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Synthroid every other day?
I have hypothyroid and am prescribed synthroid every day. Here's the thing, after about 14 days I "tip over" into what feels like (has symptoms of) hyperthyroidism (My doctor said I had a toxic level of medication in my system the last time this happened.). At that point I go off the meds for about 10 days to clear my system and start over. My doctor told me I metabolize "weird". He suggested alternating 25 and 50 every other day, but after 14 days...BOOM. I'm "tipped over" again and I am suffering. Has anyone ever heard of taking the medicine every other day? I really have to find the right balance soon, I can't keep going like this. My doctor said I just have to find the right balance, but he's not sure what it is. I want to do what is healthy and safe, has anyone any suggestions? Thank you!
I am surprised that either dosage would be considered adequate. When you start on thyroid med, the TSH drops, thus reducing the stimulation of the thyroid gland and output of thyroid hormone. Since serum thyroid is the sum of both natural thyroid and thyroid med, the net result is that serum levels don't really increase until the TSH is essentially suppressed. After that further increases in med dosage will start to increase Free T4 and Free T3 levels, which should then be adjusted as needed to relieve hypothyroid symptoms.
Thyroid med dosage must be adequate to relieve hypothyroid symptoms without creating any hyperthyroid symptoms. That "sweet spot" in the middle is called euthyroidism. Euthyroidism will not be achieved with med dosages like 25 or 50 mcg of T4. Note the following quote from a recent, excellent scientific study.
" Hypothyroid symptom relief was associated with both a T4 dose giving TSH-suppression below the lower reference limit and FT3 elevated further into the upper half of its reference range." Achieving that level of FT3 also frequently requires the addition of a source of T3 to meds.
Thyroid med dosage must be adequate to relieve hypothyroid symptoms without creating any hyperthyroid symptoms. That "sweet spot" in the middle is called euthyroidism. Euthyroidism will not be achieved with med dosages like 25 or 50 mcg of T4. Note the following quote from a recent, excellent scientific study.
" Hypothyroid symptom relief was associated with both a T4 dose giving TSH-suppression below the lower reference limit and FT3 elevated further into the upper half of its reference range." Achieving that level of FT3 also frequently requires the addition of a source of T3 to meds.
My pharmacist, who has proven himself to be quite competent, suggests not to alternate 25 and 50. Instead go with 37.5 by splitting the 25 and the 1+1/2 of it.
I am experiencing the exact same symptoms. I went googling today to see if I could find any relief in your question popped up. I can’t believe someone else is going through the exact same thing. Did you end up finding something that works for you? I swear that the doctors I am dealing with think I am a hypochondriac
I just saw your post. I take 50 mcg's of synthroid every other day and I feel like a million bucks after doing so. I did it on my own because I felt and looked like **** when taking it everyday. I skip the medicine entirely every other day. It's a mistake to take two different doses every other day. Just stick with one dose every other day and give your body a total rest from the medicine every other day. I don't know why it works but it works. I never even told my doctor because they are clueless with coming up out of the box solutions and he would have discounted my idea. Give it a shot and you will see I'm right. I wish you the best of health.
2 Comments
I'm not sure which of the previous posters you're answering, but you've responded to a very old post and most of them are no longer active on the forum, so it's unlikely you'll get a response.
I'm happy to hear that it works for you to take your medication every other day... that does work for some people, but you've basically cut your dosage in half from what was prescribed and that doesn't work for everyone because some people would go completely hypo if they did that.
Some people need dosages that are in between the manufactured dosages, so sometimes it's necessary to alternate two different dosages in order to average them over 2 days. For instance, if 25 mcg/day is not enough, but 50 mcg/day is too much, there isn't a manufactured dosage in between, so one could take 50 mcg one day and 25 mcg the next for a total of 75 mcg; that would average out to 37.5 mcg/day. I, personally, have alternated dosages many times in my 10-year journey of hypothyroidism in order to get the right dosage averaged out over a 2 or 3 day period.
I'm happy to hear that it works for you to take your medication every other day... that does work for some people, but you've basically cut your dosage in half from what was prescribed and that doesn't work for everyone because some people would go completely hypo if they did that.
Some people need dosages that are in between the manufactured dosages, so sometimes it's necessary to alternate two different dosages in order to average them over 2 days. For instance, if 25 mcg/day is not enough, but 50 mcg/day is too much, there isn't a manufactured dosage in between, so one could take 50 mcg one day and 25 mcg the next for a total of 75 mcg; that would average out to 37.5 mcg/day. I, personally, have alternated dosages many times in my 10-year journey of hypothyroidism in order to get the right dosage averaged out over a 2 or 3 day period.
Hi
So how long you have been alternating 50 mg of synthroid dose
So how long you have been alternating 50 mg of synthroid dose
I assume you are talking about 25 mcg of a T4 med? If so, T4 has a half life of a bit less than a week, so yes, you can take different doses on alternate days. More importantly, that is such a small dose you are unlikely to get any benefit from it since your body will respond by reducing your TSH level and in turn that will reduce the output of natural thyroid hormone. Since total serum levels of thyroid hormone.are the sum of both natural thyroid hormone and thyroid med, the net effect will be negligible. If you will please post your thyroid related test results and reference ranges we will be better able to assess your status.
We'd be happy to try and help assess your condition it you will tell us more. How long were you on the 250 mcg of T4 (I assume)? What were the symptoms that caused you to go off the med? What symptoms did you have when off the med. Please post your thyroid related test results and reference ranges shown on the lab report.
2 Comments
Hey good people. I would to know if there could be some adverse effects of taking 25mcg on alternate days
You've attached to a very old thread and few of the previous posters are active on the forum, at this time. For best results, you should start your own new thread, explaining your situation, including current labs, with reference ranges.
You don't say what you're taking 25 mcg of, so we really can't answer your question adequately. If it's T4 thyroid hormone, taking 25 mcg every other day would give you 12.5 mcg/day, which is a minute amount and would probably not do a whole lot for you, but again, we don't know your situation.
You don't say what you're taking 25 mcg of, so we really can't answer your question adequately. If it's T4 thyroid hormone, taking 25 mcg every other day would give you 12.5 mcg/day, which is a minute amount and would probably not do a whole lot for you, but again, we don't know your situation.
I have the same issues been to er, I am going to start every other day this w eek at half the dose of .25. I went off for months because I got so bad.
1 Comments
I have been experiencing the same so I break the .25 in half and take it every other day...not sure but symptoms have improved slightly.
Have you had your adrenals checked out?
If you have poor adrenal function it will affect thyroid function. Treating the thyroid before treating the adrenal issue will cause problems.
IF you have an adrenal problem, it must be addressed before or in conjunction with your thyroid problem, prefferably before.
Just a thought.
If you have poor adrenal function it will affect thyroid function. Treating the thyroid before treating the adrenal issue will cause problems.
IF you have an adrenal problem, it must be addressed before or in conjunction with your thyroid problem, prefferably before.
Just a thought.
Is the alternating working for you? I like your suggestion, I'm going to tell my doctor about it. Last time I saw him he said my levels were a little low on the 50 every day but within acceptable margins. I think he doesn't want me too low, but I can't live with what the docs think is normal. I had to go to the hospital the first time I "tipped over" from hypo to hyper and the test showed my thyroid level as completely normal when in fact I was in severe hyperthyroid at the time. When my thyroid is low I feel great! It really makes me question whether to take the medicine or not. Any advice would be so helpful!
You may ask your doctor for a copy of your labs. I ask for a copy every single time.
The systems that you are describing sounds more hyper. Why doesn;t he put you on 37.5 or let you take 5 days on 25mg and 2 days of 50 mg.
I was going throught the same thing as you. Right now I take 5 days of 100 and 2 days of 112 and my TSH is now 1.42.
T
The systems that you are describing sounds more hyper. Why doesn;t he put you on 37.5 or let you take 5 days on 25mg and 2 days of 50 mg.
I was going throught the same thing as you. Right now I take 5 days of 100 and 2 days of 112 and my TSH is now 1.42.
T
I don't actually know my levels, my doctor doesn't tell me. I do know that he doesn't consider my problem to be a bad one. My symptoms are: a feeling in my upper chest of rushing adrenaline that is so bad that I think I will faint or have a heart attack, shakiness, sweating, head spinning and also really dry skin. It's all tied to the feeling of rushing adrenaline. From what I've read it's what hyperthyroidism feels like, so I say I've tipped over into hyper from hypo because that's what it feels like. My doctor said something about metabolizing the medicine "weird" and accumulating too much in my system. (He's right, I've had trouble all my life because I do metabolize medicines strangely. He's not the first doctor to be confused by me.) If you can give me any advice on this I would be so grateful, so appreciative. Thank you!
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