higher dose? I'm thinking it can't be a coincidence that my hearing has gone following a dose increase. How long were your periods of hearing loss? Also, what is ANA?
I have just gone through a period of hearing loss in the left ear and a day or two where it was both. I have been getting loss of hearing in the left ear , off and on , for years, even before diagnosed hypo. I believe it is caused by being hypo.
On this occasion, I had dropped T3 by 2.5 mcg the month before and FT4 had dropped 17% and FT3 about 29% as a consequence. I didn't reduce T4 68 mcg. The 68 mcg T4 dose is probably near to what could be a top up for me, or possibly full replacement!!!??
I had it in mind to reduce T3 a further 2.5 mcg depending on blood results , but in light of your post and the replies to it, wonder if the 29% drop in T3 has caused it.
I put olive oil drops in my ear for about 1-2 weeks to soften the ear wax. This is necessary for people to do before getting ears syringed to soften the wax. I wonder, since you say you don't have wax blockage, if hardened wax in the ear might be the problem. I managed to get a small amount of wax from my ear when full of olive oil using my long nails. It looked very old, brown and dirty. That ear has previously been syringed 3 times in the past. Try using a dropper to put olive oil in your ear for a week or two. My hearing is currently back to normal though haven't been able to get warm during the day despite heating on and plenty warm clothing for the past month. I also sense my thyroid currently may be swollen.
Your TSH and FT4 appears to be Central Hypo. I have this problem too. Your TSH looks inappropriate to your FT4.
In my opinion ,a possible root cause of your Central Hypo could be Vit B12 deficiency. The emotional issues etc. could have its roots there as B12 deficiency can affect dopamine and serotonin. See b12oils.com/dopamineparadox.
I don't know what age you are as regards possible menopause or female hormone conditions possibly playing a part.
The website I have quoted basically says that people taking anti depressants ( usually serotonin based) are actually B12 deficient and need to sort that out, as this affects serotonin.
Your post and replies from members have given me food for thought.
Hi, the pharmacist looked in my ears and could clearly see both eardrums, which he said would not be the case if I had wax blockage. I bought some Earcalm, not sure what that's meant to do exactly, but need to be able to say I've tried it when I finally get to see a GP.
Having looked on the internet, I see that being hypo can cause tinnitus/hearing loss and that Levo can actually cure this, but at the same time I see claims that Levo is ototoxic and can cause the same. Very confusing, to state the obvious. Personally, I just hope that this loss is not permanent, and it doesn't fill me with confidence that I'm taking a pill which is actually good for me. It also confuses me that, if Levo is just providing thyroxine which our bodies need, why now am I experiencing hearing loss?! I've never had it before taking Levo and who knows how long I've been subclinically hypo.
What does central hypo mean please?
I'm 56, well into menopause which I had managed without the need for HRT. Whilst I had experienced hot sweats, unreasonable moods and various unwanted states of mind, I was always able to sort it myself, with the help of running, and taking control of my own mindset.
At the risk of heading off on another tangent, at my last appointment I made a flippant comment along the lines of perhaps I should have considered HRT, upon which he wrote me a script for HRT tablets. I had never wanted to take HRT as (a) I seemed to be on top of menopause and (b) I have never ever wanted to take pills to be able to function normally.
I have collected the tablets but haven't taken them (a) because I feel one tablet is better than 2, (b) I figure my body seems to be having enough trouble adapting to Levothyroxine, (c) I will never know what's going on with my body, ie, is it the Levo or HRT which needs tweaking?
B12 result 5.11.24 was 410 (range >178ng/L). Given a range of "more than" it's hard to know whether 410 is OK/good/optimal? What do you think?
Thanks for your response, I'm glad you have found the helpful replies informative too.
Yes, definately up your B12. To work properly you also need all the other B vits. Slow Dragon has plenty of posts explaining this and the importance of Vit D and ferritin too. Some like B12 to be 1000.
If you google Central Hypo there is lots of info, but it is basically a signalling problem where TSH becomes totally unreliable. It is a signalling problem . I am reading some of your previous posts and see you also have antibodies for Hashis autoimmune hypo.
In Central Hypo either or both of the hypothalamus and pituitary can be a problem. I think I have just read that you recently lost your mum. My condolences. Deep grief of that nature, can affect the hypothalamus, which in turn can affect the thyroid. That may be temporary (under range FT4). But you also have antibodies for autoimmune Thyroid disease, which is not temporary.
Thyroid problems and your female hormones are linked but need to be looked at together , and the NHS just hand out HRT without checking female hormones or thyroid. Private menopause clinics look at both at the same time. I would like back on HRT as I checked my estrogen and it is practically non existent, but progesterone is well over range. The NHS would have prescribed both, without checking levels. This would likely alter thyroid levels, yet they will not check thyroid. I think you are right to not take the HRT they have prescribed as you don't know what your female hormone levels are. If all your levels were checked and indicated a need , then I would take HRT. You would likely need to pay a private menopause clinic for this. NHS Menopause Clinic might do what is necessary, but I doubt it.
With the ear thing , I think small hairs, called cilia are involved in hearing. I wonder whether olive oil maybe avoids an over dryness which helps the cilia do their job. This is a personal theory, as I don't actually know.
To know what is going on with your body and how to help it ,realistically means you follow forum advice and test yourself, and use the collective wisdom of forum members to attempt positive change, I'm afraid.
Thanks again for responding and your condolences, although it was several years ago now that I lost my mum.
In February I checked my oestrogen; all said normal but no explanation offered and I paid it no attention. (Follicle-stimulating hormone was 89.1 IU/L (range 25.8 - 134.8), Oestradiol <18.4 pmol/L (range 0-193), Luteinising Hormone 51.3 IU/L (range 7.7 - 58.5).) I didn't explore this any further as there is enough learning to do in the autoimmune/hypo/levo areas!
Re B vits, when 6 weeks have passed since my Levo increase I intend to carry out a private blood test and will get all vitamins tested then, except Vit D which was done recently and is fine I think, at 146.95 (sufficient range 50-220) although I am supplementing with 5000iu per day and spend lots of time outside.
Advice on taking T3 and Levo before a blood test
Morning symptoms after taking Levo
Levo
Levo and gluten free 
Hearing loss, tinnitus and vertigo... my journey update
