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Have Thyroid, Feel Lethargic, Difficult To Reduce Weight. Started Extra Dose Of Prescribed Thyroxine. Suggest?
Question: My most recent TSH result was 1.1mU/L and the Free T4 result was 15.5 poll/L. My doctor did not order T3.
Currently, she has me on 100mg Thyroxine daily. (2 x 50mg.) On that dose I still feel lethargic, find it difficult to reduce my weight, and need to sleep in the afternoon, even though I get 8 hours sleep at night. Experimentally, I have started taking another 50mgs of Thyroxine daily. My lethargy has reduced markedly and I no longer need to sleep through the day. I intend to continue the slightly increased dose. Is it within the normal range?
Currently, she has me on 100mg Thyroxine daily. (2 x 50mg.) On that dose I still feel lethargic, find it difficult to reduce my weight, and need to sleep in the afternoon, even though I get 8 hours sleep at night. Experimentally, I have started taking another 50mgs of Thyroxine daily. My lethargy has reduced markedly and I no longer need to sleep through the day. I intend to continue the slightly increased dose. Is it within the normal range?
Hi and thank you so much for this query.
I am Dr. Ditah and feel honored having this opportunity to address your health questions today. I am so sorry to hear that you have been hypothyroid and taking thyroxine.
hypothyroidism is to a greater extend guided by the patient's response to drugs, then the laboratory findings to monitor treatment. There is no standard dosage, I must be very clear on this. It should normally consist of a titration to find what dose works best for you. There are some clients who need as little as 25mg and others require even very high doses like 200mg.
Back to you, if at 100mg daily you still have the symptoms of hypothyroidism, no matter what the laboratory findings are, you need to get your dosages increased unless another disease is found to explain the symptoms. For now, there is no better supporting evidence to increase this dosage more than the fact that you are feeling better with a slightly increased dose. Increasing the dosage is the way to go.
I don't generally advice patients to do things without informing and discussing with their doctor. I will like you to share this information with your treating doctor and you will be amazed at how happy s/he is to learn of this new development. S/He will certainly consider increasing the dose. The next assignment will be for you both to monitor for any signs of toxicity which may need the dose to be lowered may be to somewhere between 100 and 150mg. Signs of toxicity include fast heart rate, palpitations, anxiety, sweating, nervousness, weight loss, agitation, hypertension etc.
I hope I have answered your query fully.
Feel free to ask follow up questions on this query if need be.
I wish you good health and hope you continue to use this forum for your health questions.
Dr. Ditah, MD.
I am Dr. Ditah and feel honored having this opportunity to address your health questions today. I am so sorry to hear that you have been hypothyroid and taking thyroxine.
hypothyroidism is to a greater extend guided by the patient's response to drugs, then the laboratory findings to monitor treatment. There is no standard dosage, I must be very clear on this. It should normally consist of a titration to find what dose works best for you. There are some clients who need as little as 25mg and others require even very high doses like 200mg.
Back to you, if at 100mg daily you still have the symptoms of hypothyroidism, no matter what the laboratory findings are, you need to get your dosages increased unless another disease is found to explain the symptoms. For now, there is no better supporting evidence to increase this dosage more than the fact that you are feeling better with a slightly increased dose. Increasing the dosage is the way to go.
I don't generally advice patients to do things without informing and discussing with their doctor. I will like you to share this information with your treating doctor and you will be amazed at how happy s/he is to learn of this new development. S/He will certainly consider increasing the dose. The next assignment will be for you both to monitor for any signs of toxicity which may need the dose to be lowered may be to somewhere between 100 and 150mg. Signs of toxicity include fast heart rate, palpitations, anxiety, sweating, nervousness, weight loss, agitation, hypertension etc.
I hope I have answered your query fully.
Feel free to ask follow up questions on this query if need be.
I wish you good health and hope you continue to use this forum for your health questions.
Dr. Ditah, MD.
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