starting dose of thyroid

[jimandsuz1]

is there a typical dose for starting levothyroxine.....or is it based on weight.....and how often do you check thyroid and what "mcg" amount do you increase or decrease by????

[Smilerdeb]

I started on 25mcg every 2nd day with a TSH of 6.0 then progressed up slowly taking baby steps.
I'm currently on 62.5 mcg a day and doing fantastic! :)

[goolarra]

Initial dosage is usually based on weight since there is no track record at that point to guide by.

I agree with FTB4 that you have labs run every six weeks until you reach a stable dose.  However, if you have any unusual reaction to the levo or start to feel "hyper", you should talk to your doctor earlier.

Increases and decreases are based on your tolerance of levo.  If you are sensitive to it, as many of us on the forum are, "baby" steps (@ 12.5 mcg) are the way to go.  It takes a bit longer to reach a stable dose, but you don't end up suffering the side effects.  However, many people tolerate levo very well and can increase faster without consequences.

Reaching the "perfect" dose is a bit of an art form and often an exercise in developing patience!

When labs are run, don't forget to request FT3, FT4 and TSH.  

[FTB4]

Your labs should be done every six weeks until you are at your optimum level (When you have the least symptoms and feel good) and at least in the ball park with Free T3 between1.8 and 4.2 and Free T4,between 0.6 and 2.0 TSH is not as important and should be between 0.3 and 3.0  You should not change dosage without talking to your Md or Endo, (Unless you have a bad reaction to it) Good Luck FTB4