Synthroid, how much is to much?

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

Wondering what everyone's experience is with Synthroid. I've been on it for years and have hypothyroidism (Hoshimoto disease).

The last time I had my Synthroid increased 2 years ago it went to 150mcg. I've heard from the doctor and looks like it's going up again.....

 

[BCDisneyFanatic]

Dosage depends on your age, weight and level of thyroid function.

Therapy may begin at full replacement doses in otherwise healthy individuals less than 50 years old and in those older than 50 years who have been recently treated for hyperthyroidism or who have been hypothyroid for only a short time (such as a few months). The average full replacement dose of levothyroxine sodium is approximately 1.7 mcg/kg/day (e.g., 100-125 mcg/day for a 70 kg adult). Older patients may require less than 1 mcg/kg/day. Levothyroxine sodium doses greater than 200 mcg/day are seldom required. An inadequate response to daily doses ≥ 300 mcg/day is rare and may indicate poor compliance, malabsorption, and/or drug interactions.

http://www.druglib.com/druginfo/synthroid/indications_dosage/

I was on 100 mcg per day for almost 15 years, but went up to 125 mcg last year. It's amazing how much better I felt on the higher dose. However, that works out to be about 2 mcg/kg/day - higher than the 'average full replacement dose" listed above. My blood tests still put my TSH in the lower to mid range, though, so my doctor and I are both comfortable with the amount I'm taking.

 

[cassiez76]

i started in '97 on .5 mcg's. i've gone up and up and up on dosage. i went from 75 to 150 when i got pregnant and have stayed at 150 since '08.

i can't function if my thyroid isn't right, i can tell right away now if it's just even a little off.

 

[ems_mom]

Is Synthroid the same or similar to levoxyl?

 

[WDWBarb]

My DD has Hashimoto's and has been on everything from 75 mm to 115. She feels best at 115 but it makes her levels too high. Anything less and she suffers hair loss, dry eyes and extreme fatigue. It's a terrible game, trying to make it right.

 

[Christine]

I am on .137 of Levoxyl (same as Synthroid). There is no "too much" if your numbers are corrected by whatever the dose is. As another poster states, it depends on your weight, age, and also what other drugs you are taking, how you are taking it, how your body (liver) metabolizes it, etc. You can't really compare yourself to others and what their dosage is.

I've known people who are on the upper end of the dosage range and still struggle to get enough hormone. For whatever reason, they seem to poorly metabolize the drug (but they are on dosages over 200 mg.).

 

[kacaju]

dh was having troubles a few years ago. I have no idea what his levels were, but I do know the Dr. told him not to take it with food. He was taking at breakfast. Now he takes it around 10 am and his levels are good now.

 

[Snoozan]

I take 100mcg of Levothroid daily - you must take these kinds of drugs on an empty stomach at least 30 minutes to an hour before eating food. This allows the best absorbtion with the least amount of the drug. I have no thyroid at all(due to removal due to thyroid cancer)so must keep my TSH super supressed. I've been on exactly the same dose for the past 11 years and so far, no symptoms of either too much or not enough.

 

[BKMETV]

I started taking it when I was pregnant with DS (he's 11 next week)...I have slowly had to increase my dose over the years...now I'm at 175mcg because my thyroid is basically not functioning at all. My biggest problem is remembering to take it right when I wake up.

 

[minnie56]

I too developed Hashimonto's thyroiditis after my DD was born 27 (!!) years ago...until about a month ago I was at 112 mcg and now I have been dropped to 100 mcg. I felt fine...my numbers were just at the upper end of normal so because of a routine blood test my dosage was lowered. Just had a recheck and haven't heard anything so guess I am good. It's been in my life so long it's just 'there'..no more.

 

[beachlover9395]

My DD has Hashimoto's and has been on everything from 75 mm to 115. She feels best at 115 but it makes her levels too high. Anything less and she suffers hair loss, dry eyes and extreme fatigue. It's a terrible game, trying to make it right.

Hashimoto's runs in my family -- I have it, my sister has it and my mom had it. My sister is much like your daughter and her doctor has her alternating two different strengths, taking one strength several days a week and the other strength on the other days (I'm not sure of her schedule). Has your daughter's doctor said anything about doing something like that? That strategy has worked for my sister.

To the OP: I was on the same dose for 20 years until summer/fall 2009. Then bam, put on 25 lbs. seemingly overnight - it was actually over about 4 months but you can imagine how horrified I was. You guessed it, my TSH was very high for me. I was bumped up from 0.125 to 0.137. Of course, the weight didn't leave me at all.

 

[rie'smom]

OP, do I remember reading that you are trying to get pregnant? If so, your doctor may want to increase your dosage to help with that. My SIL could not get pregnant until her doctor upped her Armour thyroid. After the increased dose she was able to get and stay pregnant.

 

[FlyingDumbo]

This is SUCH a timely thread for me! Does anyone else take a combination of drugs? I am on 125 mcg of levothyroxine and I just went to the Dr because I was feeling depressed. I put it off thinking I would feel better when the weather got better, but she checked and my TSH was 20. So now she is adding Liothyronine in addition to the Levothryroxine.

Has anyone had any success with this? I just want to feel better. I have actually gained about 20 lbs and I have been sleeping a lot. I just thought I was depressed. I am hoping this helps! She is rechecking in 6 weeks to see if there is improvement.

 

[Christine]

This is SUCH a timely thread for me! Does anyone else take a combination of drugs? I am on 125 mcg of levothyroxine and I just went to the Dr because I was feeling depressed. I put it off thinking I would feel better when the weather got better, but she checked and my TSH was 20. So now she is adding Liothyronine in addition to the Levothryroxine.

Has anyone had any success with this? I just want to feel better. I have actually gained about 20 lbs and I have been sleeping a lot. I just thought I was depressed. I am hoping this helps! She is rechecking in 6 weeks to see if there is improvement.

I've tried the combo and it actually made me kind of jittery.

I'm surprised that with a TSH of 20 (which is pretty high) that you weren't given at least two doses higher of levothyroxine and given the liothyronine also.

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

OP, do I remember reading that you are trying to get pregnant? If so, your doctor may want to increase your dosage to help with that. My SIL could not get pregnant until her doctor upped her Armour thyroid. After the increased dose she was able to get and stay pregnant.

nope,,,,,

 

[FlyingDumbo]

I've tried the combo and it actually made me kind of jittery.

I'm surprised that with a TSH of 20 (which is pretty high) that you weren't given at least two doses higher of levothyroxine and given the liothyronine also.

My company changed insurance plans in January, so this is a new PCP for me, and I have to tell you I was a little nervous and don't have a lot of faith in her yet. I want to see an Endocrinologist but she said she doesn't think I need a referral yet (ugh) so all I can do is hope for the next 6 weeks this works. I feel pretty awful. All I want to do is sleep.

 

[rie'smom]

This is SUCH a timely thread for me! Does anyone else take a combination of drugs? I am on 125 mcg of levothyroxine and I just went to the Dr because I was feeling depressed. I put it off thinking I would feel better when the weather got better, but she checked and my TSH was 20. So now she is adding Liothyronine in addition to the Levothryroxine.

Has anyone had any success with this? I just want to feel better. I have actually gained about 20 lbs and I have been sleeping a lot. I just thought I was depressed. I am hoping this helps! She is rechecking in 6 weeks to see if there is improvement.

When my doctor increased my thyroid meds(Armour for me), I was able to quit taking my antidepressant. Now I'm not saying that this will happen for everyone but if your thyroid levels are not where they should be, weight gain and depression are 2 indicators that maybe your dose should be increased.
The Liothyronine (Cytomel (T4)) is needed by many along with Levothryroxine (Synthroid (T3)) to help a dysfunctional thyroid. I hope you feel better!

 

[Christine]

My company changed insurance plans in January, so this is a new PCP for me, and I have to tell you I was a little nervous and don't have a lot of faith in her yet. I want to see an Endocrinologist but she said she doesn't think I need a referral yet (ugh) so all I can do is hope for the next 6 weeks this works. I feel pretty awful. All I want to do is sleep.

I can imagine--you poor thing. A TSH of 20 day in and day out will definitely wear you down.

I've dealt with thyroid issues for 16 years now (thyroid cancer so I don't have one).

Here's the deal on getting regulated in case she continues to give you the run around.

You should aim to get your TSH to anywhere between 0.5 - 2.0. Most of that should be done with T4 (levothyroxine). If you get to that point and you still feel bad/sluggish/off, many doctors will add a small dose of T3 (liothyronine) to give you a bit of a surge. T3 is the very short acting thyroid hormone that thyroids also produce. If you have no thyroid (like me), you don't often produce T3; however, the body knows how to make T3 when there is T4 given. There is a small subset of the population that does not convert and they definitely need to take some T3.

Just remember that T3 has a very short half-life, unlike T4. You will have temporary ups and downs with it as it goes in and out of your bloodstream. It won't, in the long term, get your TSH down. But, it won't hurt you and hopefully will perk you up. I just don't think it's a long-term solution with a TSH at 20.

 

[Mixie]

Personally - I believe the synthetic stuff is crap and will only use Armour.

The book/website Stop The Thyroid Madness saved me for sure.

 

[Christine]

When my doctor increased my thyroid meds(Armour for me), I was able to quit taking my antidepressant. Now I'm not saying that this will happen for everyone but if your thyroid levels are not where they should be, weight gain and depression are 2 indicators that maybe your dose should be increased.
The Liothyronine (Cytomel (T4)) is needed by many along with Levothryroxine (Synthroid (T3)) to help a dysfunctional thyroid. I hope you feel better!

Cytomel = T3, Synthroid = T4.