Re: Is it normal to have side affects with dose increase for levothyroxine?

[Guest guest]

Gillian, have you thought about your adrenals? Could it be that the

increased dose is stressing your adrenals because they are not yet

strong enough?

I've been in the same situation you are now in and at the time I

couldnt figure it out either, but I'm convinced that in my case the

adrenals were the root cause of 95% of my problems.

Your reaction could very well indicate struggling adrenals.

Good luck with your " detective " work!!

Marie

[Guest guest]

Hi

Gillian,

Either

you are allergic to the fillers in your levothyroxine that is causing these

reactions or you have one of the associated conditions that stops your thyroid

hormone replacement from being absorbed, so you are getting toxic symptoms. If you have any of the following conditions, these

need to be treated before you continue with your levothyroxine.

Low

Adrenal Reserve

Systemic

Candidiasis

The

mainly inactive hormone (T4) is not converting to the active hormone T3

Low

Ferritin (stored iron)

Low

vitamin B12

Low

Vitamin D

Mercury

poisoning (do you have amalgam fillings?) or

Hormone

inbalances (sex hormones). Often hypothyroid sufferers have oestrogen dominance

which downgrades production, transportation and uptake of thyroid hormones.

This is why hypothyroidism may first appear at the menopause, the symptoms

ascribed to this alone, which is then treated, often with extra oestrogen

making the whole thing worse. Deficiency in progesterone most especially needs

to be dealt with, since it reverses oestrogen dominance, improves many

menopausal symptoms like sweats and moods swings, and reverses osteoporisis.

Happily natural progesterone cream is easily obtained and when used, it has the

added benefit of helping stabilise adrenal function.

Go to

our web site Gillian www.tpa-uk.org.uk

and click on 'Hypothyroidism' and then click on 'Associated Conditions' and

check these out. Also, look through the files in this forum web site and do the

questionnaires on adrenal and candida to see how you score.

Do you

have an allergy to lactose and/or maize?

You

should never take any tablets containing iron or calcium anywhere near to your

levothyroxine and these should be taken at least 3 to 4 hours apart. Also,

watch that you don't take food containing these near to taking your thyroid

hormone replacement either.

Luv -

Sheila

Hello its me again. I hope I am not outstaying my

welcome only I have

just had a rough couple of days. My levothyroxine was increased from

25mcg to 50mcg a couple of weeks ago. I felt ok at first and did not

feel any different, but yesterday I woke up with vertigo and had to

take my prescribed cinnarizine tablets which I take for this. I felt

extremely whacked out all day and spent all afternoon asleep and then

again in the early evening, I just couldn't keep my eyes open. This

morning I have woken up with a 'killer' headache and taken my usual

anadin extra (at 6am) which usually works but hasn't touched it yet.

I always take my levothyroxine at 6am on an empty stomach. Is it safe

to take these other medications at the same time?

[Guest guest]

>

> Gillian, have you thought about your adrenals? Could it be that the

> increased dose is stressing your adrenals because they are not yet

> strong enough?

>

> > Marie

>

Thanks Marie.

It did cross my mind but what do I know. I am not sure if my next lot

of blood tests will pick up on an adrenal problem. I've done the

adrenal test on the site (as honestly as I could) and I was found to

be 'moderate'. I am not sure how reliable that test is though. I think

some more detective work is required here! Thanks anyway. Gillian

[Guest guest]

>

> Either you are allergic to the fillers in your levothyroxine that

is causing

> these reactions or you have one of the associated conditions that

stops your

> thyroid hormone replacement from being absorbed, so you are getting

toxic

> symptoms. If you have any of the following conditions, these need

to be

> treated before you continue with your levothyroxine.

>

Hi Sheila,

Thanks for this. It is all very interesting...I think the bit about

the sex hormones etc..looks likely and I am not sure about the

adrenals, although I did do the test you mention and came out as

moderate. I like to think I have a balanced diet and do not think I

am deficient in iron or B12 or Vit D.

It is interesting about the fillings, as my Doctor once said that my

headaches could be caused by grinding my teeth?

As far as I know I am not allergic to lactose or maize but it would

seem that I need to get all these things checked out. I never

imagined that this whole business would all be so complicated.

Thanks again for your suggestions.

Gillian

[Guest guest]

Hi Gillian,

You could be right about the levo higher dosage not agreeing with you,

I think this along with other thyroid meds is contraindicated if you

have adrenal fatigue - this is not something that it says on the PIL.

But something I found out off Google.

I have been on levo for about 11 years with the last increase from 100

to 125 mcg I felt quite ill and toxic, headaches, palpitations,

dizziness, emotional, fatigue, aching muscles and was off work for

three weeks. I reduced the dose and felt slightly better. I saw Dr P

and it turns out that over 100 mcg of levo is toxic for me.

Also I have adrenal fatigue conf. via an ASI test.

Sorry that you are feeling like this particularily at this time.

Take Care,

Love Ali xxx

> I am thinking that the higher doseage of levothyroxine is just

starting

> to kick in but is not agreeing with me?

> I have got to take this for two months before I have the full works

of

> blood tests in the New Year... I've got lots to do with Xmas coming

up

> and I can't get through it feeling like this.

> I would have thought that the higher doseage would have a more

> beneficial effect if I was shown to be deficient but it seems that it

> is not the case. I would welcome some reassurance here. Thanks.

Gillian

>

[Guest guest]

>

>

> Hi Gillian,

> > I have been on levo for about 11 years with the last increase

from 100

> to 125 mcg I felt quite ill and toxic, headaches, palpitations,

> dizziness, emotional, fatigue, aching muscles and was off work for

> three weeks. I reduced the dose and felt slightly better. I saw Dr

P

> and it turns out that over 100 mcg of levo is toxic for me.

>

> Also I have adrenal fatigue conf. via an ASI test.

>

> > Love Ali xxx

>

> > >

Thanks for this Ali. It is all very worrying...do I carry on taking

50mcg as instructed or do I play safe and carry on with 25mcg as

before? I wonder whether it would be more advisable if Doctors made

us take an increase gradually, say, for example, in my case... take

25mcg for a week and then take 50mcg on the 8th day, then take 25mcg

for 6 days then take 50mcg on the 7th day,25mcg for 5 days, then

50mcg on the 6th day and so on...if you get my drift. This way it is

not such a shock for the system getting a double whammy all at once.

I wonder sometimes if Doctors are killing us.

I feel a bit better this evening now the vertigo and the headache has

gone. I feel a bit tired still, but then I've just done a big pre-

xmas shop in Sainsbury's, enough to make anyone's adrenals play up!

Gillian

[Guest guest]

Gillian

- have you considered taking your levothyroxine when you go to bed. There was a

study done that showed patients slept better and felt better during the day and

many swear by this. Some of us here take our thyroid medication when we go to

bed, including Armour and doing well on it. Give it a try and see if that

helps, otherwise, I think you are destined to get the tests for 24 hour salivary

adrenal profile and candida.

Thyroxine

takes a few weeks to get into your system properly Gillian, you do not feel the

effect all at once. However, if you continue to have these reactions with your

increase, start again on the lower dose and have a word with your GP to see

what s/he suggests

Luv -

Sheila

I feel a bit better this evening now the vertigo and the headache has

gone. I feel a bit tired still, but then I've just done a big pre-

xmas shop in Sainsbury's, enough to make anyone's adrenals play up!

Gillian

[Guest guest]

>

> Gillian - have you considered taking your levothyroxine when you go

to bed.

> >

>

> Thyroxine takes a few weeks to get into your system properly

Gillian, you do

> not feel the effect all at once. However, if you continue to have

these

> reactions with your increase, start again on the lower dose and

have a word

> with your GP to see what s/he suggests

>

>

>

> Luv - Sheila

>

> I understand what you are saying Sheila, only I have been taking

25mcg levothyroxine for 9 months now. You would have thought it was

well absorbed, if not effective by now! I will try taking it at

night..would you suggest I take 2 tablets tonight or wait until

tomorrow night? If I take 2 tonight that will be 100mcg in a 24hr

period. Gillian

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Sorry

Gillian, I didn't see your message until this morning, so couldn't answer your

question. What did you do last night? It's up to you whether you decide to stop

your medication for 24 hours before starting at night, but with levothyroxine,

you could take it in the morning as usual and then start it at night when you

go to bed, but take all of your daily requirement. Continue taking it when you

go to bed and during the day you can take any supplements including those with

iron and calcium that should not be taken near to thyroxine. I hadn't realised

you have been taking only 25 mcgs levothyroxine for 9 months, what a crazy

doctor.

Is this the

first time you have tried to increase your dose since you were diagnosed? How

long do the headaches last and are you 100% sure the headaches have been caused

because of the 25 mcgs thyroxine increase. Because I have heard of others

experiencing a headache after an increase and because I have heard they have

persevered, I do know that such headaches can disappear after your body gets

used to the new dose, but whether you are willing to try this is up to you. You

might be better with natural thyroid extract. I really do not have an answer

for you and I hope somebody else does.

Luv -

Sheila

> I understand what you are saying Sheila, only I have been taking

25mcg levothyroxine for 9 months now. You would have thought it was

well absorbed, if not effective by now! I will try taking it at

night..would you suggest I take 2 tablets tonight or wait until

tomorrow night? If I take 2 tonight that will be 100mcg in a 24hr

period. Gillian

>

>

>

>