Recent drop in meds

[PipL]

I developed low thyroid after having immunotherapy cancer treatment and was prescribed 75mg daily of Levothyroxine, which I've taken for 14 months.

6 months into the 14 months my GP increased my dose to 100mg, even though my consultant was seemingly happy with what he saw from regular cancer treatment blood tests.

My GP requested a new blood test recently and my results showed T4 of 22.5 and TSH 0.17 and she told me that I now needed to reduce my dose back to 75mg.

She didn't want to test or discuss Vitamin D with me and told me to go get it over the counter, no view of dosage to be taken.

Having now read the articles here and what GPs don't test, I have no idea if I am doing right or wrong, or whether these results are good or bad. I have requested a change in GP.

Help!

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Was test result above done early morning and last dose Levo 24 hours before test

Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription

Do you normally take levothyroxine waking or bedtime?

yes it’s ESSENTIAL to test and maintain GOOD vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 when on levothyroxine

Exactly what vitamin supplements are you taking

Suggest you get FULL Thyroid and vitamin testing BEFORE reducing dose

ALWAYS test 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...

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

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning.

Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test

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

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

if …..after test results come through showing you do need to reduce dose Levo

Then you would reduce by SMALL amount initially…..eg 75mcg once a week and 100mcg 6 days

Retest in 6-8 weeks and reassess next step

[PipL in reply to SlowDragon]

GP has already moved me to the lower dose but does want a repeat test in 6-8 weeks so I will ask for a full test. Test was taken at 8.20am but I did take the dose beforehand so that won't have helped. I take it when I first wake but followed medication advice and onl wait 30 mins before breakfast so I will move to 1 hour as suggested previously. And I take no supplements currently but trying to sort that as I also need a calcium supplement due to other meds for cancer remission.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to PipL]

Well Ft4 would be falsely high if taken Levo before test

And TSH is not very low

Recommend you get vitamin levels tested now

NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £31 via

vitamindtest.org.uk

B vitamins and iron test - NHS private test

monitormyhealth.org.uk/anae...

[SlowDragon Administrator]

6 months into the 14 months my GP increased my dose to 100mg,

What were results BEFORE increasing to 100mcg daily

what brand was 75mcg

What brand is 100mcg

I have requested a change in GP.

Difficult to find a GP who understands the complexity of interaction of vitamin levels and thyroid.

Next step is to test and see exactly what your levels are

NHS rarely tests Ft3 and very reluctant to test vitamin levels regularly

[PipL in reply to SlowDragon]

Previous results never shared due to complete test prior to cancer treatment so I don't have that view, but I gather the T4 has shot up.

Brand is Accord initially and now with 75mg its Vencamil

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to PipL]

Many of us find Vencamil is excellent as is lactose free and Mannitol free

So have you already reduced dose to 75mcg

Or do you have enough Accord to remain on 100mcg until you get full testing

If you ordered a test kit it could be with you to do test on Monday or Tuesday

[PipL in reply to SlowDragon]

Its gone - I was due a prescription and I have no 100mg unfortunately.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to PipL]

So you will have to wait ideally 8-10 weeks before retest

It takes longer to settle after dose reduction

But it’s too heavy handed cutting dose by 25%

If you start to feel grim ask for 100mcg and 75mcg on alternate days