[Anonymous]

#1077034

First, I would recommend that you find out directly from the doctor — or, barring that, your pharmacist — whether what you have suggested as an alternative would be OK. We are not medically qualified to give that specific type of information.

But to answer some of your other questions:

I don’t think that it makes a whole lot of difference to have fluctuations between doses on some type of regular basis. The TSH reading, which is the one doctors go by for evaluating how effective your replacement dose is, is essentially a running average, and it does not fluctuate much with minor ups and downs. Also, adding to the pool of T4 in the blood would not “rev” you up, because there is, normally, always excess T4 in the blood waiting to be converted to T3 which IS used in the cells.

Synthroid would not lose potency being broken in half. But breaking pills in half can result in loss (some of the medication gets pulverized when I try breaking pills in half), so it would make sense to me that NOT breaking a pill in half would be a better choice, provided the results were the same, ultimate dose. But, again, that really is a question for your doctor to weigh in on.

I hope this helps,
Bobbi — NGDF Online Facilitator

[Anonymous]

#1020395

Hi,

I have be reading the latest thread regarding alternating strengths. I have a comment and question regarding that. I am allergic to various color/dye in medications including Synthroid. The only Synthroid doseage that does not contain dye is the .50 pill….so currently I take 2 50’s (equiv. to 100) on Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri, and 2 50’s plus 1/2 a 50 (I break the pill in half) on Thurs, and Sunday (equiv. to 125). My doc recently upped my doesage because my tsh went up to 7.15. She wants me to add an extra 50 per week….so I would be taking 2 50’s on M,T, W and F, and 3 50’s (150) on Thurs, and Sun.

I understand that T4 builds up in your body and is converted as needed….but…finally to my question. Would it be more consistent for me to take 125 (2 50’s plus a 1/2 pill) say on M, W, F, Sun and take 2 50’s (100) on Tues, Thurs, Sat. rather than simply taking an extra full 50 pill on Thurs, and Sun….or would it make no difference at all. Over a week, it would still be the same dose (800 per week).

Also, does breaking the pills in 1/2 cause any problems, such as losing potency once broken etc…

It would be easier for me to simply take a extra 50 (no breaking involved) twice a week but I’m just afraid doing it that way will cause too make fluctuations and that breaking it up to an extra 25 4 days a week would be better for my body, less ups and downs. Anyone have any thoughts on this situation?

Thanks

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