Side Effects with Synthroid

Hi S.,
I also have hypothyroidism.I feel that an endocrinologist can get a better handle on this issue.Also,I read a book called "The Thyroid Solution" and found it to be very helpful.
Hope you feel better.

I am not using what you are but here is a link to a yahoo group that may have knowledge of what you are asking.
They are very knowledgeable with thyroid issues.

Linda

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/throat-chakra/?yguid...

Hi Just wanted to let you know, my son Sean(13), has been on Synthroid for over 7 years. We have seen no problems at all with it.
Good luck to you.
L.

S.,

I've been interested in reading the responses to your question. I have been on Levoxyl for years. Since my last child was born in July, I have basically felt exhausted. My thyroid levels are all good so at my last visit to my endocrinologist, she tested my vitamin D and I was extremely low. She put me on 2,000 units of Vitamin D3 a day for 3 months, then she wants me to move to 1,000 a day. I just started yesterday so we'll see if it helps. Good luck to you and thanks for asking the question!

I have been on Synthroid for about 17 years now for hypothyroidism. Fortunately, I'm an extremely positive, happy person, and my beliefs "Let Go Let God" help. But, please, don't stop the medication until you have a safe alternative. I made this mistake, hated taking pills, short on money, and after 4 weeks of not taking it, ended up calling 911,heart attack symptoms. After tons of expensive testing, the simple blood test showed my levels were off. Its taken months to feel back to normal again, but I won't ever stop taking my medication. I had no idea how important the thyroid was, and how it effects your body.
Did they raise your medication because of your levels? Too much will also cause symptoms also. Sometimes brands will have a different effect, but if nothing changes, maybe you need to see a specialist, endocrinologist? There's no one who knows your body better than you. Are there other things going on in your life that may be the reason for depression, anxiety? You just had a child 9 months ago? Anyone in your family have depression or similar symtoms? Definitely, the lack of vit. D (sunshine) causes depression in many people, but please don't dismiss this.

I didn't look where you live yet, but the entire country has been blanketed in depression with the weather and winter being very long. As a stay at home mom you might not necessarily be out enough to feel a sufficient dose of the good old vitamin D and probably do not have the opportunity to get out with little ones very much. It could be your medication, but you might just be another in the long line of people who need sunlight! Perhaps ask about that...Good luck.
S.

I've had hyothyroidism for about 4 years now and started with the generic for Synthroid. About a year and a half ago, my doctor switched me to Synthroid (apparently the brand was more effective than the generic). I never had any side effects with either one. I have had an episode of depression since then, but I know it's not linked to the medicine because I was able to work through it. Hope this helps in some way.

S.,

It sounds as though you are suffering from depression. This is very common and, unfortunately, a huge, painful problem. Please see someone for an evaluation before making major changes in your thyroid treatment program, especially since you think your dose is correct. By testing every 6 weeks, your doctor is paying very close attention to this issue.

FWIW: My doctor is the dept. chair at a University hospital. He says that the generic form of Synthroid is the exact same molecule as the (name brand) Synthroid.

Switching thyroid medications, like between Synthroid and Armour, can be very difficult to endure. I did note that another poster mentioned switching to Armour thyroid. Some people absolutely swear by it. I took it for years. No one was more surprised than I was when generic Synthroid worked MUCH BETTER for me. After several years of taking it, I have never had any side effects except mild thirst. Your doctor knows what depression looks like. He/she probably sees it daily.

Sincerely,
Amy S.

I have been taking Synthroid for 20 years and I have had no side effects at all. Actually the synthroid gives me more energy and my nails are stonger. I have several friends who have low thyroids and they took synthroid but didn't like taking something unnatural every day....so they switched to pigs thyroid. They went to a natural doctor who gave it to them and then they went back to their regular doctor to make sure it was working...and they are both happy with their switch. Good luck.

I have been on synthroid for 5 years without the side effects you mentioned. The caveat I will offer is that this is when my dosage was correct. Sometimes the symptoms of exhaustion, depression, etc. can be because thyroid levels are off. Once I got my dosage adjusted, those things went away. I personally find the whole thyroid thing to be such a pain. It needs to be monitored so frequently, often the changes are subtle enough that you can't quite pinpoint exactly what is wrong and then I find out that my body had changed and I need a different dosage. My irritation is compounded by the fact that I have yet to find an endocrinologist that I like. But enoughh about me. I have heard and read that some doctors are reluctant to prescribe generics because there are small variations in the dosage, and with thyroid issues, a small variance from expected dosage can cause big problems. You mentioned that you are tested frequently and don't feel that it's an incorrect dosage issue for you. As others have mentioned, you have a lot going on with a young baby, so exhaustion and/or depression may also stem from that. Good luck with the new meds, but if you don't see a change, please be sure to take good care of you and explore other options.

S.,

I've been on Synthroid or generic Levothyroxine for about 10 years after radioactive iodine treatments. I never had any obvious side effects until after I had my 3rd child in 2007. I was on Synthroid 125mcg and it took me several weeks to notice the relation: soon after I took the pill, I was anxious, nervous, angry, impatient and my chest felt as if something was there tearing and scratching and wanting to get out. I felt awful emotionally, I yelled at my kids and generally was not my usual self. I asked my doctor for a generic and I feel better but still notice the difference in how I feel after taking the medicine. I consider switching to Armour Thyroid. I was thinking that maybe in that very dosage of Synthroid, there is an ingredient (dye or preservative) that is causing those symptoms. Again, every one is different. Hope you find a solution to your problem soon. Best of luck to you.

J. K.

I resently read that generics are not a good choise when taking hormones because they may contain small dosage differences and some other additives that produce unwanted effects fro patients. I also read that bioidenticals are the best. Good luck.

As an RN for many years, please believe me when I say that each medication has it's own side effects and you could become sensitive to any one of the ingredients at any time. It may not be that the dose is too high, but that you are now very sensitive to part of the active ingredient or one of the "fillers". My opinion after all these years is that the patient knows best. Trust your instincts. I would bet that you are right. Take care and congrats to you that you are your own advocate. Many people just take their doc's word for everything.

do not count on the blood work, go by your symptoms. it is obvisouly time for change in medication, find a dr that will listen to you and will help you it might take 5 different drs till you find one but go with your instincts. I had this happen to me and my dr changed the does and ahh I was back to normal pretty much phew even though my blood levels were perfect.
good luck
jen

Hi S.,
I have hypothyroid and Hashimotos disease. I use to take Levoxyl for about 3 years and I had terrible side effects which included depression, anxiety, swelling, terrible hot flashes and weight gain... I stopped taking it in September of last year because I was feeling worse and worse. My Doctor seemed to ignore my symptoms. About 2 weeks after I stopped taking Levoxyl my embarassing hot flashes went away slowly all the other symptoms disapeared ;-)
I'm thinking about having another baby soon so I need to get back on something because your thyroid needs to work properly in order to have a healthy pregnancy ( that's what my doctor told me) but I refuse to take Levoxyl or Synthroid. I took some herbal stuff for a few months but it did not seem to work ( I did a test and my levels are low again but I have never felt better, very weird) so I found a Doctor in Chicago that treats thyroid naturaly. I made an appointment with him on March 16 so we will se what happens. The medicinre he uses is Armour Thyroid. There is a website so you can read about it armourthyroid.com

So it's propably not in your head, I've talked to other people and depression is DEFINETLY one of the side effecs. Good Luck-A. ;-)

Hi S.,

I have been on Synthroid for 5yrs now and I understand your concerns. If you are on the generic, that could have something to do with it. I was on the generic for 2yrs and worked out 5-7 days a week and had many of the same side effects you are describing, not to mention the weight gain! I switched to the brand name and never felt better! Lost 25lbs and feel like myself again. If your dosage is too high, you get the side effects as depression and anxiety and insomnia. I know there are other meds out there that many have had good luck with other than synthroid. Every body is different and it may be your TSH levels are good, but your antibodies are not. I don't know if you are being treated by a general practitioner, but many of them are not as educated on thyroid as an endocrinologist. I would visit a specialist to know for sure and then you can be monitored by your general. Hope this helps....best of luck to you! Just know you are not alone, this disease is affecting so many women in this country and is increasing by leaps and bounds. Many of us have had the same experiences as you. Take care.

REPLY TO YOUR UPDATE:
Hello S.,
I have to agree with you that the levels that your doctor is trying to get you at may not be where YOU feel good. The new range with TSH is 0.5-3.5. I myself feel my best at the 0.5-1.0 range. You may be different and that is what I would communicate with your doctor. You are within the range without the increase in dosage. I did the same thing, I was at 125mcg and was increased to get me down and I was having heart palpitations, crying episodes, tired, insomnia, etc....went back to 125 and been great! Best of luck to you!

get off it by going to www. armour.com and finding a doctor who will get you on the natural form that is far healthier for you! Good luck!