synthorid vs levothyroxine question

[Calore]

Originally Posted by ErinBeth

If, after switching to the Synthroid you then stay with the Synthroid, it won't matter whether feeling better is due to the Synthroid or an increased dose. The goal is to feel better, even really good, and to stay with the same brand whether a refill is an increase or the same dose.

Erinbeth
I want to reach that goal!!!! =to feel better Originally I started on Euthyrox, levothyroxine sodium ( MERCK) and when that wasnt available took + still take Eltroxin thyroxine sodium(GlaxoSmithKline). Is there a difference in the two medicines or they are the same, just different names?
For the last 6 months I have fatigue, slight vertigo, joint pain and my TSH is 3.53; FT3 is 2.88 ( 2.57-4.43pg/ml). From 4-8pm I am like a zombie! NO cytomel, armour or thyrolar available.
I am on Eltroxin 100mcq 4 days a week and 75mcq the other 3 days. If I 'up' the dose, I feel irritable, have palpitations, insomnia, etc.
What can you advise? I live overseas which options are extremely limited. Please help
Thanks
Carol

[Calore]

Originally Posted by ErinBeth

If, after switching to the Synthroid you then stay with the Synthroid, it won't matter whether feeling better is due to the Synthroid or an increased dose. The goal is to feel better, even really good, and to stay with the same brand whether a refill is an increase or the same dose.

Erinbeth
I want to reach that goal!!!! =to feel better Originally I started on Euthyrox, levothyroxine sodium ( MERCK) and when that wasnt available took + still take Eltroxin thyroxine sodium(GlaxoSmithKline). Is there a difference in the two medicines or they are the same, just different names?
For the last 6 months I have fatigue, slight vertigo, joint pain and my TSH is 3.53; FT3 is 2.88 ( 2.57-4.43pg/ml). From 4-8pm I am like a zombie! NO cytomel, armour or thyrolar available.
I am on Eltroxin 100mcq 4 days a week and 75mcq the other 3 days. If I 'up' the dose, I feel irritable, have palpitations, insomnia, etc.
What can you advise? I live overseas which options are extremely limited. Please help. Oh my serum Calcium is 10.6mg/dl ( 8.5-10.2 range). I was on 1.2g of Calcium daily and stopped it. What might the elevated calcium indicate?

Thanks
Carol

[ErinBeth]

Calore, Euthyrox and Eltroxin (Canadian, I think) are other brand names for the T4 hormone, levothyroxine. Euthyrox, Eltroxin, Synthroid, Levothroid, Levoxyl, and Unithroid are just different brand names for the same hormone. I don't think it matters which one you take as long as you stick with the same brand.

Your TSH is too high and your FT3 too low, IMO. I think you need a dose increase, a leveling period and another lab. If you search posts on my name, you'll see that's how I finally got better. Dose. Adjust. Lab. Dose increase. Adjust. Lab. Dose increase .... like that until now when I can say I feel rather great for a 62-year-old woman.

[Calore]

Originally Posted by ErinBeth

Calore, Euthyrox and Eltroxin (Canadian, I think) are other brand names for the T4 hormone, levothyroxine. Euthyrox, Eltroxin, Synthroid, Levothroid, Levoxyl, and Unithroid are just different brand names for the same hormone. I don't think it matters which one you take as long as you stick with the same brand.

Your TSH is too high and your FT3 too low, IMO. I think you need a dose increase, a leveling period and another lab. If you search posts on my name, you'll see that's how I finally got better. Dose. Adjust. Lab. Dose increase. Adjust. Lab. Dose increase .... like that until now when I can say I feel rather great for a 62-year-old woman.

Erinbeth
I am going through the process of dose.adjust.lab.dose adjust and maybe I am just being impatient. This all started in Jan06 which I suppose isnt that long ago but I am not my 'ole self' . You know how frustrating that is I have to think in advance how I am going to do a.b.c. as I just get fatigued too easily
I thought I had an 'on the ball' endo ( who lives hours and hours away) who wanted me with a TSH of 1-2 and the other day when she knew it was 3.5+ she said, thats normal
Very strange I think.
I really appreciate your input.
Is there a chat room for folks like us in cyber space?

THANKS again for your patience too
Carol

[jenn3]

Originally Posted by ErinBeth

If, after switching to the Synthroid you then stay with the Synthroid, it won't matter whether feeling better is due to the Synthroid or an increased dose. The goal is to feel better, even really good, and to stay with the same brand whether a refill is an increase or the same dose.

erinbeth,
this is true, but what if i don't feel right with the switch or become hyper instead of hypo, then i wouldn't know if it was from upping or switching to the synthroid, right???
i really want to know my exact levels on my new blood so i could post them and someone here could tell me if i could up. I kept asking dr and all he kept saying is was "mid of normal" and if i want i can up alittle and he will give me copies of my labs when i come in for my appointment in 2 weeks. So maybe i will wait 2 weeks to do anything and now i just read that you are not supposed to take med morning of labs. I take my pill early in the morning and then like 3 hours later i went for my blood.
This whole thyroid thing is really stressing me out.
jennifer