Confused about Synthroid Prescription

brown092901 · 04-16-2007, 07:00 PM

Hello Cysters,
You may have seen me posting like a maniac on other threads about my thyroid "issue" (or lack thereof...), so I would LOVE some advice from the thyroid experts here!!!

I am on 1500mg Metformin, which I started in October 2006. I was doing fine until about 6 weeks ago when my hair started falling out like crazy.

I also have some general symptoms that some might classify as hypothyroid, such as generally cold, always cold hands and feet, dry skin, brittle hair, lethargy etc...

After a panic-ridden call to my RE about my hair, he did some blood work and decided to put me on a 6 week trial of Synthroid, 50mcg.

My TSH was 2.245 uu/mL and my T4 was 1.11 ng/dl

I am concerned that these lab values are actually quite normal, and I'm afraid to treat a thyroid issue that isn't there. I've read some sites that recommend treatment when TSH is above 2.0, but mine is JUST above 2.0.

I do trust this RE, but I would like the opinions of some Cysters who have had success with thyroid treatment on whether this makes sense to them.

Thank you in advance,

Amanda

~Sandra · 04-16-2007, 07:08 PM

I would definitely treat it. My Endo and OBGYN like my TSH to be below 2. A lot of people that I know with hypothyroidism say they feel their best at around 1.5.
Synthroid is a relatively mild drug and 50mcg is a low dose.

bobandjess99 · 04-17-2007, 11:41 PM

***I*** can NOT get pregnant at 2.2
I know this after 4+ years of infertility. I was ovulating perfectly at 2 for a YEAR with no conception.....upped the synthroid dosage, went down to 1.3....WHAM preggo in 12 days!!~!!!

Just my experience...I really advocate thyroid meds......and, like the pp said..synthroid is a VERY gentle drug...nothing compared to met..

mommavia · 04-18-2007, 03:53 PM

Your lab values are quite normal, however everyone has their own normal. While some people feel best below 2.0, others feel best closer to 3. I have a very unusal thyroid history (see my profile) and my TSH is kept less than 0.1.

I am curious to know why your RE prescribed the Synthroid when you don't really have a thyroid condition. While Synthroid is a mild drug (at your dose), I am leary of docs who prescribe meds for no real reason...your RE should have done more extensive bloodwork to determine if Synthroid was really necessary. And if your RE is not well versed in thyroid dysfunction he should have referred you to an endo who is.

Cynthia

brown092901 · 04-18-2007, 04:11 PM

Thanks for the advice ladies!

Mommavia: The RE prescribed Synthroid because I recently started having "unexplained" hairloss and low energy. He said generally these S/E can be attributed to Metformin, however I had been on Met for a while without any of these S/E and my dose did not change. So, he was prescribing a "trial" of Synthroid for 6 weeks to see if that helps.

The piece I am missing is my prior TSH levels. Maybe my TSH has increased since I started Metformin treatment, I'm not sure....

I'm with you, though. I have no desire to add medication to my day "just in case". That is why I was wondering if a 2.2 TSH was reason enough for other women to receive treatment?

I was hoping you'd see this and respond, I've followed your postings, and you are so knowledgeable.

Thanks again!
Amanda

mommavia · 04-19-2007, 02:26 AM

Having a pre-Met TSH would be helpful, but I was too wondering if some of your symptoms could be from the Met. Eventhough you have been on it for a while, you could still have new syptoms...kind of like becoming allergic to an antibiotic eventhough you taken it several times before. It just really surprised me to read that your RE put you on a trail-run of Synthroid, that just seems odd to me! Keep us posted on how you are doing!

Cynthia