Hypothyroidism - alternatives to levothyroxine

[farmyard3]

I have had hypothyroidism for four years. Started off on 50mcg of levothyroxine and increased to 75mcg after the first year. Still on 75. I have my bloods done every year and most recent test was done in early June and came back normal.

However I am still feeling exhausted every day, have to do a lot of lying down and resting where possible, I always have a nap each day if I have the time. I go to bed as early as possible. I thought the recent bloods would show I needed an increase in medication and was a bit disappointed when they didn't as now I don't know what to do.

I understand there are other conditions linked to tiredness that I could be tested for e.g. Anaemia - anyone know of any others?

Also - does anyone know of any other medication that can be taken for hypothyroidism that isn't levothyroxine?!

Yes everyone should know their results and where they fall in the range. I only feel well at the very top/bottom of the range (v low TSH and high T4) so being within range but at the wrong end of normal is no good for me. I can feel awful with a TSH of 4 and while my GP disapproves of it being under 1, that is where I feel well so that is what I'm aiming for.

I haven't had a blood test for over a year since I started T3 and then NDT but I certainly feel well and don't have any hypo symptoms so I'm assuming it's fine.

Please be aware that levothyroxine can bring a lot of nasty side effects!!
I was on levo for 4.5 years after starting with borderline thyroid symptoms... my dosage went up and up..., but I started with awful migraines and also MUSCLE problems, so very stiff muscles and doc said was due to stress, also my periods stopped, doc said was down to Marina coil. I started reading up on levo (lots of great advice on patient.info site).
levothyroxine is artificial so it's created in a lab and only inputs T4 into your body. Your body needs T3 to enable T4 to absorb and work properly. Thyroids are very complex and GPs just don't have the knowledge, by doing the basic Tsh checks just isn't enough. Always ask to be revered to an Endo if you are unhappy/unwell on medication.
With the support of my doctor I have come off levo and trying natural thyroid support supplements and 6 weeks in I feel amazing!! My extreme muscle problems subsided after only 48 hours!!!! My headaches are less (although had an almighty one straight after coming off levo apparently this is my pituitary gland kick starting again as taking levo switched it off). Also my periods are back!! My first blood results say I need to go on some medication even though I feel the best I have in years. So I'm off to an endo soon, one thing for sure is that I will definitely not be going on levothyroxine again!! Please listen to your body, GPs are not thyroid experts.

Can anyone advise about the link between breast cancer and thyroxine?

Your thyroid produces thyroxine, to much and your hyper, to little and your hypo. Or if your thyroid is removed you will not produce any and be given a complete replacement.

Without thyroxine our bodies will come to a stop

I have Hashimoto's (autoimmune hypothyroid) and take levothyroxine. Definitely ask to see an endocrinologist - GPs can do the basics but don't always understand the nuances. For example mine tests my T4 and TSH but not my T3 - sometimes it's the conversion of T4 to T3 that is the problem.

Also whatever you do don't just randomly take more than prescribed: too much thyroxine can be really bad for you and you need to get to be bottom of the problem.

Sorry if I'm repeating stuff others have said, haven't read all responses.

Oh sorry, zombie thread

Peppasnana ultimately you could go into a coma, whether you survive it i don't know?

If you take to much thyroxine the same could happen as you could become hyperthyroid, but you could also increase your heart rate and you could damage your heart.

Following as I also have hypothyroidism, I'm on 100mcg of levothyroxine and I still feel exhausted despite them saying my levels are "on the rise". It's such a slow process, I wish they'd just whack me up to 150 already.

I did a full thyroid test eith horizon medicals and it showed i didn't convert t4 to t3 well plus low ferritin, vit D and B13. I used supplements to raise levels and now get t3 medication on the NHS. I dont need to nsp anymore! If your are optimally treated, you won't feel tired all the time. You need a print out if results everytime or you'll get treated by 'normal range' rather than physical well-being. Take a look at healthunlocked/thyroid.

Sorry, that's B12!

Coffee. That helps me. I've had under active thyroid since 2004. I am on 75mg levothyroxine. I don't have caffeine after 7pm because I have problems settling at night. Still an early bird though😕

I have been in same dose - 150 - for 18 years. I have sort of accepted that I don't have exactly the same energy levels as other women my age sometimes, but I feel fine most of the time.

Every three months or so I feel myself having a 'slump' that lasts a few days, and a take a bit extra for a few days and I feel fine again.

I do find when I cut down on the bread I have more energy.

When your gp gives you the paper work to have your thyroid levels tested and toe mediation reviewed, are they testing for all this T3 and T4 stuff? Do I need to ask for a more specific test? I can't believe my levels are normal as I'm starting to feel as bad as I did before I was diagnosed but apparently my dosage doesn't need increasing. Sorry for hijacking op!

Shock

The blood test will be TSH and if that isn't in the normal range then it will pick up T4 & T3, but if thyroid stimulation hormone test (TSH) is normal then the T3&4 numbers will not show

Ivy
And that's why so many people spend their life undermedicated and symptomatic 🤔.

TSH is not adequate as the sole guide to normal, yet many people have their symptoms dismissed because TSH is in the 'normal range'.

Beb

I don't really agree, the TSH "normal" ranges were produced using about 20 people about 50 years ago.

Far better to produce better scientific results using a far great study of people, using well over 3000 people and stop using the range they have now which is woefully inadequate at best and particularly dangerous at worst.

Read this thread and now really thinking I should get my thyroid levels checked again. I was diagnosed as hypo ten years ago and took the pills until my prescription ran out but as I had just moved abroad I didn't know how to renew my prescription so just stopped and since then my results (occasionally checked when doing full bloods) have been 'normal' but I am really really tired all the time, sleep about 6 hours at night (insomnia) and then take 3 or 4 hours nap an hour after getting up and still feel tired.

Nat, yes you should get checked properly and get a print of results. You need at least ft4 checked along with TSH and folate, B12, vitD and ferritin as they can cause fatigue if low (even if it says normal range!).
A high in range TSH is a sign the thyroid is stuggling and some countries range is up 3, so much lower than uk. My TSH was 4 when diagnosed but many people woukd be told they are fine and on normal range... If high TSH is accompanied with a low FT4, that's definitely not a good result!
Once diagnosed it doesnt get better and your body needs replacement thyoxine.

Thanks, I'll talk to the doctor about getting it checked out.

I came off levothyroxine in Feb with GP support after severe muscle problems, my stiff muscles and headaches are almost non existent now but my bloods TSH levels are 50+ which is very high, my T4 and T3 levels are not great either. My energy levels are really bad some days and I've put on a lot of weight since Feb. I saw an NHS endocrinologist this week who said they couldn't prescribe me anything other than synthetic levothyroxine so she suggested I see a private endocrinologist who can prescribe armour or another natural desiccated thyroid. So we are talking £240 for a 40 min appointment just to get a private prescription that I'm going to have to pay for also. I'm s single mum and have been made redundant so money is tight but I need to get my health right in order to get a job etc. Are there any GPs on this site that know a way if getting an NHS prescription for anything other than levothyroxine? After all this drug has made me really poorly. I'm starting to get really down about going round in circles. NDT was prescribed in the uk for everyone with underactive thyroid until levothyroxine was created in a lab in the 70s and it sounds like people were switched over back then. I'm hearing of more and more people with side effects of levothyroxine but doctors are fobbing off as stress and arthritis etc. My side effects got worse and worse as dosage was increased and ended up having weekly physio and sports massage. Any feedback or suggestions for me would be great thanks

You can order natural,dessicated thyroid online midget mine from Thailand it's called 'thiroyd'. If you google thiroyd ( not thyroid) it's the first link that comes up. I take two tablets in the morning and one in the eve. I use the sublingually. ( place under tongue and leave them to dissolve)
My tsh is .3. And my t3'and t4 are good to high in the range too which is perfect.
I feel so much better than I did on the Levo.

I get mine not midget mine!

I've been on this pill for over 3 years and the doc keeps having me increase the dose each year. Started at 25mcg then 50mcg and now at 75mcg. All I have done since starting this pill is gain weight and become a sweat machine. My tsh number has never been above 6 and I'm beginning to think I need to just ditch the drug. When ever I talk to my doc about it he just wants to increase the dosage. I've also heard that they are lowering the number for hypothyroidism from 4 to 3. Now who do you think that benefits? The patient or the drug company.?

A relative of mine started getting T3 on the internet and feels better than ever. I need another blood test tomorrow but it took two years to get my levels ok and 3 months ago my levels were back where they started. I will see what the results of these ones are. Going from the amount of hair I'm losing and my periods being all over the place I don't expect them to me much better.

I am going to ask the GP about T3 because I'm not comfortable going on it without their say so but it seems to work well for so many people.

I am now taking 175mg of levothyroxine btw.

mcg*