What's your thoughts - low dose levothyroxine, quit or not?

[Ohlife2020]

Hi, I've had some health issues since last year. Blood tests showed little sign of the real cause, but a subclinical hypothyroidism. Also had mirena put in earlier this year. I also have been having ADHD medication and switched a brand in February.

Anyway, there was some extreme fatigue ongoing for a while. I thought it was mirena but might also be due to the thyroid issue and have persuaded GP to give me a low dose (25mg) of levothyroxine to see if it could shift the symptoms.

Then we were going abroad for Easter holiday. So I decided to stop and not start any medication. It seemed all symptoms stopped too and I had no issue at all during the holidays until I restarted my ADHD medicine near the end. I was 95% sure that's the cause of all th extreme health problems I had since I switched the brand. I stopped that medicine altogether and made request to go back to the previous med.

Since we were back after Easter, I started taking levothyroxine. The same week, I started having severe muscle aches all over my body. But DC seemed a bit unwell too. So I put it down to being under weather like him. It seemed to have passed. Then last Friday night, I went to bed with pain all over my muscles again and it carried on till now. I woke up this morning with aches on my both hands which it's very strange. I have been on the sofa all day today and couldn't bear the thought of getting up on my feet, as my entire body just aches and especially the joints (knees, butt, ankles, hands...)

Mirena seems to have caused me to have medium bleeding most of April too. I'm supposed to have period these few days, but the bleeding suddenly stopped yesterday.

I'm just feeling my body is all over the place right now and nothing is working without influence from drugs. I looked up at levothyroxine and came to realise:

• it can cause pains in muscle and joints in some
• you shouldn't have any other medicine or vitamins within 4 hours of having levothyroxine (I need to have my ADHD medicine very early in the day)
• levothyroxine doesn't top up my thyroid produced hormones but is to "replace" it (that's why they say if you start levothyroxine, you would have to stay on it for the rest of your life)

So, I would really like to hear what others who either have the knowledge or similar experiences to share your thoughts. I'm inclined to stop having levothyroxine altogether, especially I'm at low dose and only 2/3 through the packet.

Would appreciate some advice!

Bump..

Before you take yourself of anything speak to your doctor I would also ask them about the timings that you need to take them.

I take Levothyroxine along with prescribed vitamins and can take them all together. If you do have to wait 4 hours why not take the thyroxine before you go to bed?

@Wolfpa , thanks. My problem is that I'm going back to work this week after a long break being SAHM. I can't manage to even walk upstairs at the moment. Had to bend over to sort out laundry in washing machine just now and I could barely pull myself up due to the pain in joints.

The chance of being able to talk with my GP before Wednesday my first day is nearly impossible...

I didn't know you can have levo before bed. But my main concern is the joints and muscles pain. It drives me crazy where all these problems are from!!!

low thyroxine levels can cause muscle problems so I would be hesitant to stop? Are you supplementing your diet with Vitamin D?

You have to take levothyroxine on an empty stomach and 30-60 minutes before anything else (food or medication).
I actually asked my endocrinologist last week about taking it at night, and he said yes as long as it was at least 3 hours after eating last.

@Wolfpa , yes, I've been having vitamin D supplement for a month.

I never have had this level of muscle or joint pain before ...

That does make sense for timing. Thanks.