Hi I have recently been to see a functional doctor , very nice lady , and very informative, my next app is in May but I have received my blood results which show my Vit D level still low at 41 even though I take cytoplan D3 and K2 which equates to 4000 Vit D3 a day
My levothyroxine was increased to 75 and almost immediately I started with a very annoying cough three weeks passed still annoying me so I wondered if it could be the Levo so I dropped it and the cough disappeared, I increased it again two days ago cough is back any ideas you lovely people ? Is there a solution for this ?
I will try to attach the thyroid results taken on 75 Levo
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Ozzyfudge
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I'm having same issue. I take my thyroxine. Get a cough, produces mucus. Symptoms ease during the day. Next day, take it again cough returns. If I stop taking it coughing symptoms ease completely. Need the thyroxine though as my tsh was off the chart last time had bloods checked 3 months back. Got in touch with the doctor described symptoms, unfortunately nothing they can do at the minute as they not doing any blood tests.
Going to try breaking up dose into small bits during the day to see what effect of this is.
This has only just started, been taking thyroxine for 10 years. Wondered if ingredients have changed in meds.
Current brand is teva. I have some from a different pharmacy, just by chance which are almus.
Looking at low stomach acid symptoms a few fit. Something to consider and to make a few changes to improve that. Starting to keep a diary of timing of taking tablets and symptoms. Same again today. Took tablets, about 4 hours on cough starts, then tightness in chest. Easing off now. Been looking into t3 and 4 today to see what that's about and whether there's something in that. Looking into the action of the tsh against the t3 and t4. Spoke to gp today, who unfortunately is unable to help due to current issues. He did contact my endo clinic on my behalf to check a few things out but without further bloo I'm stuck.
Many people find Levothyroxine brands are not interchangeable.
Once you find a brand that suits you, best to make sure to only get that one at each prescription.
Watch out for brand change when dose is increased or at repeat prescription.
Many patients do NOT get on well with Teva brand of Levothyroxine. Though it is the only one for lactose intolerant patients. Teva is the only brand that makes 75mcg tablet. So if avoiding Teva for 75mcg dose ask for 25mcg to add to 50mcg or just extra 50mcg tablets to cut in half
Poor conversion common as we get older, especially after menopause
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Ask GP to test vitamin levels
Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .
Last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood test. (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).
This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)
The teva brand is the one I've taken for years without issue. I was given a 25micro of another brand to up my daily dose, issue started then. Now even when I don't take the 25, same results. Will ask about the vits when I'm able to go. Thanks for the advice.
Vit D level still low at 41 even though I take cytoplan D3 and K2 which equates to 4000 Vit D3 a day
Is the unit of measurement nmol/L or ng/ml?
Are you taking your D3/K2 with dietary fat? Both of those vitamins are fat soluble so must be taken with fat to be absorbed.
Are you also taking magnesium? Magnesium helps D3 to work. We need Magnesium so that the body utilises D3, it's required to convert Vit D into it's active form. So it's important we ensure we take magnesium when supplementing with D3.
When you increased Levo from 50 to 75mcg, were you given the same brand or a different brand?
Your folate is below range, what's happening about that?
Hi seaside susie yes I take it with dietary fat I was told by functional doctor it equates to 4000 vit D it reads as UG ?? as she already knew I was taking the better you spray two doses a day 6000 iu , and I also take a teaspoon of magnesium in the evening mag365 as well as taurine , vit c 3000 over three doses , thyroid support complex ( pure encapsulations) x2 a day
And just started in bio care liquid methylfolate as I react strangely if I have too much so only started that this week , YES the makes are different I asked my GP could I try a different make he said their wasn’t a choice ! So I wondered if NDT would be better any ideas would be appreciated , on 75 mcg Levo my antibodies are coming down they were over 300 🙏sorry forgot to add photo of vit D bottle
thyroid support complex ( pure encapsulations) x2 a day
Did your functional doctor suggest taking this? If so, why?
Thyroid support complex supplements generally aren't a good idea, this one certainly isn't. The reason this one isn't good for you is because it contains iodine, 150mcg at the dose you are taking.
Were you tested for iodine deficiency? If not you should have been and only supplement with iodine if confirmed deficiency.
The daily Nutritional Reference Value for iodine is 150mcg. Iodine is easily obtained from a normal diet from milk, yogurt, white fish, etc. A 200ml glass of non-organic milk gives between 50 and 100mcg iodine, one yogurt gives between 50 and 100mcg iodine, 120g haddock gives 390mcg iodine, 120g cod gives 230mcg iodine, so you can see how a normal diet gives a good amount and taking a supplement as well will give far too much.
Many years ago iodine solution used to be used to treat overactive thyroid before the introduction of radioactive iodine treatment, so it can cause hypothyroidism and can make hypothyroidism worse. It is particularly cautioned against where Hashi's is present and your raised antibodies confirm that you have Hashi's. So unless you were tested and found to be iodine deficient you should not be taking any supplement containing iodine.
YES the makes are different I asked my GP could I try a different make he said their wasn’t a choice !
What are the brands of both the 50mcg and 25mcg tablets?
If you didn't have this cough on the 50mcg tablets then there is the choice of getting 75mcg quite easily from this one tablet. Either (1) take 50mcg on day 1 and 100mcg on day 2, alternating like this will average 75mcg. This wont be a problem because Levo is a storage hormone and for most people alternating doesn't cause any problems. Or (2) cut a 50mcg tablet in half and take one and a half tablets every day to give 75mcg.
Ozzyfudge I forgot to mention, the Pure Encapsulations Thyroid Support Complex also contains Ashwagandha which is an adaptogenic herb and some people have found this lowers cortisol.
Hi seaside susie , yes I tried cutting a 50 in half yesterday cough was terrible back down to 50 today and no cough so I dont understand it I really don’t , the makes are
Mercurypharma 25
Actavis 50
Yes it’s <doctor's name removed by Admin as we can't discuss doctors on the forum without their permission> Functional doctor put me on everything , I have to say I feel generally better in
Myself , it’s worrying you say about the iodine i will have to check with her now and question it , thank you 🙏
Personally, I would stick to one brand, the original one and raise dose more slowly, so instead of cutting one in half, cut into quarters so you are adding just an extra 12.5mcg and see if that helps.
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