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Hypothyroidism has swung to Hyperthyroidism
by RTB94941, Apr 25, 2008 03:12AM
Hi:
I have had hashimoto's disease for 20+ years, and take Generic Levothyroxine for it. I seem to be in a hyperthyrodism swing. In Jan 2007, my TSH measured 0.2. (hyperthyroidism). My Internal Med. Dctr decreased my 0.12 mg levothyroxine to 0.10 mg but a year later, March 2008, my TSH was still at 0.2 and T4 was 1.5.. (It was my fault, not my doctors, that I did not get TSH levels taken sooner than a year.) In March 2008, my doctor reduced Levothyroxine by .05 mg per week ( take .10 for 6 days, take .05 1 day); 6 weeks later the TSH retest is only up to 0.4. and T4(free) is 1.6. Our goal is to reach TSH in range of 1.0, so that I can feel better and more (2) normal.
My Internal Med Dctr is suggesting titrating down the med another .10 mg a week, which means I would take .10 mg 4 days a week, and take .05 mg 3 days a week (M,W,F). And then we would retest TSH in 4 weeks.
Questions: (1)Is this a reasonable approach or can it be titrated to a lower dosage, such as 1.0 for 3 days and 0.05 for 4 days? (Unfortunately, my hyperthyroidism is causing me to gain weight(not lose it), bad joint pain, difficulty writing/concentrating, scattered thinking, and unrestful fidgeting sleep...so I really want to get back to 1.0 range sooner rather than later to see if my symptoms go away.)
I have heard that some generic brands of levothyroxine have been found lacking in quality control and some batches have been found to be more potent than the prescribed tab amount (e.g. .10) , so would it be better if I switched to a brand name Synthyroid. Should I switch to brand name and titrate down at the same time?
Has anyone had similar experience? i tried to post this on the Doctor forum but it was full for today. Thanks for any and all advice.
I have had hashimoto's disease for 20+ years, and take Generic Levothyroxine for it. I seem to be in a hyperthyrodism swing. In Jan 2007, my TSH measured 0.2. (hyperthyroidism). My Internal Med. Dctr decreased my 0.12 mg levothyroxine to 0.10 mg but a year later, March 2008, my TSH was still at 0.2 and T4 was 1.5.. (It was my fault, not my doctors, that I did not get TSH levels taken sooner than a year.) In March 2008, my doctor reduced Levothyroxine by .05 mg per week ( take .10 for 6 days, take .05 1 day); 6 weeks later the TSH retest is only up to 0.4. and T4(free) is 1.6. Our goal is to reach TSH in range of 1.0, so that I can feel better and more (2) normal.
My Internal Med Dctr is suggesting titrating down the med another .10 mg a week, which means I would take .10 mg 4 days a week, and take .05 mg 3 days a week (M,W,F). And then we would retest TSH in 4 weeks.
Questions: (1)Is this a reasonable approach or can it be titrated to a lower dosage, such as 1.0 for 3 days and 0.05 for 4 days? (Unfortunately, my hyperthyroidism is causing me to gain weight(not lose it), bad joint pain, difficulty writing/concentrating, scattered thinking, and unrestful fidgeting sleep...so I really want to get back to 1.0 range sooner rather than later to see if my symptoms go away.)
I have heard that some generic brands of levothyroxine have been found lacking in quality control and some batches have been found to be more potent than the prescribed tab amount (e.g. .10) , so would it be better if I switched to a brand name Synthyroid. Should I switch to brand name and titrate down at the same time?
Has anyone had similar experience? i tried to post this on the Doctor forum but it was full for today. Thanks for any and all advice.
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If you change brands, you may do fine, or you may get some side effects from the new drug. As long as you are changing doses and are messed up anyway, I'd do it.
They offer these drugs in a dosage of 75mcg. I wonder why your doctor has you alternating 100mcg and 50mcg. I'd try 75mcg of Synthroid or Levothroid or Levoxyl and see how that goes.
You were taking 650mcg a week.
The doc is changing you to 550mcg a week.
You're thinking 500mcg may be better.
75mcg per day would be 525mcg per week.
Might be worth a try.
There is also an 88mcg dose, but that comes to 616mcg a week...