Stopping thyroxine (no reduction)

[Remmy123]

hi there

i posted on general health but also posting here

my 15 year old son has been on thyroxine for around 8 months after blood tests revealed thyroid was abnormal.

he had a blood test Thursday and Friday night at 7pm I get a txt from the GP saying to stop the thyroxine and have a blood test in 3 months.

the thyroid issue was only flagged as he has to have a regular blood test for another condition not because he was displaying symptoms

Google says you should reduce dose not to just stop - I can't speak to a doctor until Tuesday and even then he will prob be too busy to speak to me until Wednesday

my son started puberty recently and in the middle of that - his endocrinologist said to get him through puberty and then wean him off but she takes a very long time to come back to me but she hasn't seen recent blood test results (nor have I)

why wouid a doctor say to stop and not reduce this?

thanks

GPs are notorious for not having a clue on thyroid issues, perhaps check with endocrinologist first before doing anything sudden? Although sometimes they aren’t much better. What if reception got the message wrong or mixed up, a bit much for you to deal with without an explanation isn’t it on a bank holiday weekend!

Don’t wait and speak to the GP

GP said T3 was high at 6.3 and it should by no higher than 5.6 so they said to have a blood test in one month and then maybe a low dose again

he have had so many blood tests!

6.3 is only just over range. How much levothyroxine is he taking? What was his FT4 result and range?

If your child has an endocrinologist, then management of the underactive thyroid should be managed by the specialist not the GP. The GP should contact your son's specialist not just tinker with the medication unless there are clear signs of a thyroid storm.

I'd be ringing the Paeds Endocrinologist's medical secretary tomorrow morning OP.

By stopping, measuring, restarting and restarting again at low dose, results will probably be all over the place.
At least they are measuring FT3, very hard to get that test. But GP is panic mode as they are petrified of Ft3.

I think you are right in tapering the dose down. Depend on result, range, and current dose. I would still check with endo.
My levels don’t stabilise until I’ve given it 9-10 weeks I’ve found by trial and error, we’re all different.

Exactly, tinkering is an apt description!

Thanks all - his endocrinologist is on holiday!

he was on 0.25 and then it was upped to 37.5

my husband spoke with them and said they want to 'baseline' him then start again on a lower dose if necessary

hoping someone picks up the emails from the endocrinologist office!