Stopping Levothyroxine

[FraggleRock77]

Just that really. I started taking it as part of my IVF journey. My thyroid function was in the normal range but not for IVF. I've been advised by my consultant at the 12 week scan to stop taking it. Has anyone else done this and did you have any side effects? X

Hi there. Congratulations! I take levothyroxine for hypothyroidism.

Do you know what your TSH levels are?

A lot of doctors are quite ignorant about the thyroid and I've seen people being told that all sorts of different numbers are 'normal'. According to NICE guidelines pregnant women should have a TSH of 2 or under. If yours is over this I personally wouldn't feel comfortable stopping the thyroxine.

Was it your IVF consultant that advised you to stop?

Mine was 2.5 prior to starting IVF and reduced to under 2 taking the meds. NHS consultant, not IVF consultant. Very informed NHS consultant though. X

Are they a consultant endocrinologist?

Thyroxine levels during pregnancy are a bit more complicated than "normal" I understand. (I have Hashimoto's so have taken thyroxine for years)

Stop taking it?! The advice is to increase your dose by 25% when pregnancy is confirmed and aim to keep TSH below 2.5

At 12 weeks, your baby is now making its own thyroxine but if your TSH creeps up, you're potentially going to feel pretty rubbish

need for thyroxine actually rises when you're pregnant and most people need to increase their dose. I would not be stopping without an additional blood test - I was tested every month and dose adjusted several times

So confused!!! Consultant is a fetal maternal specialist. X

Hello, I'm on it for fertility reasons too as mine was 2.4 beforehand. I've been told to stay on it until I give birth. Could you get a second opinion?

Yikes - you need to be told that by an endocrinologist!
You are fine to ask if it's been discussed with one, low levels in pregnancy can have many implications: anaemia, pre eclampsia, congestive heart problems, placental abnormalities, low birth weights, post partum haemorrhage amongst other things.
I would want this rubber stamped as appropriate, and for what reasons.
Congratulations too

Good advice given here.

I am 31 weeks pregnant and my hospital have had me under a specialist consulted since my 12 weeks scan. I've had blood tests every 4-6 weeks. I was on 100mg pre baby and my dose has been increased 3 times and I am now on 175mg per day.

Your need increases with pregnancy and it's very important you are monitored as it can affect the babies development. The TSH tolerance is less when you are pregnant too. It needs to be under 3. I would say get a second opinion and, although I'm no expert if your level is under 3 that's a good thing, but you need to continue to take Levothyroxine to maintain that- if not more as your pregnancy progresses.

Thank you everyone. Some very clear/good information. Can i ask, if my level was only 2.5 prior to being pregnant and i was classed as having a normal thyroid function, wouldn't it just go back to normal and all would be ok with the pregnancy?x

Hi Fraggle, mine was similar to yours at 2.4. I got this down on only 25mg but since being pregnant I now have to alternate each day between 25 and 50 to keep it below

1. I also had IVF like you and that clinic thought it was as important. An NHS endocrinologist has also told me to stay on until I give birth.

Sorry for bumping an old thread. Was found to have a TSH of 2.66 before starting IVF so started levothyroxine. I've had monthly thyroid function tests during treatment, but TSH was 3.2 at one point so levothyroxine dose increased from 25mcg to 50mcg. Now 9 weeks pregnant and still on levothyroxine 50mcg daily (thyroid function done 3 weeks ago, TSH then wad 2.4). Have booking appointment in a few days so will ask midwife to repeat my thyroid function. But would be interested to know if you ladies with TSH 2.5-5 before conception/fertility treatment who therefore started thyroxine have been asked to continue throughout pregnancy?