taking 200 mcg for 10 days instead of 25 mcg-what is effect?

[gillian00]

My doctor's office called in a prescription to the pharmacy because of elevated TSH levels.  What I picked up was 200 mcg of Levothyroxine and took for 10 days.  After asking for a copy of the blood test results found TSH was 5.72; and also from research learned that 200 mcg was considered a high dose and seemed high for my level; During the 10 days I could tell I was very high energy, had headaches, sweating, insomnia.  Called the dr office to verify dose and found that it was 0.025 mg converting to 25 mcg (although was told this was 250 mcg by receptionist) and was told to go to pharmacy to figure out what I was supposed to have.  Pharmacist confirmed that I'd been given the wrong dose and it was pharmacy error.  He called dr office who did not talk to me but told him that I did not need to take blood test but should just start taking lower dose.  
I am concerned that I just started on this treatment and had taken 2000 mcg in the course of 10 days instead of 250, and that with the half life that the larger dose would remain in my system at least 6 to 7 days (more of my research).  I'm not comfortable with the lack of communication or concern regarding this with the doctor's office.  The Pharmacist was very upset and concerned.
Should I do anything else?  I have stopped taking the levothroxine as I am still feeling slight effects I think, and was going to wait a week to start taking the lower dose.  I am wondering if I should be concerned about the effects of taking the high dose for that length of time.

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

Not much else to do -- the med will clear in the next 1-2 weeks for the most part.  Would not restart the 25mcg dose for at least 2 weeks to allow the higher dose to level out.  If you are starting feeling better, then this is the best course of action.

[MS Hashi]

T4 has a half life of approximately 8 days, it will be in your system a while. My estimate using the calculator below shows you may have built up to approx. 130mcg in your system. You should therefore be off it for about 2 weeks to get down to the 25mcg level.

www.siggies.wizkids.co.uk/siggies/archives/ProjectedDoseChanges1.xls


Good luck.