How long does Synthroid take to work?

[ipad135]

I just took my second dose of Synthroid this morning (25 mcg). I still feel the same. When should I see improvement?

Thanks!

[blancitaloca]

Hello all,

I was just diagnosed with Hashi's and hypo last week. Started on 50mcg of levothyroxine last Thursday.

TSH:  5.0
T3: 76
T4: 0.9

So, it seems my TSH was a little high and my T3 was a little low.  But my antibodies were 368, which sounds incredibly high to me, but what do I know.  This is all new to me.  My friend did an US on my thyroid to reveal small nodules, which she says, indicates an accurate Hashi's diagnosis.

I have 2 children (3 & 6 1/2), a full-time job, and am 1/2 way through my MBA.  I was so tired I felt like I couldn't last through the day.  So many symptoms, but fatigue, depression and anxiety seem the worst.  I just don't feel like myself.

I guess I am just reaching out to others who are in the same boat for some support and advice.  

[melrose1988]

o lord how did you function at 204! poor thing I'm sorry:( so how long did it take for you to start felling great? I am on week 2 and still feel horrible, and so crazy mine started 5 months after baby as well!

[Ayeshazia]

I had the same issues 3 years ago.had a baby and after 5months i started feeling horrible.cough was bad.musscle aches,no energy,hoarse voice,dizziness,and alot otber things.i was tested for thyroid and belive me my number was 204.since then i m on synthroid 125mcg.i feel great now.

[melrose1988]

I'm hoping it's a postpartum thing! I have NO family history of any thyroid problems and my baby is less than 6 months old which can contribute. I'm getting blood work again in 6-8 weeks so we will see. Probably doesn't help my husband gone for a month and me working full time with 2 little ones;)

[gimel]

I can see why you would be feeling horrible.  Your Free T3 and Free T4 are actually below range.  People frequently have hypo symptoms when their Frees are even in the low end of the range.  It is very infrequently that we see patients with Frees actually below range.  

As mentioned, T4 takes a while to build.  Since your Free T3 is so low and since it largely regulates metabolism and many other body functions, I  think I would ask the doctor to go ahead and add some T3 med to your dosage.  The doctor may disagree and tell you that the T4 med will adequately convert to T3, but that is only a possibility, not a foregone conclusion.  Since scientific studies have shown that Free T3 correlated best with hypo symptoms, I would push for adding maybe 10 mcg of T3.  Then for a week or two I would start on only 5 mcg split into morning and afternoon doses, and then increase to 5 mcg in the morning and 5 in the afternoon.  By then it would be time to go back for testing again.  

Of course that is only my opinion, you need to discuss with your doctor.  And when you do, you should emphasize how horrible you are feeling, and your Free T3 level being even farther below the reference range than Free T4, which indicates some problem with conversion of T4 to T3.  

Since hypo patients are also frequently too low in the ranges for Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin, those need to be tested and supplemented as needed.  D should be about 55-60, B12 in the very upper end of its range, and ferritin about 70 minimum.

[melrose1988]

sorry and NO thyroid issues before baby my thyroid has always been 2-2.6