TSH values when over-medicated with thyroid replacement

[sblumen]

I started on thyroid medicine 1.5 years ago.  At the time my TSH was 4.5 (.5-5.0) my FT4 was .9 (.8-??) Anti-TPO 777 and Anti Tg 291.  Shortly after starting 50 mcg of Levoxyl I was having heart palpitations, nervousness, sweating, insomnia.  TSH was .87.  Doctor had me reduce levoxyl to 6 days per week.  I didn't have the heart palps anymore but I still had the nervousness in my chest etc.  She said the TSH was fine so it wasn't from the thyroid.  This continues for the next year and my insomnia gets worse, I have terrible overheating at night etc.  My TSH was anywhere from .78 to 2.8.

Recently a new doctor told me I had all the symptoms of too much thyroid (my latest TSH was 2.8).  My symptoms were tremor, hyper reflexes, insomnia, frequently overheating, sweating.  He said I was over medicated and did'nt need the thyroid medicine.  I must say the the thyroid meds really helped my cold hands (purple), cold intolerance, undetectable radial pulse though.

I have been off the med for a week and the symptoms I mentioned are better so I do think it was the thyroid meds.

Is it normal to have normal TSH if you are overmedicated and having hyper symptoms?

Does this mean if I do need thyroid meds in the future, we should "target" a higher TSH?

Can someone just not tolerate the thyroid meds at all?

If the TSH didn't detect when I was hyper, is it possible it also wasn't useful for when I had the hypo symptoms?

[lla9]

A related discussion, High TSH levels was started.

[BRODY79]

I have had hypothyroid for just a year now (still working on correct dose for me) I started on a .1 of synthroid, then .112 then alternating then back to .1 (my tsh was low on the .112 and even lower on the .1)  I have just started taking .75 of synthroid.  How do I know if I have hasimotos, my doc a year ago tested everything and she said everything looked good but I had hypothyroid, can you tell from a series of blood panels if you have hasimotos?  Also, with hypo do you need to get a scan of your thyroid?  I never did, my sis and my grandma both had hyperthyroid, my grandma had a goiter.  Should I get one just because of family history even though I am hypo?

[BRODY79]

I have had hypothyroid for just a year now (still working on correct dose for me) I started on a .1 of synthroid, then .112 then alternating then back to .1 (my tsh was low on the .112 and even lower on the .1)  I have just started taking .75 of synthroid.  How do I know if I have hasimotos, my doc a year ago tested everything and she said everything looked good but I had hypothyroid, can you tell from a series of blood panels if you have hasimotos?  Also, with hypo do you need to get a scan of your thyroid?  I never did, my sis and my grandma both had hyperthyroid, my grandma had a goiter.  Should I get one just because of family history even though I am hypo?

[saluda1950]

I`ve been on synthriod for 20 years. I had taken 1.25 mg then my doctor lower it to .88 then after 6 months of suffering from locked bowels ,quit my job because didnt  feel good. they checked tsh it was 15 and he put me on 150mg synthriod. my consipation is better but I`m on 100 of zoloft for depression .he wanted me to try effexorxr since Ive been taking zoloft for 8 years or longer and it s not working as well but Im starting new job and dont want to deal with it. I take lipitor for 10 years and it helped bring my levels down to normal. Im 56 years old had a total hysterctony 10 years ago took premariam 125 for 5 years and quit because of warnings. I developed asthma so i take advair, nubalizer when needed and take priocex every day. Im overweight by 45 lbs . I quit smoking 9 years ago but have alot of alergies . I use flonease and was taking zyrtec. Any help or opinions would be appreciated. I go up and down with mood swings but its worst when i dont work. I got in a gambling mess and filed bankrucy. my husband and i havent had sex for over 5 years. we stay together for convient reasons and finances. we have been together 30 years and tolerate each other.

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

Everyone is different in terms of optimal TSH -- Perhaps a low dose (25mcg) may be better.  Often, there is sensitivity to medications and the dose needs to start low and be slowly inc'd.