Need Help Interpreting my Thyroid Test Results

[KarenDAustin]

I have been on 50 mcg of Levothyroxine for about 10 years now, and just had my blood work done.  The difference with this lab test was that I requested it rather than my doctor...why?  Because I had been on a 15 day all-organic Juice fast prior to the test, and wanted to see if the radical change in my nutritional status could influence my thyroid function in a positive way.  I don't have my prior test results from 4 months ago,...but today's results just came back and here are the totals listed:

TSH, 3rd GEN.    1.30
FREE T4              1.24

These appear to be in the normal range listed on the report...but my question is:  with these levels on 50mcg a day, could I reduce my meds by 1/2 dose (cut the pills) and still be in a safe and healthy range??
Also, what are the long term negative side effects or risks - if any - associated with taking Levothyrixine?
Thank you so much!

[gimel]

I'm unaware of any long term issues with taking Levoxyl.   All T4 meds are just a synthetic form of T4, along with some filler material to make up the tablets.  

As I was thinking about you being on the Levoxyl for 10 years, I wondered if the doctor had ever ventured to tell you what the probable cause was?  If it was due to the most common cause, Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, then you would have needed to gradually increase your meds to offset the loss of natural thyroid.  If it was due to some type of temporary condition during pregnancy, etc,  then why have they kept you on the Levoxyl?  If it were a pituitary issue, then taking the Levoxyl would have resulted in reduced output of TSH and less natural thyroid production, thus requiring increases in your dosage.  Perhaps it is a good time to discuss all this with your doctor and get some further info.

[KarenDAustin]

Thank you, gimel.  I don't believe I have any symptoms any more, and don't mind taking the medication....but if I don't need it, will it contribute to other issues in the long run?? In other words, is there any toxicity long-term to the liver or other organs...or are there side effects and causations with long term use of levoxil?

[gimel]

Just because those test results fall within the so-called "normal" ranges does not mean that all is okay with you.  Of much greater importance is whether or not you have hypo symptoms.  If you look at this listing of 26 typical hypo symptoms, do you have any of those?

http://endocrine-system.emedtv.com/hypothyroidism/hypothyroidism-symptoms-and-signs.html

If you don't have hypo symptoms, then why would you want to be considering a change in meds?   I would not be concerned with any long term problems related to taking thyroid meds.  The risk is much greater in the other direction, namely not taking thyroid meds adequate to relieve your hypo symptoms.  Inadequate levels of thyroid hormones can have very adverse effects on your general health, such as cholesterol level and cardiac health.

If you find that you do still have some hypo symptoms listed in the link, then I suggest that you need to be tested further.  For the future you should always request to be tested for Free T3, along with Free T4 and TSH.  If the doctor resists and gives you excuses as to why it is not necessary, just insist on it and don't take no for an answer.  Free T3 is the biologically active thyroid hormone that largely regulates metabolism and many other body functions.  Scientific studies have also shown that FT3 correlated best with hypo symptoms, while FT4 and TSH did not correlate.