Unacceptable side effects of Levothyroxine

I have just about given up with listening to Doctors now as all they do is look at the blood tests and tell you that you should put it up, down or that you are fine even though you feel really ill.   So now I have made the decision that I am going to listen to my body and how I feel and whether they like it or not then I will go with that.   Can't do anything else, I have to try and find a way of living with a thyroid that fluctuates all the time, they don't get that one at all.

Thanks for the reply, it made me feel better, I know it sounds wrong but I would rather feel better and be unhealthy then be 'healthy' according to blood tests and feel terrible

Hi, please be careful, I've been where you are in my thinking.  I almost died from myxedema, a result of too low of thyroid hormone in my system.  I've been on Synthroid over 20 years because of Hashimoto's and riding the roller coaster of test results. Lately I felt better on a low dose I went to because of tachycardia. My doctor isn't very good and he never raised the dose for several months. My TSH went to 95. Ended up in hospital for 6 days, 2 in critical care. Long story. After I got stable and got my TSH down to 10 I asked to try the natural hormone instead of synthyroid because my lower legs became very painful and swollen. After 6 weeks on natural my TSH went to 45, so back on synthyroid and leg pain, better than dying. I have to write to big hospitals now to find a doctor who knows how to deal with myxedema since it is rare. Research about the minerals necessary for thr hormone conversion ans absorption and try adding them to you diet. Be your own advocate and get informed, you may discover a way to feel better.

Yes I understand that one, I am trying to find the right balance without it dropping too low.   It is very difficult to do, I am hoping that the acupuncture treatment I am currently having will help to balance the hormones and stop the flutuation then I can get back to normal I hope.

Have you tried dosing by basal pulse, basal temperature etc? Google this for details. It means resting pulse. If mine is 60-70 beats per minute I'm fine, above 70 I need to reduce my dose of thyroid hormone, below 60 I need to increase it. Also, to reduce the swings of changing dose when I was on levothyroxine I cut a 25mcg tablet into quarters and increased the dose by a quarter every 2 days. After a week you will have increased the dose by 25mcg.

Hi, maybe I can help you help yourself. Have you had other hormone levels checked? Have you had vitamin D, potassium and magnesium checked? What do you consume in a day?

Any foods that contain inorganic preservatives and artificial sweeteners may be taxing on the body. You may need to consume foods that naturally contain potassium and vitamin c regularly if you don't already. Meat and coffee should only be reserved for infrequent occasions... Unless you have a magnesium deficiency, then coffee is okay to consume reagularly. Humans are technically herbivores, so animal meat should be a special treat...that will likely cause sickness.

Would be a good idea to get your Ferritin level tested. My eendocrinologist told me it needs to be 70+ for our bodies to process thyroxone properly. Also check vitamin B12, vitamin D, iron, folate. If any of these are low it can make you feel rubbish.

Also, taking toomuch thyroid meds can cause its own serious problems e.g. heart problems and oosteoporosis.

I'm a vegetarian who never drinks coffee or tea, mainly coke and sprite but I do eat fair amount of pasta only because I was always told it was slow release.

Would I just go in and ask for them to be checked?

Thanks

That is exactly how I feel. That is a great way of putting it. I have been to so many doctors and they tell me everything looks good. All the blood tests are fine. Sometimes there might be a slight difference in something and they try me on some medicine and it usually back fires. Nothing ever seems to help for very long. I just about hate all medicine exept for my one a day vitamin and my fish oil, kelp, and vitamin D. I have been on the levothyroxin for 30 years and the dose is 200mcg. Alls I do is gain wait.

I agree, apparently perfect blood tests don't equal perfect health. I'm so over this thyroid hell! Trying something different, since the meds don't work.

Hi, problem is that symptoms of Hypothyroidism is weight gain and fatigue and the side effects of Levothyroxine are weight gain and fatigue. I really wish that the drug companies would get theri act together and find a drug that works properly or that the NHS would license NDT Natural Desicated Thyroid which was the original medication for hypothyroidism from 1892 to 1970 then superceeded by the cheaper synthetic drugs Thyroxin then Levothyroxin, infuriating.

Try a different brand. They're not all the same. Different manufacturers of levothyroxine use different fillers. I found I had a bad reaction to the one with acacia powder in. Wockhart was the best for me, but they only make 25mcg tablets, so I was taking 7 tabkets a day.

EVERY person that has hypothyroidism needs to consume a relatively large amount of leafy greens and potassium-rich foods such as dates and figs. (Apple cider vinegar is a great source of potassium, as it is low in calories and the potassium is likely to be more easily absorbed. Contrary to popular belief, bananas have a moderately low amount of potassium.) Salt should also be consumed as cravings arise. I am not sure if there is any difference whether or not medication is taken, but anyone  with hypothyroidism may be more likely to store more magnesium than necessary. (If you drink coffee regularly, you may be experiencing side effects from this and feel better after skipping it for a few days. Or, you could buy chocolate covered espresso beans and eat two or three as an alternative to coffee.) It would be benefitial to have sodium, magnesium and potassium levels tested every two to three months.

I forgot to mention that potassium, like vitamin c, is typically not stored by the body. So, it would be awesome if you could consume citrus and figs daily.

Also, although magnesium can be stored in the body, it may not be obvious in lab tests because levels are regularly maintained in the blood.

I should have noticed this before: Is your medication dosage in milligrams (mg) or micrograms (mcg)? If your body produces any amount of the thyroid hormone, your medication should definitely be no more than 5 mg. Most people who have hypothyroidism produce around half the amount necessary and are perscribed between 100 and 125 mcg. Micrograms (mcg) is a much smaller unit than milligrams (mg). 

My dosing has always been in mcg.

Hi JP, 

People with thyroid disease generally don't do well on a vegan diet. I suspect it has to do with the amino Acids in the animal proteins, but I feel tha switching to a diet higher in lean meats was critical in pushing off thyroid disease for two decades.

I also have a friend who was vegetarian for years. She became much healthier once she went back to meat.

Just something to consider.

 

I was wondering if the name brand vs generic , do the name brand use fillers or just the generic brands