Wellness

[halfpint1]

I take levothroid. Don't know much about. I better start asking. Better Don't know too much about it.

[bakergirl]

I agree with you. My thyroid was removed in 2003due to papillary   thyroid cancer, so have to take Synthroid each day. Dosage strength does have to be changed according to blood test results but recently saw on my med bottle that Synthroid should not be taken with any antacids(not within four hours, nor with any calcium products) So per my MD, I am now taking my Synthroid at bedtime. And for years I was taking in the AM(and bottle said not to have anything to eat or drink within one hour) Check with your pharmacists and doctors. I do not know if this applies to other thyroid meds but my endo strongly believes in the brand name, perhaps only to keep track of the suppliers, as some of you have mentioned.

Who ever says things get easier...... 

[chrystaltree]

All I know is that my endocrinologists prescription specifies  "Levothyroxine 150mcg, 6.5 tablets a week.  Mylan manufacturer ONLY.  No substitutions".  I've been taking it for several years now and I get a 90 day supply.  My doc told me not to run out because if the pharmacist doesn't have Mylan, they will have to order it for me.  That happened once or twice and it took about a week to get the Mylan in.  I wouldn't have taken any other brand but the pharmacist couldn't give me any other brand anyway because the script specified Mylan.  

[LilacTree]

@x Hedge

I was diagnosed at the age of 50 with hypothyroidism (which I believe is called Hashimoto's currently).  I was going through menopause at the time.  I did not know that was my first autoimmune disease, as the doctor either didn't know or didn't tell me. 

I was put on Synthroid and have been on it ever since (30 years).  My "T" tests have always been normal, and my TSH normal ever since.  I think the dosage was changed once from 125 mcg to 100 mcg years ago and I am on that dosage presently.  My co-pay was always $7, very inexpensive.  It did go up to $12 recently, though, which is still a bargain, as I get a 90 day supply.

I guess I was lucky that the doc hit upon the right treatment at the right time.  I've never had a problem with my thyroid since, thankfully.

I do know several women who have gone through the ups and downs that the OP has described, and have described it as a nightmare.  Whenever I get labs, my "Ts" and TSH are checked. 

Also, I always take it first thing in the morning as soon as I wake up.  I wait an hour to take my other meds and/or to eat anything.  I have been very consistent with this.  I agree with the OP that is extremely important.

[Trinity11]

I was wondering if when someone's dose is increased do they have a lot of side effects (synthroid)?

I lost 7 pounds in one week and feel like I have too much energy. My TSH was 5.9 so she increased the dosage but I am having a rough time adjusting to it. I went from 25 to 50.

I have Hashimoto's... TSH was around 8 at diagnosis. She called it subclinical thyroid disease.

[cherry]

@Trinity11  be careful you don't experience a Thyroid storm

When my dose was increased to 75 I just felt better...

[tends2dogs]

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@Trinity11 wrote:

I was wondering if when someone's dose is increased do they have a lot of side effects (synthroid)?

I lost 7 pounds in one week and feel like I have too much energy. My TSH was 5.9 so she increased the dosage but I am having a rough time adjusting to it. I went from 25 to 50.

I have Hashimoto's... TSH was around 8 at diagnosis. She called it subclinical thyroid disease.

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@Trinity11  With Hashimotos you swing from hypo to hyper.  You sound like you are in hyper right now if you lost 7 pounds in one week and have a lot of energy.  Being in hyper is not pleasant.  It is like every system is revved up.  I had heartburn, heart palpitations, hair loss, diarrhea, was starving with weight loss, and was extremely hot.  I called my doctor and she told me to go off my Armour.  I did and the symptoms went away.  I went in and had my counts checked and eventually went back on. 

You should check with your doctor.  It sounds like you need to reduce your dose or go off for the time being.  She needs to know what your symptoms are.  It isn't always about the "numbers".

[tends2dogs]

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@LilacTree wrote:

@x Hedge

I was diagnosed at the age of 50 with hypothyroidism (which I believe is called Hashimoto's currently).  I was going through menopause at the time.  I did not know that was my first autoimmune disease, as the doctor either didn't know or didn't tell me. 

I was put on Synthroid and have been on it ever since (30 years).  My "T" tests have always been normal, and my TSH normal ever since.  I think the dosage was changed once from 125 mcg to 100 mcg years ago and I am on that dosage presently.  My co-pay was always $7, very inexpensive.  It did go up to $12 recently, though, which is still a bargain, as I get a 90 day supply.

I guess I was lucky that the doc hit upon the right treatment at the right time.  I've never had a problem with my thyroid since, thankfully.

I do know several women who have gone through the ups and downs that the OP has described, and have described it as a nightmare.  Whenever I get labs, my "Ts" and TSH are checked. 

Also, I always take it first thing in the morning as soon as I wake up.  I wait an hour to take my other meds and/or to eat anything.  I have been very consistent with this.  I agree with the OP that is extremely important.

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@LilacTree  If a person has hypothyroidism, it doesn't automatically mean they have Hashimotos.  That diagnosis comes from a presence of antibodies found in a blood test. 

I just wanted to let you know.

[depglass]

Oh great.  I've been on thyroid for 35 years and lately had a couple inconsistent tests.  I'm religious about taking this stuff at the same time every day and never miss a dose.  My pharmacy must shop for deals on everything.  I notice different colors of the same med in many refills, not just this one.  There will be a printed label on the bottle about the discrepancies.  Right now I'm back on monthly blood tests to get this level straightened out.  I'm mentioning this situation to my doctor. 

[LilacTree]

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@tends2dogs wrote:

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@LilacTree wrote:

@x Hedge

I was diagnosed at the age of 50 with hypothyroidism (which I believe is called Hashimoto's currently).  I was going through menopause at the time.  I did not know that was my first autoimmune disease, as the doctor either didn't know or didn't tell me. 

I was put on Synthroid and have been on it ever since (30 years).  My "T" tests have always been normal, and my TSH normal ever since.  I think the dosage was changed once from 125 mcg to 100 mcg years ago and I am on that dosage presently.  My co-pay was always $7, very inexpensive.  It did go up to $12 recently, though, which is still a bargain, as I get a 90 day supply.

I guess I was lucky that the doc hit upon the right treatment at the right time.  I've never had a problem with my thyroid since, thankfully.

I do know several women who have gone through the ups and downs that the OP has described, and have described it as a nightmare.  Whenever I get labs, my "Ts" and TSH are checked. 

Also, I always take it first thing in the morning as soon as I wake up.  I wait an hour to take my other meds and/or to eat anything.  I have been very consistent with this.  I agree with the OP that is extremely important.

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@LilacTree  If a person has hypothyroidism, it doesn't automatically mean they have Hashimotos.  That diagnosis comes from a presence of antibodies found in a blood test. 

I just wanted to let you know.

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@tends2dogs

I will be sure to be tested for Hashimoto's next labs.  However, from what I just read, having Hashimoto's leads to hypothyroidism, not the other way around.  And one can have both.  I was first diagnosed with hypothyroidism, which could mean I had Hashimoto's first.  I will find out because it makes a big difference in what I'm supposed to be eating and what I am supposed to avoid.  Thanks for the heads up.

ETA:  Since I have RA, Sjogrens, and scleroderma . . . all autoimmune diseases, I probably have Hashimoto's, because one can have hypothyroidism without having autoimmune disease.  Confusing, but I want to know what I'm saying is accurate, so I will find out.  Thanks again.