Unacceptable side effects of Levothyroxine
Posted , 191 users are following.
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
Rosiebranston Guest
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I am definitely of the opinion now that we have to find our own way with Hypothyroidism as the Doctors don't seem to have much of a clue about it. The only guideline are blood tests and if they follow those then they totally ignore what the patients tell them about how they are feeling. I am presently having a course of acupuncture and feeling a lot better, so yes I agree with you completely with this. There is no one way with thyroid, it seems to me that the symptoms and 'cure' if you can call it that are totally individual.
Live2LoveLife Guest
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Iamrosey2 Live2LoveLife
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please keep us posted...I've started taking selinium in tablet I think 200 units..I've also begun using hymalain pink salt and sea salt. My aches and pains have gone way down but not sure this is the cause or if it's from eliminating alcohol, gluten and dairy. I will do whatever it takes to get this weight off , bloating, and hopefully OFF this levo! I've GAINED 10 pounds just recently after my dosage went from 50 to 75..I'm eating less than ever, walking AND taking care of my home and two very active little children..I'm determined to get to the bottom of this!!
Iamrosey2
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question...has anyone tried using an "adrenal cocktail" ? It consists of 4 oz orange juice, 1/4 teaspoon cream of tarter , 1/4 teaspoon salt. It's supposed to help you calm and sleep and various other things that I don't understand yet..I can't seem to sleep more than 5 hours a night..6 if I'm lucky. I've read it's important to sleep more and especially during those wee hours when the body is resetting...
Iamrosey2
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Rosiebranston Iamrosey2
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I've been researching a lot over the months now. My body seems to be craving dairy products, cheese meat and fish, rather than fibre. Then I have been hearing and reading that recent research is contradicting the low fat diets of the past and recommending that actually dairy is good for you. Then I came across more reports which said that people with thyroid need high protein. I can only speak for myself, but since eating lots more protein and less fibre I have felt much better, have more energy and my nails that used to split and crack all the time are really good now. We are all different and I think we all have to find what suits us. I am still battling to get the thyroid levels stable and back to normal but getting there. I am on NDT at the moment but looking into trying something else, my levels aren't right yet as I have been suffering from fluctuating thyroid, but have also had a course of acupuncture which has helped with stablising my thyroid. It seems like a long journey of finding what is right for me but now I seem to be getting there.
MtViewCatherine Rosiebranston
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Rosie, Yes! Good job!
Youre right! In the process of dieting, I stumbled across the higher protein diet...
I have sort sort of a love hate thing with the dairy. Sometimes I can tolerate better than others. Also, hard cheeses and yogurt are easier to digest. Milk and cream, not so good.
Calcium is huge in thyroid metabolism and dairy us the best natural source.
I dont on test a lot of raw foods, too difficult to digest. I'm gluten free, so very little fiber in my grains (though I don't eat much grains anyway).
Low fat is still best. But! You do need healthy fats, so avocado oil is the easiest to digest and cook with. I've tried many different oils. Some people love olive or coconut oil. They don't work for me. Walnut oil isn't too bad if you don't have avocado oil. But you only need a little. Say two tablespoons a day or a half an avocado.
A healthy diet goes a long way towards good thyroid health. In fact, with good diet habits, although I had a cyst, I was able to put off thyroid meds for two decades.
I ran across some information about tyrosine as well. This is a precurser to thyroxin. Since animal proteins are the best source of tyrosine, this may be why the high protein diet works. Needless to say, I don't do soy.
Iamrosey2 MtViewCatherine
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thank you! That sounds similiar to the things I'm finding...I think I was doing tooooo many healthy fats...right now my passion is popcorn..I've been putting it in a plain brown bag and microwaving...hoping the corn is ok. I ordered online a few news things to try..patience, education, trial and error...
Iamrosey2 Rosiebranston
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I've always done a lot of protein, low carbs which has probably kept me fine for so long...I think my problem has been I eat toooo much food..I LOVE it!!! I'm going to get serious about SMALL amounts of meat, fat..and lots of veggies...and I'm sure cutting out alcohol will be HUGE for me..I used to drink red wine every evening...but suddenly it doesn't even taste that good to me anymore..our bodies are amazing and fascinating. My cholestoral has increased a LOT since I started levo maybe from too many good fats?? I'll be fasting before my next blood work next month..I'll be sooo curious how they turn out after all my experimenting!
barbara98940 Iamrosey2
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I'd be wary of having that much extra salt. Sea salt is still salt.
MtViewCatherine Iamrosey2
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The salt works well for me. I eat very little processed foods, so virtually no salt in my diet.
Low salt is far more detrimental than high salt. Low salt causes strokes.
So if you're eating a really clean diet, you definately need to add salt in.
Iamrosey2 barbara98940
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yes..I haven't been able to put that salt in (the adreanal cocktail )...I've just done a few small twists on the hymalayian salt grinder...i haven't gotten to really test this out much since I want to test so many things..and to test you can't really combine ideas or you don't know what is effecting what...
Iamrosey2 MtViewCatherine
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Thanks..I didn't know that about low salt..I was kinda hoping that since I'm eating so clean now i could add some hymalain salt to certain foods..it is sooo tasty...I just hope I don't have to give up my air popcorn also...I must have SOMETHING I can eat without worrying about
nicole48466 Guest
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My husband just had a complete thyroidectomy because they found cancerous nodules on his thyroid, thankfully it didn't spread anywhere else and they caught it early. He was prescribed levoI beileve at 100 MG at the momen, he is a big man, 320 lbs 6' 7" tall so I think adjusting the dosage is going to take a while for him to get use to. He has been on it for about 6 days now, had his surgery last Tuesday. One thing we noticed that is sacking pretty badly is his mood swings and how very small things are getting him EXTREMELY angry, is this normal? It's like turning off and on a light switch almost, he will be fine all day and than something irritating will happen and he will fly off the handle. Does this have to do with the fact that he hasnt been regulated yet to his medication dosage? Has anyone else experienced mood swings like that? Is there anything we can do to help Balance the out? We are going to go see his endocrinologist in a few days so maybe we will get some more info and help but I just wanted to see if anyone else has experienced the same issues at all?
Thank you
barbara98940 nicole48466
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Hi Nicole, good news that they caught it early. I find that I get really cranky when my blood sugar drops. This doesn't mean have sugary snacks though as that is about the worst thing to do - they will keep causing rapid spikes and falls in blood sugar. Instead go for low glycaemic foods, like diabetics do, to maintain stable levels. Porridge with skimmed milk without sweetner (i.e. no sugar, or honey etc) is really good providing he isn't gluten intolerant.
barbara98940
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MtViewCatherine nicole48466
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Hi Nicoe, most of us here are women, as thyroid disease is more prevalent in women, and out hormone systems are more delicate by nature. Plus, we're sort of conditioned not to complain or be grouchy.
As for the mood swings your husband is experiencing, this can be explained by low thyroid. When the thyroid levels get low, the rest of the body starts shutting down to preserve vital functions. The body thinks it's starving. So unnecessary functions, such as hormone levels drop, and become unbalanced. While women don't experience thus as mood swings, it's VERY typical for women to have problems with their cycle, as well as endometriosis, PCOS, or other hormone related problems. A woman with very low thyroid will have hormone levels that appear to be peri menopausal.
So, yes. Mood swings caused by hormonal fluctuations would be in the range of normal problems associated with thyroid disease.
I've found the best way to deal with these sorts of issues is to get a book on hormones and try some herbs or other recommendations.
MtViewCatherine
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MtViewCatherine
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Iamrosey2 MtViewCatherine
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Emis_Moderator MtViewCatherine
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Regards,
Alan