I have been taking levothyroxine for 2 weeks.

[AlisonG]

Does anyone know how long it takes to work?

Edited slightly by Admin for clarity

[Jackie]

Hi I am guessing as to what you have said as only got the first few words.

Any thyroid treatment takes a long time to get right. You can be worse before getting any better. Up to a year is an average but depending on your condition it can take a lot longer. For safety you start on a low dose , then it goes up gradually depending on blood results. make sure you have a test for TSH T4 and Free T3, you may well need T3 treatment too,levo is T4 and should convert in the body to T3 but this often does not happen. There are lots of other useful tests too. The most important one is vit D, this is a hormone so greatly effects the thyroid.

Jackie

[Hidden]

Could you type this again in please? It's appeared with no spacing between words and the end of your question is missing.

[Issy]

generally about 6 - 9 months.

[Hidden]

Ihavebeentakinglevothyroxinefor2weeks.Doesanyoneknowhowlongittakestowork?

(for those with no scroll bar)

And As said above, it takes a while to get you levels up to what suits you, anything upto a year. Dont worry about the T3 thing for now, most people do fine on Levo (T4)only once they are at an optimum dose, although you will probably feel at times that its not working. It takes patience to get it right.

[kittyf]

Treatment doesn't work quickly. It's not like taking a pill for a headache. There's no 'magic wand' effect so don't worry if you aren't feeling better already. Over time you should start to feel an improvement but be patient because it can take many months. It might help to keep a diary, if you haven't already, and make sure you go back for regular testing and check ups. It'll take time to find your right dose and keep in mind the level you need can change again. Hang in there. I was close to death when I finally got properly diagnosed (doc's words, not mine) and I felt it, too. Now, a year later, I feel almost back to my old self.

[Heloise]

I think my TSH was around 30 when I started on T4 and felt an effect within a week. My muscles were severely affected by the deficiency and when I started taking the medication I began having muscle spasms mainly up my back. I think I increased the dose once a week for several weeks. We all have different issues, of course, and the body needs time to process all the changes.

[Hidden]

I felt some improvement after a few weeks, but it's only been the last month that I've felt almost like my old self - ten months after diagnosis. The body does seem to need time to get used to the improved thyroid levels again. Good luck.

[irenegrant]

I've been on Levo for four years - and still feel no better! My doctor does not care - I have not had a blood sample taken for well over a year. I asm on 100mcg daily and feel it is doing nothing. Doc says I donlt need another blood sample until DEcember 2013 (last one was August 2011).