Connect
High T4 level
I have hypothyroidism but a few days ago was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism due to my T4 level. My primary care physician has lowered my Levothyroxine from 75mcg to 50. Why is it necessary to continue this medication at this time since it seems to me that it will continue to increase the iodine in my body? I’m continuing to have the same symptoms of palpitations and shakiness and headaches. My dose was just lowered yesterday.
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Diabetes & Endocrine System Support Group.
Connect
@jmathis Hello and welcome to Connect. I'm sorry it took me a while to notice your discussion. I have had a thyroid condition called Hashimoto's Thyroiditis which often made my thyroid hormone levels too low or "hypothyroid", but it can also speed it up into "hyperthyroid". I am taking desiccated pig thyroid natural hormones for this. Levothyroxin is a synthetic form of some of the hormones which the body needs to convert to other components. T4 is one of the stages of thyroid hormones. It's complex as one form gets converted to another, and your doctor must adjust the dosage and measure your levels.
Symptoms like you describe with palpitations and shakiness happen when the thyroid is doing too much or the hormone levels are too high because the dosage of Levothyroxin is too high. This according to my doctor can start to cause Afib, and that can be linked to formation blood clots, so it is important to keep working with your doctor to get it right. Make sure to report your symptoms to them. This doesn't increase iodine levels in your body; it is just hormones that tell the body how to function. I had similar symptoms to you at one time when my thyroid sped up on it's own which then made my normal dose of pig hormones an overdose. Some patients do better with the natural form of pig hormones because they have trouble converting to the other components. A brand name for this is Armour Thyroid. There is also an NP thyroid from a different manufacturer.
Has your doctor retested you since lowering your dosage and have your symptoms improved?