Unacceptable side effects of Levothyroxine

Hi Ginger- Sorry for all your pain. It hard to believe you've been dealing with this for 9 years, as I was immediuately completely incapacitated by the synthroid. Then switched to a compaunded levo, for a year, but it never worked. It was a year before I got back on the natural one and I've been on that another year and am still dealing with the damage from the levo.

Synthroid contains acacia, dyes and other allergens that tend to worsen the immune system problems. I literally couldn't get out of bed on this medication, and had migraines so bad I feared I would have a stroke.

As for doctors, they have a certain protocol they've been taught. Further,they trust the drug companies and the literature from the drug companies. Its very easy for drug companies to ignore data that is not "controlled", especially when it would cut into their profit margin.

Do whatever you need to do to get well as fast as possible. There are some people who have p osted here that you can go to thyroid Uk and find out how to get the natural medication. If that doesn't work, there is a natural organic available online, that some people have had success with.

I learned long ago that the money is not the priority when you are incapacitated because if you don't get well, you can't work, and you oend up in this downward spiral. I do whatever I need to do to keep healthy and make that the priority.

Good luck and I hope you feel better soon!

Thanks, Catherine.  I have so many allergies and odd substance intolerances that I am hesitant to try anything different.  Lactose gluten, acacia, and a hundred more ++ all cause anywhere from mild to serious reactions.  I had a systemic allergic reaction years ago to the porcine natural product.  Right now I am tolerating the new batch of Synthroid with only moderate side effects. I need 150 mg./day which I take in two parts, one morning and one in late afternoon.  I had a terrible reaction to the one made up at the compound pharmacy.  I wish that I could even remember what it feels like to be "normal"  again.  I am not happy to see so many others suffering from these side effects but it is a bit comforting to know that I am not the only one. You would think that, for all the money, talent, and time we put into drug research, someone could have found the right thryroid replacement ...one that so many millions of people need to stay alive!!

Yes, ypical of what thyroid patients deal with. The disease in intimately tied to both immune disease and heart disease. Unfortunately this is not considered in the treatment of patients, so we have to essentially be our own doctors and advocate for ourselves.

Ginger I'm on a bovine (ie beef) NDT that is classed as a nutritional supplement so doesn't need a prescription. So that may be an option if you need it. I know what it is like to have a lot of allergies and intokerances. All the best.

Hi Barbara, is the dose comparable to the prescription stiff? Do you fiond the bovine to be pretty much the same, or different from the prescription NDT?

I have just started taking the supplement Barbara takes and can pm you the link to the website if you like. My main symptom is bad shoulder pain - recently improved by shock wave therapy (Look up extra corporeal shock wave therapy for more info). 

Catherine, I only tried 2 x half grain doses of the prescription NDT nature throid because it made me swell up (I can't tolerate maize starch). My endocrinologist suggested I should take 2.5 grains of it. I'm now taking 750mg of ThyroGold a day, split across 2 doses. I was on 150mcg levothyroxine.

Scazzoh, interestingly, I too had shoulder pain. It was classed as a Muscular Skeletal Disorder and was caused by sitting at a computer all day. I've had physio for the last 4 years, had an operation called sub-acromial decompression 15 months ago andbits now much better and the pain has gone, unless I spend too much time at a computer, or sitting in a car, or just sitting. I'm also continuing to do the physiotherapy exercises daily. I go swimming & gym & Pilates twice a week (but not all on the same day!) Which keeps my shoulder in the position it's suppose to be.

Shoulder pain here too. I thought it was due to repetitive injury from swimming... Right shoulder.

Are you right handed by any chance?

When I was at work, I came across a booklet about muscular skeletal disorders by some occupational health organization. In it was the statement that 'people with an underactive thyroid are more likely to get Muscular skeletal disorders (includes RSI, carpal tunnel, etc).

Wow!  Interesting,and this makes so much sense! hanks for sharing it!

Yes, right handed.

Scazzoh, MtViewCatherine, in Google images, type in 'functional posture'. Also look up 'neck forward syndrome'. With most of us, because we spend a lot of time working with our arms in front of us, or sitting at a desk (working a pc is particularly bad), the muscles across the chest shorten and those across our back lengthen. This has the effect of curving the top half of our spine forwards (from the thoracic part of the spine upwards) and of moving our shoulder blades forward. This in turn narrows the channel in which our muscles and tendons run and can lead to the muscles and tendons having insufficient space to move and getting trapped when used, which is what happened to me. As I'm only 1.58m tall (i.e. petite) the gap I had to start with was narrower, which luckily meant I found out what was happening before it got to the next stage which is where the effect becomes permanent because the shoulder bones move and set in that position.

Hi Barbara, YES, YES, YES! About the "functional posture",,, This makes sense that neck forward syndrome would cause difficulty for the thryoid. When in a car accident, this is also what happens. I have been in many car accidents and feel it is a contributor to thyroid disease. In fact, about 6 months prior to my thyroid going completely wonky, I'd been in several car accidents. Minor rear ends, but enough to give me headaches and the need for treatment. After I'd been on the medication for several years, I was read-ended  and had extensive cartilage damage in my neck. Shortly after, I also "coincidentally" had to increase my meds.  What I suspect is that the increases in meds correlate with the neck injuries from car accidents, among other things.  If you do a search for car accident with hypothyroid, you'll find that other people also agree with the idea that neck injuries are related to hypothyroidism. So yes, neck helath is a huge factor!

I've read that trauma can cause thyroid problems. Car accidents definitely qualify as trauma! Sorry to hear you've been in so many.

that makes sense Barbara. I have what I call 'tortoise neck'  especially when I am stressed and my shoulders raise up. I swim to try and stretch it out, which helps. I also have a good chiropracter who realigns me occasionally!

I too have a good chiropractor (plus medical masseur and physio - trying to keep healthy and mobile is costing me a fortune!)  All because of working with computers and bending over a desk for my working life. Pilates is particularly good at combatting the neck forward syndrome..  My physiotherapist is also a pilates teacher. Which is good as, now she has got me to the point where it is just maintenance work, thankfully I can now do pilates instead of physio which is cheaper. 

Aim to squeeze your shoulders together and down behind you. 

Hi Barbara- Yes! All these body practitioners have been super helpful for me as well.  I do chiropractic, therapeutic massage (\visceral and lymph drainage), and acupuncture. All have helped enormously and worth every penny!