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What dosage do most people start at?

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Cleveland
Cleveland

I was recently diagnosed with hypothyroidism. (TSH level 5.62) I've been taking 25 mcg of synthroid for 3 weeks and have not noticed ANY changes. I'm 49 and otherwise very healthy. Based upon my weight, the research I did showed I should have started at 87.5-100 mcg.  Then again, the internet has been known to have incorrect information.  What have others started with?

0 likes, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • mebooboo
    mebooboo Cleveland

    Posted

    Your situation sounds quite similar to mine. I had a TSH level of 7.04 on a blood test a few months ago and was put on 25 mg of levothyroxine. I am relatively otherwise healthy and felt no difference until just recently. I was actually going to stop taking the meds until I realized I was less tired and able to get through the weekend without napping. I believe it may take a couple of months to build up in your system. Hope this helps and best wishes.
    • Cleveland
      Cleveland mebooboo

      Posted

      So about 2 months?  Did you notice any other improvements to symptoms outside of feeling less tired?
  • christine53440
    christine53440 Cleveland

    Posted

    That would be a normal dose to start at and they may increase it in time. I have Hashimoto's disease, which is Hypothyrodism. I started out on synthroid in 2004. I noticed that they were making me feel worse, and in 2007 was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. I found a doctor that would switch me to Armour and found some improvement. I am now on Nature-Throid and I have just found a doctor who will test all the T's. T1, T2, T3 and T4. You can still have a TSH reading in the normal range and be symptomatic. That is because your body is suppose to convert the T4's to T3's and some people have a problem with this conversion. Armour and Nature-Throid have both T4's and T3's. I suggest you do some research and then ask your doctor. If he or she does not test all the T's, find a new doctor. I wish I would have known this from the beginning. Would have improved my quality of life years ago. I am seeing my new doctor next Friday and I am really excited to see how he turns out. Of course I asked them if they test all the T's on the phone before making the appointment.

    • Cleveland
      Cleveland christine53440

      Posted

      Thank you for your informative response.  Do you see a Specialist?  I hadn't been to a GP in probably a decade.  I went in for a regular check-up and the bloodwork revealed the thyroid problem.  I was blaming all of my problems on getting older.  Can I ask how you were feeling worse after starting synthroid? 

  • sweetmelissa
    sweetmelissa Cleveland

    Posted

    I too have Hashimoto's which caused hypothoidism and 25mcg is definitely the starting dose.  My doctor did a retest and raised my dose, every 4 to 6 weeks before I got to my correct dosage.  They must raise it slowly or else you will have bad side effects such as dizziness, sweating, jittery, clammy, diahrrea, fast heart .  rate..ect.  For myself, I couldn't even drink my morning coffee because the levo at first, gave me a bad speedy feeling.  But, it went away and now I feel great.  Levo worked wonders for me and many others, but it's not for everyone.  All together, it took me close to a year to get to my correct dose.  We didn't develope hypothyroidism overnight, and it can seem forever to get our bodys feeling normal again, but it will happen.  Try to have patients.  So, anyway, yes, it's a normal starting dose. 

    • Cleveland
      Cleveland sweetmelissa

      Posted

      If not too personal, what dosage did you end up at?  Is Levo just a different brand?  Did you have jittery side effects when you first started taking it or after the dosage had been upped?  When did you first notice ANY positive changes?  What symptoms did you start with?
    • sweetmelissa
      sweetmelissa Cleveland

      Posted

      Yes levothyroxine is just the generic form of Synthroid and I am now at 100mcg, which seems to be doing good for me.  My TSH is at around 1.00, which my thyroid doctor told me, is where his patients feel best at.  Also.. yes, when I first started taking it, I felt very jittery and like a bad speedy feeling.  But, that;s why the doses are raised very slow.  My symptoms that I started out were, Hair loss, thinning and breaking, dry skin, constipation, low blood pressure, slow heart rate, freezing cold all the time, naseous all the time, thinning eye brows, bloated belly, tired all the time, no energy, anxiety and depression.  Now.. most of my symptoms went away.  The only thin I am dealing with is my hair that is breaking ans still falling out.. I just bought some bamboo leaf tea, because of the silica in it, to help with my hair.  Also.. it took about a year to get to my correct dose and I very slowly, started to feel better over a few months time.  I really didn't notice much of a difference until about a year on the meds and when my TSH hit 1.00.  Now I feel amazing.. but yes, it takes some time.

  • dave64969
    dave64969 Cleveland

    Posted

    Wise to start with a low dose and be aware that it can take weeks to show any effects. Can you get your blood tested again in a month or so. My guess is you might need a bit more.
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