Just started Levoxyl & question

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-05-2004
Just started Levoxyl & question
1
Mon, 08-09-2004 - 9:35am
I've been on Levoxyl for about 10 days now after being diagnosed with Hypothyroidism. The dr. said 'you should be feeling better soon' as I was leaving the office. I guess my question is what constitutes 'soon'? When can I expect a change in how sleepy I am, or hair loss, or in my metabolism (weight loss)for that matter? Does it take a few weeks on the medicine or should I have started to feel better by now? I guess I don't expect a miracle, but was hoping to feel some change..............

TIA,

Kelly

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-09-2001
Mon, 08-09-2004 - 10:59am
Hi Kelly and welcome - Everyone reacts differently to the medication. You may start to feel better after the first two weeks and it may take up to 3 months for it to be fully in your system and for you to feel the full efffects. You'll be going back for a blood test in a few weeks and the doctor will check to see what your TSH levels are then. If it looks like the dose is working for you, then you'll stay on it at that dose. But if it looks like you need to have it increased for it to work more effectively, then he or she will increase it at that time.

Some things clear up sooner than others, too. You may find the fatigue lifting sooner than your metabolism increasing. Your mood may also get better sooner than later. I think the metabolism/weight loss issue depends very much on having the correct dose of medication. A normal thyroid measures between 1.0 and 2.0, not the high end of 5.5 or even 3.0 that comes back on lab tests. So you need to have your thyroid between that true normal range to see the real benefits of the medication. Hair loss is an issue that depends on the right amount of medication - if you're taking too little, your hair may continue to fall out but less. So you need the right amount of medication for that one, too. There is a series in the Diet & Fitness folder on boosting your metabolism. Check out the steps because they're good ones for dealing with weight loss as well. (Step one is actually in this folder here. I'll have to move it down there!!)

Evening Primrose Oil, 1000 mg, twice a day and L-Lysine, 500 mg a day, are both good for hair loss issues.

Did your doctor tell you to take your medication first thing in the morning on an empty stomach? Don't take anything to eat for an hour after taking your medication, and don't take any other vitamins, supplements or medicine at the same time either. It's good to wait an hour for those, too. Iron and calcium supplements need a 4 hour wait. Anything taken with your medication can interfere with it's absortion. Some people wake up early and take their meds, then go back to sleep. Some take them before going to bed, but I've heard it's better to take it in the AM.

I hope this helps! Feel free to ask any other qiestions you might have! Cathy :)