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Unacceptable side effects of Levothyroxine

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Guest

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?

41 likes, 1182 replies

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  • carol11091
    carol11091 Guest

    Posted

    Sounds as though you have water retention. Eat lettuce, tomatoes, carrots: things that are diuretic and make sure you drink enough fluids. 6 to 8 glasses a day, including coffee, tea etc.
    • maxime01419
      maxime01419 carol11091

      Posted

      I find that drinking any sport drink with electrolytes and not a lot of sugar takes water retention away...  For example pedialite, or aquarius, or gatorade (but sugar free if possible).  I used to have huge water retention problems (gaining a good 3 kilos a day from it and not being able to wear some of my shoes) until I drank a sports/electrolyte drink once a week.
  • fazzins
    fazzins Guest

    Posted

    I was astonished to read your post as most of your symptons are identical to my own I also now take 125 mgm of levothyroxine which was increased to this level by 25 mgm recently supposedly to aid weight loss. My family including myself have all a sligtly low blood pressure which I think is the reason why we have longevity in our family,My father lived to be 98! I think all my present healh problems began when I started on Levothyroxine and would like to stop taking it and let nature take its course
    • carol11091
      carol11091 fazzins

      Posted

      THAT IS THE WORST THING YOU COULD POSSIBLY DO. If you find 125 too much to begin with, take only half of the 25 tablet. I am now on 112.5mcg having just recently moved up from 100. It should be done very gradually. Do you know what your TSH was?
  • labrat
    labrat Guest

    Posted

    I originally started this post to ask people whether they had found their blood pressure had increased due to taking thryoxine as I was trying to gather some statistics as to how many people had found this. However, not many seem to have found this as a side effect from what I gather. There seem to have been plenty of other unpleasant side effects, but not much mention of blood pressure increase. Unfortunately our doctors do seem to dismiss our complaints re side effects on any medication we take. This is probably because they do not have a solution to our problems, and can only give us what medication is available out there. Not taking thyroxine is not an option for me as far as I can ascertain as it is miserable not taking it. (I have been on it for 30 plus years now!)  My only real problem is that I am convinced it has made my bp rise as that became an issue shortly after being prescribed and I have never been able to level it out. However, after all the feed back on here, I am now taking my thryoxine at least two hours before my bp medication, which strangely I think is making a slight difference. Amazing how much the doctors dont tell you about how and when to take your medication - you just have to sort it out for yourself.
    • carole76433
      carole76433 labrat

      Posted

      I'm afraid that is the case for most doctors especially in the UK?, they just say " take these tablets and you will feel better very soon . But as soon as you tell them about side effects they say things like. " I can't understand that"?? They don't know the answer that's the problem !!!!
    • carol11091
      carol11091 labrat

      Posted

      When taking levothyroxin  one MUST cut out salt and precooked meals as the latter are usually full of sodium. Anyone get a strange feeling in their ears? A warning sign of blood pressure going up. Drink lots of water and green tea, eat lots of lettuce and tomato on a regular basis and the only alcohol one should be drinking (if one drinks) is red wine but remember, alcohol dehydrates.
    • carol11091
      carol11091 labrat

      Posted

      Any medication, including vitamin supplements, should be taken 4 hours apart from levothyroxin.
    • charley123
      charley123 carole76433

      Posted

      This is so true, I've been on my tablets for about 3-4 months and I don't feel better, I actually feel worse and they just keep saying they'll kick in soon 
    • carole76433
      carole76433 charley123

      Posted

      Hi Charley

      I took about 5-6 months before I started feeling better on Levo initially I felt a lot worse but it will get better I promise. !! Carole

  • labrat
    labrat Guest

    Posted

    I think people should adopt the lifestyle that best suits them, eating and drinking whatever they wish in moderation. I eat a healthy diet and have plents of vegetables and fruit every day. There are too many people telling others what they should eat/drink and what medication they should be taking. Each person is different and should be treated as an individual.
    • carol11091
      carol11091 labrat

      Posted

      Then when you have bad side effects, don't complain! Here I am, reading people's problems and I have experienced some of these problems but thanks to an excellent doctor who has explained things to me and sorted out ALL my problems I  no longer have any.;

      You can lead a horse to the water but you can't force it to drink. All I'm doing is telling you the facts as they were given to me.You are free to do what you like with them but know that some consequences are irreversible

  • labrat
    labrat Guest

    Posted

    You have obviously taken my comment as a 'personal insult' which it was never intended to be. I was merely commenting on the fact that people should be treated as individuals and in 'my opinion' they should also be allowed to eat/drink everything in moderation. I have been on thyroxine for over 30 years and as you will see I commented that the only side effect I could detect for myself was high blood pressure which started shortly after I began taking thyroxine. I eat allotments of lettuce/tomatoes/vegetables and copious amounts of fruit every day. I have been given every blood pressure tablet on the market, to little effect. I am glad you have found YOUR doctor has cured ALL your problems with regard to thyroid problems.  The whole reason I started this discussion was to ascertain the number of people having problems with Blood pressure. If you look back though the pages of this discussion you will see mine was the first comment. I was doing some research.  Despite what you may be thinking I am not a 'burger munching' salt, alchol fanatic.  I NEVER eat ready made meals or have a large intake of salt. Over the past 30 years I have been patronised by many doctors/nurses suggesting I do and I find it offensive that this should be the case. I am also very fit and walk more than 40 miles a week. Most people these days have the sense ot know what they 'should' and 'shouldn't' be doing. The one thing I have found helpful from this discussion (as previously mentioned) is that the thryoxine should be taken well before eating food or taking other medication, something my doctor failed to point out to me.

     

    • carole76433
      carole76433 labrat

      Posted

      Hi Labrat

      I'm glad you mentioned that as I take my Levo with all my other medication, and as I'm on holiday at the moment I'm taking my Levo with my breakfast??, but I have noticed that I'm always tired I just want to sleep all the time, it's spoiling my holiday sometimes !!

      Anyway you are correct everyone is different, some things are good for some people and not for others, as everyone's chemistry is different.  Carole

    • Moll1914
      Moll1914 carole76433

      Posted

      Carole I agree you can not just go off the medication without replacing with something else. That is a dangerous scenrio. I went off accidently once (ran out decided to wait for the prescription to arrive by snail mail) my body started shutting down. Believe me not a good idea.  

      On the other hand  to counter all my side effects I stick to a very strick diet/exercise regiment, very much what you recomend Carole to no avail. 

      I have been on Levothyroxine for 23 yrs (1992)now and have been fighting so many of the syptoms listed, chronic fatigue, high cholesteral, body aches, back aches, joint aches-god forbid I sit in one position for long, depression, 24/7 teeth grinding (2006), weight gain on the simplest splurge. My sister insist it is physically  IMPOSSIBLE to gain 8 lbs. in 6 days. "Do you know how much you would have to eat?" For me- not much!!!! 

      I can not tell you how frustrated I am. All I get is "your blood test are fine" from the doctors...they were fine when I was diagnosed with Severe Graves Disease by an X-ray, why would they be different now!! 

      The saving grace here is Today I found this website and now know I am not alone!!  I really had no idea all these symtoms could be tied to my medication. I tried to change to the brand name Synthroid several times only to find the pharmicist switched the prescription on me. It became such a fight to stay on the brand name, not know if it really made a difference I gave up the fight. There must be a kickback in place for them!!!

       

    • carole76433
      carole76433 Moll1914

      Posted

      What I think is peoe who are getting side effects on Levothyroxine should all contact the pharmaceutical company and tell them?

      I did this and got a good response from them. If everyone done this they will then act upon it.  C

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