hypothyroidism and prevastatin

[katelynn63]

My recent lab results were not good.  My TSH level was 46.25 (should be under 4.5). My T4 was 5.0 and my T3 was 24 (both normal). My cholestrol was high @ 237. Doc increased my thyroid meds from  .100 to   .125 mcg. He also prescribed pravastatin 20 mg for the cholestrol. After reading about hypothyroidism i saw that it can cause elevated cholestrol levels. Is this true and is it safe to increase my thyroid meds and start the cholestrol meds at the same time? I am crrently looking for a endo doctor because my doctor i seems to know very little about my thyroid issue. Please help!

[katelynn63]

Thanks again for your help. I have submitted all my paperwork to the endocrinologist and am awaiting a call back for an appt. All this is so confusing to me so i am glad you are here to help!

[goolarra]

I think you have the right idea in waiting.

I agree that your PCP doesn't seem to have a good grasp of how to treat thyroid.  The tests he ordered are all considered obsolete.  

Total T4 has been replaced by FREE T4.  TT4 measures the total T4 in your blood, but much of that is chemically bound and unavailable to cells.  FT3 tells what's avialable.  Many of us find T4 has to be close to 50% of range before hypo symptoms are relieved.  Yours is way down at the bottom of the range.

T3 uptake is actually an indirect measure of T4.  It's considered almost useless,  However, it also indicates that you are undermedicated.

FTI indicates the same.

Your doctor should be testing FREE T3 and FREE T4.  These are the best measures of thyroid status.

It looks like you desperately needed the increase.  You should retest again after 4-6 weeks on 125 mcg.  You may find you need yet another adjustment.  I'm glad to hear you're finding a new doctor.

[katelynn63]

Thanks! I have decided to not take the statin yet. I have a call into an endo doc to see if i can get an appt set. I think i would be much more comfortable with that. Just not sure my regular doc knows enough about it. Thanks again for your help.

[katelynn63]

Here is what my lab results said.....TSH  46.25 UIU/ml   normal range is  .45-4.5           Thyroxine (t4)   5.0 ug/dl   normal is 4.5 - 12.0       T3 uptake 24%    normal range is 24 - 39    free thyroxine index  1.2   normal range is 1.2-4.9.  i have a call into a local endo doctor to see if i can get an appt. I have not started taking the statin for high cholestrol. I just feel better seeing a specialist first.  Thanks for your quick response!

[goolarra]

With a TSH of 46.25, it's highly likely that you are undermedicated.  What are the reference ranges on your T3 and T4, and do they say they are FREE T3 and FREE T4?  If free isn't specified, they are total T3 and total T4.

I agree that undertreated hypothyroidism is a cause of high cholesterol.  If I were you, I'd ask my doctor about waiting until thyroid meds are properly adjusted before starting a statin.  Once thyroid levels are good and your other hypo symptoms have resolved, you can retest and see if it's at all necessary to take a statin.

[Red_Star]

Yes, untreated or poorly treated hypothyroidism is a cause of high cholesterol. I personally would never take a statin drug due to the numerous adverse side effects.