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Unacceptable side effects of Levothyroxine

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I was described Levothryoxine 2 years ago and my GP has increased it until I am now taking 125mcg.I have never had so many various symptoms in my life - severe weight gain including puffy face and eyes, very itchy dry skin, brittle nails, thinning hair but the major items are the pains in my joints and muscles - especially in my knees and my hands. The doctor said I have carpal tunnel syndrome and also now have high cholesterol,,,,,,, When reading other peoples' experiences it would appear that many people have all of these symptoms so why is it that GP's do not take this illness more seriously. I recently asked if I could have a full blood showing all readings and also if I could be prescribed Armour and was told no. It also scared me to find that several pharmacists in major chemists haad never even heard of Armour. Has anyone felt like they have had enough and just stopped taking Levothyroxine and what was the result?

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  • Mike5635
    Mike5635

    Posted

    Reply

    I have reduced my medication having spoken to my doctor can I just say that It was thought I had a problem with my thyroid 5years ago but no medication was prescribed I started a heart tablet and my levels increased so was put on levothyroxine its as now been found that this other tablet as been causing me to have this problem at this moment in time my tablet dose as been reduced and because the tablet for my heart stays in my system for a few months I'm having regular blood tests, I also take iron tablets twice a day and calcium tablet once a day.

  • arwyn
    arwyn

    Posted

    Hi I agree with you been on these for years i got so bad I had to finish work,stiffnes joint pain and tirednessto mention a few,decided to come off them three days agoand must admit I feel better forit now looking for holistic aproach .
    • helensmile
      helensmile arwyn

      Posted

      Hi Arwyn,

       Please let us know how you get on with your holistic aproach. Many Thanks

       

  • allan81596
    allan81596

    Posted

    I've been on various doses of Levo for the past 2 years. Never had indicative bloods, i.e., TSH anomalies but was prescribed it any way.............to see what happened!. Made absolutely no difference to my health, energy etc. Have now got joint and muscle pains and lethargy and want to get off the Levo. Do I just taper down? Over what period of time.
  • sim69520
    sim69520

    Posted

    I was prescribed levothryoxine for hypothyroidism in August this year and have been experiencing more problems now than before I was diagnosed, my joints are quite painful and whilst i'm only 37 I sound like i'm 137 when getting out of the car, I have also noticed an increase in teeth grinding, bleeding gums, a frightening amount of hair loss, constipation, discomfort in my pelvic/ovary region, weight gain from prior to being diagnosed and now inability to lose it, tiredness and forgetfulness!

    I have had my thyroid levels checked along with rheumatoid levels, serotonin and b12 levels anc crp (which I don't even know what it means) but blood is showing evrything functioning correctly.

    2 months ago I had an abnormal liver function test and a month later I was tested again and it had got worse, but then 2 weeks later it was back to normal so my DR now thinks it may be a virus that it causing these problems but reading this forum I am not convinced so I would be grateful from any insight anyone can offer.

  • jay51539
    jay51539

    Posted

    hi i was diagnosed with underactive thyroid early last year, Im a 40 year old male, Before i was diagnosed i went to the doctors about being tired all the time & pains in my upper back, my original doctor had just left the surgery and a new doctor had taken over, she asked if i had had a bloodtest & when she looked back on my notes it turned out 18 months previouse id had a bloodtest which wasnt right and i should have been diagnosed at that point and put on medication but i wasnt, However i was then given Levothyroxine & told i had to see a specialist, On seeing the specialist he told me that my antibodies where attacking my thyroid and that i would need a bloodtest once a month as my thyroid would deteriate over the next year although my doctor seems to disagree with what the specialist had said will only send me for a bloodtest once every 3 months. Now to the point, when i started taking Levothyroxine god the side affects were horrible, shaking body,

    muscle spasms, sore eyes and my head that was all over the place, I done alot of research on this, i to asked my doctor for armorthoid but she said i couldnt get that on the NHS, I also read an article on a test

    that was conducted in america on 10 patients that were taking Levothyroxine and suffering with side affects, they changed them from doing Levothyroxine from in the morning to doing them in the evening before

    they went to bed & 9/10 said there side affects subsided so i thought it was worth ago, I changed from

    morning to evening myself & thankfully the side affects subsided for me & i dont really get them anymore

    so if you suffer with the side affects i would strongly recomend giving this ago. As for the doctors not taking this seriously i completely agree, i was over medicating so i went into what they call

    "HYPOTHYROIDISM" & when i looked up my symptoms on the internet thats when i realised i was over medicating because i had all but 1 of the symptoms, i explained this to my doctor & she started smiling

    I would like to see how she would deal with it if she had the same problem, not a smiling matter for me.

    Anyhow sorry if i have gone on a bit, just wanted to explain my experience with you all, Good luck

  • arwyn
    arwyn

    Posted

    Hi this is the best advise i have had i agree with you, i have not taken them for 2 weeks and i must admit

    i feel that much betterfor it .I have spinal problems and as usual they put it down to thyroid.

    I will be going back again this week and I will let you know the result.

    • maggie16500
      maggie16500 arwyn

      Posted

      I have an under active thyroid so i was prescribed levothyroxine first

      25 mg then increased to 50 mg.  Everyday I feel worse, I take it at 300a every night. Today I feel so bad I am not going to take it.  Frankly i was

      better when I didnt take anything, i am tired, i shake, my hart feels

      strange i gained 18 lbs since i started the medication I am a mass.

      and desperate at this point.

    • claire66933
      claire66933 maggie16500

      Posted

      Hi Maggie

      Think you should go back to the Doc's.

      I'm feeling a bit better -still taking the Levo 25. I take it on an empty stomach with lots of water - first thing in the morning.

      Have also started doing lots more excercise - not sure whats working or whether my body is just getting used to the drug.

      I am still feeling anxious, but it seems to wear off during the day.

      Hope your feeling better soon.

      Claire

    • gill43753
      gill43753 maggie16500

      Posted

      Hi Maggie,I tried taking my Levo at night,but only lasted for just 2days,as felt so weird.Although I don't think I'm getting all I should from the Levo,taking them at night made me feel dizzy,shaky in the morning.I only tried it as some people have said they felt better taking it that way.So I'm carrying on taking mine first thing in the morning on an empty stomach,then wait about 30 minutes before breakfast.Not taking is not an option for me.Wish you well.
    • kay1968
      kay1968 maggie16500

      Posted

      I'm feeling similar symptoms, including brain fog. I also have numbness and tingling in my fingers.  I'm unable to work too.  I've been on this med for about 2 months and feel that I was better off before I started on this. The dr. started me on 100 mcg and reduced it to 75.  I'm still not functioning normally.

       

    • kay1968
      kay1968

      Posted

      I also have numbness in my fingertips which has gotten progressively worse. I've been on levo for 5 months and have the same symptoms as everyone else. I was experiencing electrical jolts occasionally, but now it's constant. The dr. thinks it's a pinched nerve at c7 which would require major surgery. I thinks its from the meds.  I also had a severe b12 deficiency but have changed my diet and am taking supplements.  I've also become very depressed so the dr. put me on anxiety pills.  The only reason I'm depressed is because I've been dealing with this for so long, I've given up on getting better.
  • sim69520
    sim69520

    Posted

    Thank you for your comments.

    I will try taking the levo at night and see if that helps. I have been referred to an endocrinoloigist as I wasvery insistent with my dr (who thinks I have had glandular fever which would account for my symptoms)

    that I know my body best, I also took in a written page of all my symptoms which he couldn't explain so I left

    him no choice but to refer me.

    I will let you know what the specialist thinks.

    Arwyn I'm sorry to hear of your spinal problems did this occur after you started taking Levo as I am having

    problems with my back and some days struggle to put socks on as I can't bend? Good luck with the dr I hope you get what you need from them.

  • Mike5635
    Mike5635

    Posted

    Can anyone tell me what would happen if you stop taking this drug ?
  • sim69520
    sim69520

    Posted

    I was going to stop taking Levo and informed my Dr of this as I wanted to force their hand to refer me to specialist, but when I mentioned this to the pharmacist she talked me out of it and told me to persevere with getting a referral to an endocrinologist.
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