Graves Disease Medication

[Kimberleeroy]

I was diagnosed about 2 years ago and had my thyroid killed.  Since then I have been giving Levoxyl.  I am frustrated as every 8 weeks I go in to get tested and my medication is adjusted again.  I have gone up in dose and back down in dose.  Is this normal?

[GravesLady]

For me swinging levels have been the norm the last 11 years.

However, there could be a few possibilities.

Is your TSH in normal range when changing -  changing dose or trying too tweak dose to get better level, when it's really not necessary.

Are you waiting long enough after med. dose for test. I do two test three months apart to see if they confirm each other before to a med. change. Sometimes labs are wrong.  Two different labs can give two different readings. Something might have interfered with test results.

Dose adjustment in some thyroid conditions should be adjusted by the
FT-4, that is, when it's real low compared to TSH and FT-3.

What is the relationship between your FT-4 and FT-3 might be an issue.

Do you have a nodule - sometimes these are hyper functioning and will take over TSH level regardless of med. dose.

If you have Graves' there is a possibility you might have Hashi too, which in this case your levels will swing back and forth between Graves' and Hashi, so changing does will make issue worse.

Find a TSH level that is a happy medium and stay there.  If there is a swing, hopefully the swing either way will still be in Labs range.

Good Luck!  

GL

[DLA]

I played that game, too.  Do you go to an endo specializing in thyroid, or a thyroid specialist?  Do they always give you "LEVOXYL" or do they give you whatever is on hand?  

I was going to my PCP b/c I couldn't find an endo that would listen to me, and he obviously didn't know specifically how to deal with mine.  The idiot pharmacist would give me whatever meds she happened to have on hand.  NEVER suppose to happen.  

My endo now has it regulated with Levothyroxine (happened to be the one I was on when I went to her) at 125mcg.  Unless I have major health issues or get pregnant--not going to happen--my dose should stay the same.  Except that I've read on here that if your weight changes significantly that your dose may need to.  Praying for that one! ;)  Was in hypohell for toooooooo long.

Good luck.
Dac