sublingual vs by mouth

[boliver1]

I was diagnosed hypo in May with TSH of 6.8...went on 25 mcg Levoxyl....TSH dropped to 1.7 in 6 weeks, By the time I was tested again after 10 weeks I was overmedicated and TSH was.13. MD cut my dose in half to 12.5 mcg (half tablet) daily...tested again 8 weeks later and TSH was up to 9,18! Recently upped dose to 1 tablet 4 days a week and half tablet the other three days. During this time  I "passed through" windows of feeling OK, then quickly felt bad again. I am sensitive to meds...any meds...and had problems with feeling drugged and sedated on Levoxyl, tried SYnthroid (same dose) for a month and felt more energy but my existing muscle problems were worse. Tried Armour f(15 gr) for 1 week and could not take the T#...made me hyper. Because of my sensitivity to drugs, I read on forums to try taking meds under the tongue...which I itred and it seems to be better. Fewer bad effects on my muscles and less GERD, sleepiness, etc. My question is....will I absorb more...or less by taking LEvoxyl undermy tongue? I take it in the morning as soon as I wake up on the days I take a half tablet...before breakfast. On the days of whole tablet, I split it and take half in the AM and half at bedtime...both sublingually. DO different forms of levothyroxine have different absortion rates? AM I getting enough of it by taking it sublinqually? I really want to stabilize soon but am having a really hard time with the meds. Also...is increased BP a result of taking the meds? (mine has gone up) Any help as appreciated! Thank You!    

[GravesLady]

I might be wrong, but sublingual is faster absorption, not better absorption. Meaning, it gets into the blood stream fast than by mouth.  However, all medicines are specifically made to be sublingual.  So if your thyroid meds are not specially made to be sublingual, you are probably not getting any better benefits than by mouth.

[boliver1]

I think you are right.  Seems to work fast but not sure if I am really getting more of it or not. I may switch back to oral just for consistency. Does an MD respond to this forum?

[Applecore]

answering your question, no MD responds to this forum.  Go up to the top and click on left hand side Ask A Doctor - thyroid and there is a doctor there that will answer your questions.  

You sound like me.  I am supersensitive to most meds and the levothyroxin (levothyroxine) is not different.  I am presently taking 37.5 mcg and it is doing ok at the present.  My tsh is down to 3.5 although I believe that it will be better if it is at 1 or 2.  I still have muscle pain, not as much, memory problems, fatique, not as much though.  Also for the last 3 days I have been taking Protonix for my stomach and I believe it may be affecting the absorption of my thryroid meds.  I have had two episodes with anxiety - one each day in the am after I take the protonix.  I am going to try taking the protonix in the afternoon.  Has anyone ever taken protonix for the stomach (prscription strength) and had problems with it?  The only other thing I can think is that the 37.5 is taking my levels down to low or one direction wrong and I am having anxiety problems again.  What do you all think?

I don't know anything about sublingual as I am still struggelling through the regular kind.  You mention GERD.  Is that stomach pain.  I was tested by a holistic MD and he said I had food allergies and said also that I had celiac which as I posted before I now don't know if I have that or not.  The protonix takes care of all the pain.  Do you take anything for Gerd.  Do you think that if the protonix takes care of the pain that I could still have celiac (that is gluten intolerence).  I don't know and it is too overwhelming at this time to seek outside help and listen to more doctor's opinions and treatments.  I will eventlually do that but for the time being I am just recovering from opinions of doctors.    thanks and hope you get straightened out soon.  

I, just follow the doctors orders and take the meds until I see what the blood tests show and so far that has worked for me.  I do tell him how I feel and he has adjusted the meds.  If after Christmas things aren't straightened out he is going to try alternating between 37.5 and 50.  I can't tolerate the 50 and the 25 is not enough.   praying for you,   linda

[GravesLady]

No!  

You can reach the Doctor Thyroid Forum and  Dr. Lupo at http://www.medhelp.org/forums/show/120 ;     OR
at left of page almost top, under "Thyroid Disorders" in red click on "thyroid" it will take you to the forum.

If you have posted more than one post per the sites rules for doctors forums, you probably won't get answered.  Or if the forum is full and not taking any more questions for the day, you can try another day.

Let me know if I am wrong and if you have legit links to sublingual. If you don't mind sharing. I know I had more info. on this issue in my notes, but through the years with many computer crashes, I have lost lots of information.  Thanks!

[boliver1]

thanks for the responses..GERD is Gastric Reflux Diseas where the valve leading from eosophogus to stomach is loos and does not clase so you get lots of heartburn and food comes back up the valve when lying down or eating too much or the wrong foods. OS when the Levoxyl relaxes my other muscles it also relaxes that valve muscle and it gets  worse. I only use OTC Mylanta for it...used to take stuff like rptonix but being as senstive as I am, it produced too many other sideffects. Killer constipation! My msucle pain is not just pain but cramps and spasm....have had it over 4 years but then I think I have been hypo onger than that and if there is no direct correlation I think there must be some contributory effects. Applecore...your dose is really low too....when you say you cannot take the higer does, what heppens to you? How aften are  you being tested?  My MD has been testing me 8-10 weeks and I think that is too long for e right now....because I respond so quickly to the meds, it goes in either direction really fast then I am over or undermedicated too long before we change anything.  I know what you mean about recovering from doctor's opinions! No too are alike in my experience and sometimes I get dizzy with tll the different directions they have me going.  I have to rely on my own research and how my body resonds whether they agree with me ar not. My MD wants me to take statins again and I will not. SInce I was overmedicated, my cholesterol shot up again and I want to see where it settles if and when I ever get stabel for thyroid. Also my BP has been going high lately..anyone know if thyroid meds have any effect on BP?  I tried the MF forum but it is full for today...will try again tomorrow WOuld like to get another unconnected MD opinion.....and you all are so helpful too, than you so much! .

[boliver1]

Just read my post..sorry for all the typos! Will check better next time..hope it is readable!

[GravesLady]

bump

[boliver1]

I am new to forums...please help..what does "bump" mean?