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levithroxin dosage with Hashimoto's

I was recently diagnosed with Hashimoto's(TSH of 7.7). The doctor prescribed 175 MCG per day five days of each week and 262 MCG per day for two days per week.   Has anyone else been prescribed thyroid medication under a similar schedule???
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Avatar universal
Were you started on those dosages?  Were you having symptoms?  If so, what were they and how severe?  Based on the little info so far, I'd be very leery of  that doctor.
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Avatar universal
I have been on hypothyroid medication for 6-7 years; started at 75 mcg.  Level has fluctuated over the years most recently at 150 last year.  The dosage was 150 for 5 days per week and 175 for two days per week.   2-3 months ago my tsh was 6.2 and the dose was increased to 175 five days per week and 150 two days per week.  After +-6 weeks on that dose, my tsh increased to 7.7. The doctor increased my dosage to 262 two days per week and 175 five days per week.  I noticed I get headaches on the dates I take 262 mcg.   My symptoms included depression,etc.  My wife believes my thyroid has been off for a long time.  I had my doctor test for Hashimoto's this last lab which came back positive.  I am scheduled to recheck tsh later this month.
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Avatar universal
Diagnosing and medicating a hypo patient based on TSH is an exercise in futility.  Doctors like to believe that TSH is the best measure of thyroid status;however, TSH cannot be shown to correlate well with either of the biologically active thyroid hormones, Free T3 or Free T4, much less correlate with symptoms, which are the most important consideration for a hypo patient.  Scientific studies have shown that Free T3 correlates best with hypo symptoms, while Free T4 and TSH did not correlate at all.This is only logical since Free T3 largely regulates metabolism and many other body functions.  That is why many members say that symptom relief for them required that Free T3 be adjusted into the upper part of its range and Free T4 adjusted to around the middle of its range.

A good thyroid doctor will treat a hypo patient clinically by testing and adjusting Free T3 and Free T4 as necessary to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels.  You can get some good insight into clinical treatment from this letter written by a good thyroid doctor for patients that he sometimes consults with after initial tests and evaluation.  The letter is then sent to the participating doctor of the patient to help guide treatment.  In the letter, please note the statement, "the ultimate
criterion for dose adjustment must always be the clinical response of the patient."

http://hormonerestoration.com/files/ThyroidPMD.pdf

In addition, hypo patients are frequently too low in the ranges for Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin.  All are very important for a hypo patient.  You should also request tests for those, in addition to being tested for Free T3 and Free T4 each time you go in for tests.  When already taking thyroid meds, TSH is basically a wasted of time and money to test.  

When you have additional test results, please post , along with reference ranges, and members will be glad to help interpret and advise further.  

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