How do you know if your thyroid medication is too high?

Signs that you may be overmedicated include feeling more fatigued than your baseline, as well as feeling low-energy or restless despite adequate sleep. Heart palpitation is another common symptom.


What are the side effects of too much thyroid medication?

Symptoms of overdose
  • Change in consciousness.
  • cold, clammy skin.
  • disorientation.
  • fast or weak pulse.
  • lightheadedness.
  • sudden headache.
  • sudden loss of coordination.
  • sudden slurring of speech.


How do you know if your thyroid medication needs adjusting?

10 Warning Signs That Your Thyroid is Undertreated
  • You have unexpected weight changes. ...
  • It's hard to lose or gain weight. ...
  • You have diarrhea or are constipated. ...
  • You have joint and muscle aches/pains. ...
  • You are anxious and/or depressed. ...
  • You're exhausted. ...
  • You're having changes in your hair. ...
  • You're noticing skin changes.


What happens when levothyroxine is too high?

Taking more than your prescribed dose of levothyroxine can give you symptoms such as a racing heartbeat (palpitations).

How does too much thyroid hormone make you feel?

Excess levels of thyroid hormones can then speed up the body's metabolism, triggering a range of symptoms, such as: nervousness and anxiety. hyperactivity – where a person can't stay still and is full of nervous energy. unexplained or unplanned weight loss.


Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast: Overtreating an underactive thyroid



What is the downside to taking levothyroxine?

Common side effects of levothyroxine include heat intolerance, a fast heart rate, and diarrhea. More serious levothyroxine side effects are also possible. If you experience side effects like tremors or mood changes, talk to your healthcare provider as soon as you can.

How do you adjust levothyroxine if TSH is high?

TSH values that are slightly out of range may be corrected by a single dose increment or decrement, such as increasing from 100 to 112 μg or decreasing from 175 to 150 μg. TSH values that are considerably out of range may require larger percentage changes.

Can too much levothyroxine make you tired?

Extreme tiredness is a commonly reported side effect of Levothyroxine. Many people begin treatment but feel no better after starting medication, which may be because they are experiencing this effect.


What should your TSH level be while on levothyroxine?

It is generally recommended to aim for a TSH in the lower half of the normal range, ie, typically <2.5 mIU/L in patients with primary hypothyroidism on levothyroxine replacement.

How do I know my thyroid medication is not working?

Signs and symptoms that your medication for overactive thyroid isn't working may include rapid or irregular heartbeat, palpitations, increased appetite, unintentional weight loss, thin skin, brittle or fine hair, difficulty sleeping, anxiety, nervousness, irritability, tremors (shaking or trembling of the hands or ...

How do I know if my thyroid medicine is too low?

Signs Your Thyroid Medication is Too Low
  1. Weight gain.
  2. Fatigue (feeling tired all the time)
  3. Hair loss or coarse, dry hair.
  4. Constipation.
  5. Cold intolerance.
  6. Menstrual irregularities or increased flow.
  7. Depression.
  8. Pain in joints and muscles.


How do I know levothyroxine is working?

When you start levothyroxine you won't feel better the next day. You may not feel better in two weeks. But symptoms should start disappearing within a month. After six weeks of treatment, you should be almost completely free of symptoms, assuming you're at the right medication level.

How do you fix Overmedicated thyroid?

The treatment for overmedication is clear: Your healthcare practitioner will reduce your dosage of thyroid hormone replacement medication. You should also review and discuss any medications, vitamins, or supplements that may be affecting your thyroid, and determine whether to continue taking them.

Can too much levothyroxine cause weight gain?

Does Levothyroxine Cause Weight Gain? Both weight gain and weight loss are possible side effects. Many people do not take the right dosage of levothyroxine, and both undertreatment and overtreatment can have an effect on weight. Levothyroxine weight gain may be tied to undertreatment, according to the ATA.


What is a dangerously high TSH level?

A TSH over 10 mIU/L has been linked to an increased risk of coronary heart disease and heart failure, which is why you'll probably want to seek treatment if your TSH is close to (but still under) that upper limit.

What TSH level is considered severe hypothyroidism?

TSH of more than 4.0/mU/L with a low T4 level indicates hypothyroidism. If your TSH is more than 4.0 mU/L and your T4 level is normal, this may prompt your physician to test your serum anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) antibodies.

How long does it take for TSH to normalize on levothyroxine?

However, changes in the TSH level lag behind serum thyroid hormone levels. Thus, the TSH level should be evaluated no earlier than four weeks after an adjustment in the levothyroxine dosage. The full effects of thyroid hormone replacement on the TSH level may not become apparent until after eight weeks of therapy.


What does thyroid fatigue feel like?

You may feel nervous, moody, weak, or tired. Your hands may shake, your heart may beat fast, or you may have problems breathing. You may be sweaty or have warm, red, itchy skin. You may have more bowel movements than usual.

Why am I still tired on thyroid medication?

If you're already on thyroid hormone replacement medication and you're still fatigued, you probably need an increased dosage in order to help your symptoms. This will get your thyroid hormone levels into the optimal range.

Can thyroid medication make you feel worse?

There's nothing better than feeling like your healthy, usual self after taking medication for your hypothyroidism. However, if you start noticing symptoms like anxiety, fuzzy memory, diarrhea, heart palpitations or excessive sweating, this may be a sign that your underactive thyroid is being overtreated.


Can levothyroxine make your thyroid worse?

Using levothyroxine can cause changes to your levels of thyroid hormone that could make these problems worse.

Can levothyroxine damage your heart?

This is especially true in patients with heart failure. While levothyroxine replacement may improve heart failure, it is possible that in this group it could have harmful effects, especially if the levothyroxine dose is too high.

Why was levothyroxine taken off the market?

The FDA found that the substandard practices could be risky due to inconsistent levels of the active ingredient. Inconsistent levels of medication could lead to risks associated with over- or undertreating hypothyroidism, which the FDA notes “could result in permanent or life-threatening adverse health consequences.”


Is it better to take levothyroxine in the morning or at night?

There is consensus that levothyroxine should be taken in the morning on an empty stomach. A pilot study showed that levothyroxine intake at bedtime significantly decreased thyrotropin levels and increased free thyroxine and total triiodothyronine levels.

How can I tell if my thyroid is working properly?

One of the most definitive ways to diagnose a thyroid problem is through blood tests. Thyroid blood tests are used to tell if your thyroid gland is functioning properly by measuring the amount of thyroid hormones in your blood. These tests are done by taking blood from a vein in your arm.