Side effects from Thyroxine

I had no idea that it causes problems with your heart, is that why it is beating so fast.

I'm 17 and i was diagnosed with congenital hypothyroidism (i was born without a thyroid gland) when i was a few days old, and ever since then i've been taking levothyroxine every morning and will have to do so for the rest of my life. Through growing up, my parents nor my doctor ever actually explained to me about why my condition was, so i undertook my own research to find out more information. I came across this article, and i agree, my medication does have side affects on me when i take them, and i have actually had most of the side affects that can occur from this condition, such as fatigue, a metabolic dysfunction (some times i gain weight easily, sometimes i loose weight easily) and i've also had similar side affects that could be linked with ADHD. I was also tested for dyslexia as i show similar symptoms, such as being slow at processing information, being unable to concentrate, and some other symptoms. The results showed that i am not dyslexic, but i do have those symptoms in general. As i was saying, i also have similar symptoms as ADHD, and when i researched whether the conditions are linked, i found several sources that say people with thyroid conditions can commonly also get extremely similar side affects as ADHD. growing up with this condition has been very hard, and it has affected my ability to socialise and communicate with others.

I have also developed both anxiety, and social anxiety.

Unless you are reacting to a particular ingredient in the tablet, it is not the medication but the condition which makes you feel unwell.

When you have too much thyroxine hormone in your body, you will feel unwell(hyperthyroid) - and similarly when you have too little (hypothyroid) you will feel unwell.

The difficult challenge is to get the levels right for YOU and it can take quite a time to get you balanced.

Good luck in the battle.

Most people do not know that the medications can cause you just as much distress as the dysfunction itself. These drugs are bonded together with agents that are foreign in our bodies as well as the man-made hormone that we are putting into it. So for most people its a matter of dealing with the side effects of the problem and the side effects of the medication.

The best way to deal with anything is to educate yourself, and don't rely on one or two articles, really get out there and find the answers you seek. Know what you are talking about when you go into the doctors office and let the doctor know all your symptoms.

I am going on a month of no medication and surprisingly enough, i still feel just as "fine" as i have the last 10 years taking the medications. I don't know what is in store for me yet but i am certain that ill figure it out. Good luck to all of you on your journey as well.

It can however be very dangerous to stop taking medication in certain cases eg severe hypo/hyper thyroidism, so it is always safer to discuss your thyroid issues fully with your doctor..

We are all very different.

Oh, definitely. I am not saying don't take your medications. It was my doctor who wanted me to stop taking it. I was very doubtful at first and then i decided to go ahead....i know it can take up to closer to two months for the hormones to get out of your system...so i'm not totally out of the woods yet.

It's good that you are feeling good though, Michelle. Hope it continues

:o i do get dry skin and thinning of the hair. i talked to my doctor about it, and they made me feel like i was crazy. when i was first prescribed meds for hypo the doctor didnt tell me that i needed to take it or i could go into a coma basically said it was important because if not it would affect how i felt. and that i needed to take it everyday, that is just about all they said. i could have died or worse a coma. when i was first prescibed it i didnt take it everyday once in a while. i didnt feel a difference. i took it a couple times a week and no more than every other day sometimes 2 days in a row but then i would forget for a couple days. i never knew this medicence had side affects. my doctor made me feel like i was crazy. i told him i thought the dry skin was from all or one of the meds i was taking. > ugh. i used to be on levothyroxine antidepressants, antianxiety and tranquilizers to help me sleep. i didnt feel rested alot but i sleep more and i think i was more rested than i am now. i feel like i going crazy, my skin felt really dry and itchy. he said my dryness wasnot related to my medicence but i insisted and now my skin is less dry, i don t sleep alot but my skin is less dry. im not sure which is worse. but i found a lotion for my dryness that helps some.

To musicislovely... it sounds to me that you would benefit greatly from sitting down with your doctor and talking through all your symptoms and medications and all your concerns.

If you do not feel your current GP is the right one for this, could you possibly see one of the others in your practice who others may have said was more empathetic?

And ask for a longer appointment, so that the GP won't feel rushed.

Hope you feel better soon.

i have a new gp. he is much better. i have had him about over 3 months i think. he is the one that gave me the new dose. the old one always said i was fine. he gave me the brush off. when i was first prescibed with hypo i wasnt on health insurance. :'( but was able to get medicence.but they left out things. they mentioned i needed it for life but never said i could die if i didnt take it. i was very lax about it. i felt crummy anyway when i was taking it so to me it was pointless. and i think for a while i stopped taking it but that wasnt too long no longer than 2 months max probably less.

It is the long term effects of untreated severe hypothroidism which are the most risky and I think you would have lots of other warnings and symptoms that would have alerted you and your doctors to a very serious problem if you had come any where to a fatal stage, so please don't go worrying about that now.

Hope you start feeling better soon.

Hi, I have been on thyroxine for the past 12 years, i haven't had too much trouble until about 18 months ago. About that time my dosage was increased by 25mg and I went from the generic brand to eutroxsig. Sometime later My Dr said that my levels were a little too high but that was Okay. The past year I have gained over 20kgs, I have suffered from aching muscles, swollen , burning feet, dry itchy skin, heart palpitations( heart rate 4 days ago was 128bpm), raised blood pressure, fatigue and now depression (the final straw) has snook in, there's probably something else I have forgotten lol. I also have swelling above both collar bones and yesterday swollen painful glands under my jaw. Blood tests have indicated over the past 12 months with another Dr, elevated liver enzymes and too much thyroxine. Talked to another one of my drs today and he said from blood tests performed 5 weeks ago,neither of were out of the ordinary. I am very confused, unwell and miserable. I stopped taking thyroxine and started to feel better, but afraid of the consequences I started on a lower dose only to start feeling worse, the swelling above collar bones is still there and not decreased. I have had further blood tests today and having ultrasound on my neck tomorrow. It is very comforting to know that there are other people out there that are going through similar problems to me. It seems Drs are not really interested in thyroid problems. Can anyone give me some advice, someone who has gone through similar it would be of great help. Thanks

Most endocrinologists are diabetes specialists, there is no glory in UAT!!! I too suffered terribly when I was taking levothyroxine, until I realised it wasn't working for me, luckily I found a doctor who prescribed natural thyroxine and although things are nowhere near perfect at least I can function!!