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
MtViewCatherine Guest
Posted
Has anyone taking levothyroxin been diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis (AUH)?
I've been running across a lot of info about AIH that matches the symptoms caused by levothyroxin, as well as many case studies pointing to levothyroxin induced AIH. I plan to ask my go about this on my next visit.
Anybody else struggling with liver problems?
Sasswho Guest
Posted
I started taking levothyroxine in the fall of 2015. I think my max dose was .75 and by then I had difficulty standing up without pain and my hips and thighs hurt so much that I couldn't sleep at night. Something clicked in my head and I decided to research side effects. I noted that other people were having a lot of pain related to the medication. I was due for a recheck of my labs so I went in for that and my labs were finally right where they need to be. After that I took myself off of the medication and within days started to feel better. I have been off of it for about a month now and have no stiffness when I stand up or pain. In looking back, the first symptom I noticed was a sharp pain in my knees when I would kneel and I realized just this week that that is gone as well! I think a lot of people just attribute the symptoms to arthritis or old age but I refuse to look at things that way. I started back on a low dose of the medication because I want to see what happens before I go back and talk to my doctor about this. I have a friend who has been living with what she calls arthritis but she has been on levothyroxine for 10 years and I wonder if there's a connection for her as well. I always thought this medication was pretty benign but I guess not!
MtViewCatherine Sasswho
Posted
Sasswho, thanks for sharing. This medication is not benign. For me it was a placebo with horrible and long lasting side effects. The more I research it, the more I find. Recently I found a bunch of case studies showing it causes liver disease on even the lowest dose after a very short time. There are tons of these case studies if you care to look for them.
Shortly after going on this medication, I was diagnosed with a liver legion. They said is was something to watch even though I was having pain along with the legion. It never occurred to me that it could be caused by the meds until I looked at the case studies that make it painifully obvious that this medication is the cause. Given these case studies and the appearance of a lesion on my liver shortly after starting the medication, docs should have pulled me off the meds immediately.
You can guess why I was looking for this, right? I have major liver dysfunction going on. I figured I'd better know what's what before I go back to my GP.
jayne63805 MtViewCatherine
Posted
Mtviewcatherine i have problems of feeling very hot around my kneck line all day every day & a rash on my kneck i was on levothyroxine 100mg for 20 years came of months ago but bloods told me i needed 2 go bk on levo
MtViewCatherine jayne63805
Posted
Ive also found the amino acid therapy to be extremely helpful in healing the thyroid function.
jayne63805 MtViewCatherine
Posted
Im on liquid teva 100mg still hot&ackey felling depressed i c my endo at the hospital on wed so il let u know
jayne63805
Posted
barbara98940 jayne63805
Posted
Hi Jayne, as far as I'm aware, not much interferes/reacts with thyroxine, though best to ask your pharmacist prior to taking something. Do you know about taking thyroid meds on an empty stomach? Food affects the absorption of thyroxine. Best to take thyroxine an hour before breakfast, else 4 hours after food and an hour before food. Calcium and iron medications also affect the absorption of thyrozine, so these need to be taken at least 4 hours away from your thyroxine dose.
Gillian433545 Guest
Posted
MtViewCatherine Gillian433545
Posted
barbara98940 MtViewCatherine
Posted
Gilian, Catherine,
The best way I've found to tell whether I'm on the correct dose is with my basal (i.e. resting) pulse rate. For me 60-65 is OK, below 60 is under medicated, and 70+ is over medicated.
ruthie48437 Guest
Posted
penelope09058 Guest
Posted
HI I'm so happy to share.this has been a trip. Insurance doesn't cover Armour for me. Thirty years ago I went on Armour , in one weeks time I know who I was and knew something was wrong . Most people have no point of reference, so we can't expect them to understand how alone we feel. I must say even Drs.dont get it ,we hurt living in a body that surely doesn't feel like anything we know, never mind what they think. I was over dosed on Armour so they took me off it. Thirty years later, feeling weak as kitten everything hurts , I don't know which end is up, I have no joy and could cares less what happens, but I got luck I changed Drs. And everything start to fall in to place. The light sgoes on in my head and I ask to try Armour again , found a dr. To HELP. I have pay out of pocket , who cares. I'm on it and again in less than three weeks I start to see a change , however I was given to much to fast, but relealised it and only took have the dose to my body time to ageist . Heaven scent , I'm coming back , and realize how long I've been gone. I wish this for everyone who has hypothyroid. It take so long time and is so gradual you don't know it is happening . Some people think your nuts, you not want to be with people not even family. So big hugs to us all and that we can get the help we need and find the Drs. To help us on this journey . I'm also not doing dairy and glutton, this has helped me greatly. Good luck.
MtViewCatherine penelope09058
Posted
Hi Penelope, thanks for sharing your story. It rings true for many of us... incorrect or no treatment for too long. Difficult to know which end is up when you can't think straight.
I totally understand!
barbara98940 MtViewCatherine
Posted
Hi Penelope
I'm glad you're feeling better. Do increase your Armour dose slowly as it takes your body time to adapt to Amour (and any other NDT) and to be able to process and absorb it. There are some websites that state exactly when you should increase your dose and by how much. Also if you increase/decrease your dose slowly by a little each time you will avoid the swings in symptoms that accompany a change in dose. Its nice to hear of someone feeling better.