Hi I've been taking Levothyroxine for about 10 years. I had blood tests recently and my TSH was 5.78 and T4 was normal at 13. I really don't like taking Levothyroxine. Is there any case that I can stop taking Levothyroxine? Am I subclinical?
Many thanks
Mika
How much Levo do you take and why dont you like taking it? With those results you are actually undermedicated and need more, not less Levo.
We do get members who cut right back on Levo or even stop it altogether and many initially feel good, but eventually the hypo symptoms return with a vengeance and it can make you feel very unwell. I've done it myself, I think many of us wonder if we really need it or if our thyroid can make enough hormone by itself.
Do you feel unwell on it? It could be the brand you take doesnt suit you or you're simply not on enough to make you feel better. If you could tell us more we might be able to advise you better 😊
Your results suggest you are in need of dose INCREASE in Levo
How much are you taking
Which brand
Request 25mcg dose increase in Levo and retest in 6-8 weeks
Guidelines of dose Levo by weight
approx how much do you weigh in kilo
Even if we frequently start on only 50mcg, most people need to increase levothyroxine dose slowly upwards in 25mcg steps (retesting 6-8 weeks after each increase) until eventually on, or near full replacement dose
pathlabs.rlbuht.nhs.uk/tft_...
Guiding Treatment with Thyroxine:
In the majority of patients 50-100 μg thyroxine can be used as the starting dose. Alterations in dose are achieved by using 25-50 μg increments and adequacy of the new dose can be confirmed by repeat measurement of TSH after 2-3 months.
The majority of patients will be clinically euthyroid with a ‘normal’ TSH and having thyroxine replacement in the range 75-150 μg/day (1.6ug/Kg on average).
The recommended approach is to titrate thyroxine therapy against the TSH concentration whilst assessing clinical well-being. The target is a serum TSH within the reference range.
……The primary target of thyroxine replacement therapy is to make the patient feel well and to achieve a serum TSH that is within the reference range. The corresponding FT4 will be within or slightly above its reference range.
The minimum period to achieve stable concentrations after a change in dose of thyroxine is two months and thyroid function tests should not normally be requested before this period has elapsed.
Some people need a bit less than guidelines, some a bit more
NICE guidelines on full replacement dose
nice.org.uk/guidance/ng145/...
1.3.6
Consider starting levothyroxine at a dosage of 1.6 micrograms per kilogram of body weight per day (rounded to the nearest 25 micrograms) for adults under 65 with primary hypothyroidism and no history of cardiovascular disease.
Also here
cks.nice.org.uk/topics/hypo...
TSH should be under 2 as an absolute maximum when on levothyroxine
gponline.com/endocrinology-...
Graph showing median TSH in healthy population is 1-1.5
web.archive.org/web/2004060...
Comprehensive list of references for needing LOW TSH on levothyroxine
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu....
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi...
If symptoms of hypothyroidism persist despite normalisation of TSH, the dose of levothyroxine can be titrated further to place the TSH in the lower part of the reference range or even slightly below (i.e., TSH: 0.1–2.0 mU/L), but avoiding TSH < 0.1 mU/L. Use of alternate day dosing of different levothyroxine strengths may be needed to achieve this (e.g., 100 mcg for 4 days; 125 mcg for 3 days weekly).
Retesting after increasing dose Levo
Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose change or brand change in levothyroxine
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested
Also both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once to see if your hypothyroidism is autoimmune
Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum
Low vitamin levels are extremely common when hypothyroid, especially when hypothyroid as you currently are and/or with autoimmune thyroid disease
Request GP test vitamin levels NOW
About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease, usually diagnosed by high TPO and/or high TG thyroid antibodies
Autoimmune thyroid disease with goitre is Hashimoto’s
Autoimmune thyroid disease without goitre is Ord’s thyroiditis.
Both are autoimmune and generally called Hashimoto’s.
Significant minority of Hashimoto’s patients only have high TG antibodies (thyroglobulin)
20% of autoimmune thyroid patients never have high thyroid antibodies and ultrasound scan of thyroid can get diagnosis
In U.K. medics hardly ever refer to autoimmune thyroid disease as Hashimoto’s (or Ord’s thyroiditis)
Recommended that all thyroid blood tests 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
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...
Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning.
Link about thyroid blood tests
thyroiduk.org/testing/thyro...
Link about Hashimoto’s
thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...
Symptoms of hypothyroidism
thyroiduk.org/signs-and-sym...
Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test
support.medichecks.com/hc/e...
Medichecks and BH also offer private blood draw at clinic near you, or private nurse to your own home…..for an extra fee
Hi everyone,
Thank you all for your responses they are very informative. I really appreciate it.
I'm turning 60yrs in a couple of weeks. I take 100mg of Levothyroxine every morning. The brand is Wockhardt and I take four 25mg tablets daily. I had some blood tests done yesterday and I will get the results next week. I was never told by my GP if I had Hashimotos. I will ask to be tested for this. Recently I've been feeling fatigued and exhausted . I don't like taking Levothyroxine although I know I have to. I would like to try natural thyroid like Armour. In the past I have tried to go to see private doctors but they said they wouldn't recommend it. I have tried other brands like pharma mercury I think it's called but I didn't like it. I'll see if there are other brands available. After talking to my GP next week to check my results I will increase my dose.
Only the other day I requested for my vitamin D levels to be checked and I will get the results next week.
In the past few months I have felt exhausted and not wanting to go out.
I weigh 13 stone. I'm going to eat more healthier and exercise to try to lose 1 stone. I started taking B12 supplement last week. A friend of a friend has Hashimotos and she recommended I take B12 and vitamin D supplements. She never felt well on Levothyroxine and shes now on the natural thyroid and she feels a lot better. Is anyone here taking natural thyroid?
Thank you all again for your help.
Mika
My update on my TSH level.
Confused about my blood levels 😕
Can't increase my iron levels
My levels 
T3 levels - my recent results
