Side effects from Thyroxine

All of the above.  I had all of those side effects, I also was so tired I had to nap every day.  Good news is, my side effects went away after 2-3 months.  Thyroid medication takes a long time to take effect (3 months) even though the side effects are almost instant.  Look after yourself as much as possible right now, it should get better, if not see your doctor.

Reading over these posts explains why I, too, have bursitis. My doctor dropped my levels from 200 mcg per day to 100 in a very short period of time. She never said why but the days of people being too stupid to ask docs why they come to decisions are over. I know that long term meds attack the liver, maybe that is why she did it. I was better off on 200 mcg.

Hi I had thyroid cancer 2 years ago and had my thyroid removed. I HAVE to take 225 mg to stop cancer cells forming. My t4 level has to be 0.01, that's why I'm on a high dosage. I suffer with aches and pains, tiredness, e.d, yeh I'm only 45 and they didn't tell this could happen when I had radiation treatment at Christies in Manchester. BUT hey I'm alive and enjoying life just gotta get some Viagra.

Dont take this medication.   It has sooo many side effects.   Endocrinologists  no nothing and are not really interested in the whole you.   Look up Dr Erika Schartz London and New York.   She is great.    Listen to her on the Thyroid summit.

Oh Yes, Levothyroxine is a killer. It's cheap, man made, and we are not given a choice if we have this illness the only medication we are offered is Levothyroxine. I was on it for 20 years, I have had every side effect you could imagine. Then I decided to go just last year on Armour. I have to pay for this out of my benifits because Levothyroxine has left me so unabled to work. I used dto be able to get this from Europe and it came through without being held-up in Customs. That avenue has been closed now, by over Government no doubt. I can only get it from USA now and it is held up in Customs and I have to pay a further £17.00 for it to be released. Also it is held up for weeks, and many times I have been left for upto 6 to 8 weeks without medication.

Heres how dangerous it can be to have hypothyroidism and not take your thyroxine. I had never had a thyroid test done. I was so depressed I didn't want to live. I thought of suicide everyday. i had extremely reaction to being cold. Very moody. One day I was sitting reading very still and I jumped up from my chair and my heart went crazy. It fluttered and wouldn't stop. I was out of breath so my brother rush me to ER. I was having a Atrial Fribralation Episode. It was not pleasant by any means. It took hours to stop. My GP later ordered a TSH and I was at 4.82. The high end of hypothyroidism. I was put on 1 full asperin a day and started on 50 mcg of thyroxine. My GP was sure Episode was due to my low functioning thyroid. Trust me I do suffer fom lots of side effects, but I have not had a Afib episode since starting thyroxine. My depression is gone. I do not think about killing myself. So think about the things that can happen by not treating your hypothyroidism. Your heart health and many other things I'm sure. I do not like taking this medicine either but it's better than having a stroke from Afib. Hang in there. I do.

Was going to add I was 68 when all this happened.

I;ve picked up the notes about swollen belly. I've had underactive for many years.  I too have a buddah belly.  I went and had food allergy test.  I was informed by a qualified doctor who has done research on our condition, no one informs us of food we shouldn't be eating....  We are just given the dosage and told to take. Before they started explained that at least 98% patients with this condition should not be eating bread or wheat products.  End of test - 100% correct.  Buddah Belly is disappearing and I feel so different.  Gluten Free.  It will take about 6 months for my system to be wheat free, but 2 weeks in WOW. I feel so much better.  But I never stop taking my thyroxine.

Was on thyroxine for 20 years, I also suffered from the terrible symptoms this manmade medication gave me. I still do not see why this is the only medication given to patients unless you have a G.P. who will give you NDT on NHS on a named patient basis. Which is very rarely.

Thanks everyone for the great discussion and advice. I've been on Thyroxine (75 mcg) for less than 2 months and am also experiencing stomach cramps and diarrhoea.

My doctor has sent for me to come on Tuesday, as my latest thyroid test shows underactive thyroid.  I DO NOT want to take medication.

Some years ago I was borderline, and told to return in 4 weeks for another test.  I got busy and forgot, etc.  However, for another problem started using naturone cream, a progesterone cream.  I put tiny spoonful on inside wrists each night.  Eventually, after maybve a year, I returned for another thyroid test, and I was normal.  Then I re-read the leaflet with Naturone which said it stabilised the thyroid. 

There are foods that promote a healthy thyroid including eggs, bananas, seaweed, I take Kelp. You could google foods that promote a healthy thyroid.