Unacceptable side effects of Levothyroxine

To make matter worse, doctors seem to have little experience evaluating and observing in a scientific manner, referring to labs, and a computer before looking at the patient. Data means nothing without a reference point. Apparently there is no class on the scientific method in med school.

Worse yet, I recently doscovered an article in which it is shown that Synthroid was on the market in the US for over 50 years without FDA approval. The manufacturer was required by the FDA to get approval in 2001, and they recieved FDA approval in 2002. Clearly not the typical 7+ years required for clinical trials.  So efficacy may never have been proven, since the generics would only have to have shown equivalency, not separate efficacy. This totally explains why the stuff didn't work at all for me, and doesn't work for a lot of people.

For the umpteen time, my thyroid levels have crashed recently. I emailed my doc to ask to increase the doseage and recieved a response back telling me that my symptoms are hyperthyroid and that my meds are too high. This was based on the blood work done two months prior, with midrange results. I did my best using an old prescription to increase the doseage enough to be able to function and get to my previous doctor 350 miles away, This took three weeks after increasing it myself, resulting in still lower blood test results than what showed two months earlier, proving my levels had been dangerously low, and had done so in only two months. Simply, I raised the dose on my own, waited three weeks, got a blood test, and the results were still way low. I have Hashimoto's, and it seems the thyroid levels are all over the place, and the meds are extremely difficult to regulate. Every time I feel like I'm doing ok, it lasts for a short time, then my life spirals out of control as I can't function, because by the time I'm able to increase the dose enough to function, I've been kicked out of my master's program, fired, whatever, and have to start all over, putting my life back together.

Fortunately this doctor I saw today understands this is a very typical pattern with thyroid patients, and offered some solutions that I hope will help. He also validated that I do need an increased dose, and fixed that right away. I'm on a high dose. 180mcg of Naturthroid, so he recommended splitting it, because it's hard on the body if you take it all in one dose. So I'll start taking 90mcg, twice a day. I'm hoping that will get me back on track.

Thansk for posting, your story is [retty typical. Get help where and however you can. Good luck!

Catherine

So, I just thought I would let you know these details in case it's of any use to anyone out there.

I find I need a very high dose and high end blood work to feel noromal.  Plus, I can't tell anything thing else that's wrong if they meds are too low. You always  haveto get the thyroid right or as best as you can first, then get everything else back on track.

I took the Armour for a while but switched because it has corn products in it. I do better on Naturethroid, but it contains lactose. I'm not sure why nearly every one of these meds contains at least one of the top ten allergens, when thyroid disease is autoimmune.

Good luck.

Also be careful of interactions with drugs. My stupid doctor gave me an ear spray for an ear ache and a nose spray for a sinusy nose. I got worse and worse.  Then searching on google I found out that both medications should never be given to people with an underactive thyroid as it attacks the thyroid and gives far worse syhmptoms.

Thanks!

Out of all comments here, I found an interest in yours. I agree with you 1000%. I'm done with the docs wasting 14 years of my life and keeping me more ill with Levo. Time for a change. I want to take control of my health. What vitamins, supplements, herbs, etc. you recommend for hypothyroidism?

HI lissette,  I use essential amino acid complex and phenylalanine supplements.  I find thus to be more effective than the meds, though not perfect. I’m so messed up from the Levo, I think this regime would have worked for me s lot better if I hadn’t taken the Levo for three years.

I do a ton of cleansing, massage, acupuncture. 

I use borax therapy for calcification, turmeric for inflammation, liquid mulberry leaf chlorophyll for detoxing, as well as activated charcoal.

I find regular soaks in a hot tub and sauna help regulate my body by giving it a break from being ice cold. 

I do regular liver/ gallbladder flushes.

Levothyroxin is crap, it should have been banned years ago and the drug companies forced to make a decent medication. I'm trying alternatives at the moment, NDT with all the problems getting it is too expensive so looking at another solution at the moment