Levothyroxine Is Satan (Page 11)
(Newest replies first)

I don't feel so confused anymore. Now I know all of you are going through the same thing. My doctor put me on 50mcg of Levothyroxine about a month ago and I have gain 8 pounds! I get short-breathed and winded REALLY easily when working out. I used to go to the gym for 2 hours, now I can't make it longer than 30 minutes. I wake up ALL the time with tingly fingers because my hands have fallen asleep. I have headaches, I feel 100 times more lazy than before...and it's supposed to help your energy, not drain it. I e-mailed my doctor today, this is not making me happy. Not to mention I now have an acne type rash that burns like hell on my chin and I've always had clear skin. If this drug is supposed to make you feel better it sure as sh*t isn't working for me. I feel like a fat lazy a$$ with an itchhy burning rash on my face... stay away from this drug, that's my suggestion. :(

REPLY

REPORT

I have been on low dose of Levo for over 3 years. I have weaned myself off a few times because of severe knee pains and feeling bad in general. Dr. would scare me back on. I wish I had never started it. this time I quit and have been off for 2 months, feeling better but also improved my nutrition vis Jon Gabriele method. It is free. Also now taking an antioxidant. In a few more months I will attend a health fair to get blood work and get it sent to me. Seeing this made me more confident. His opinion on TSH levels was an eyeopener.
renegadehealth.com/blog/2011/02/18/how-to-do-thyroid-stimulation-exercises/

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

I have been on 50mc of this medication for 8 months, I cannot describe how sick I am, you read on line about this thyroid problem and every site is selling something they swear will make you better, its all b.s. I have woke up for the last 3 days,crying...I am in such a haze/fog, I stumble because I am so weak, what does my worthless Dr. say, come back in...lets do another test, and be sure to pay as you leave. She is making money off of me and in 9 months I have not noticed one single bit of difference other than I feel WORSE. I have put on 15 lb.s too, which is making me have problems with my feet, I can't walk I hurt....Honestly if this does not get better I hope I die within a years time, I can't live like this.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I've been on Levothyroxine about two years. I actually ended up in the ER with a severe Hashimoto's attack. So the doc put me on this. We tried Armor at first, and it worked wonders on me, but then they reformulated and it made me very sick. So I got the Levothyroxine. Seemed to be working okay for almost two years, but haven't been able to lose a pound on it. And then about two months ago, I started to get the severe leg and back cramping. And I mean SEVERE. Tried upping the dose, the cramps are not going away. The drug is literally crippling me. So, it looks like I might have to go off this, too. I know it's the drug because I had the cramping when they reformulated Armor. It has to be some filler they put in there. I'm also dizzy now alot, have had heart problems and brittle bones, which are all real side effects of Levothyroxine, and it even says it causes cramps. To me, these are not acceptable side effects. And nothing is worth not being able to walk. I'm not sure how I'm going to treat the Hashi's without the hormone, though, but I can't live with these side effects.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I have been on levothyroxine for about 20 years and in that time I have gained over 100lbs in weight to my already 140lb frame at the time. I would eat all the time because I was constantly hungry. I stopped taking this poison a few weeks ago, I have lost interest in food and well in everything really but I am going to persevere without it because despite my Doctor warning me I will be doing lasting damage, I feel that I have gained some modicum of control back. I no longer crave food and despite being tired more often I feel that in the long term the benefits will outweigh the disadvantages.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 10

i am 39 yr old female an about 4 weeks ago i was also put on this med,i am barely 5 ft tall i weighed 108 when i started this mdication,i now weigh 112,iv been told there will no wieght gain after its under control an that my pain management dr was surprised i hadnt gained more yet,but when i talked to the pharmacy they said no weight gain,iv googled it an have got both answers,both weight gain an weight loss,so which is it? i have noticed since iv been on this my weight gain has slowed down but i am watching what i am eating an im always hungry as hell....also i havent gotten the red itchy rash im hoping 2 avoid that but my skin feels raw,like i have a sun burn,more so on only my face.... can anybody help me these questions an concerns,,,,weight gain or weight loss?does my skin feel burnt from this medacine or is it just somthing else,,,i have not been in the sun somthing i used 2 love now i can no longer stand the heat :(

REPLY

Was this helpful? 16

I have been taking Lev for 3 months now. This is my second try at this. I took myself off of it the first time and my doctor fussed at me. One month after begining Lev I began to feel terrible. I have a constent headache. At night I do not sleep. I get cramps all over my body in places I did not even know you could cramp. I get cramps in my back, in my throat, in the middle of my hands and in my fingers, and the worst is when my toes fold under and my ankles twist in. The cramps usally happen in the middle of the night. I am very agressive all the time which is not my nature. My hair and skin are dry and I just feel miserble. I also have gains 18 pounds. Is this all side effects??? It seems like more harm than good. I have tried to research the ingridents of Thyroid medication but I am getting no where.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 10

I've been on 50mcg Levothyroxine for 1 1/2 weeks now and so far I am not not noticing a big difference in how I feel except for that I can go longer periods of time without eating now. Before taking this, if I skipped breakfast I would be dragging and shaking before lunchtime but now I'm not like that. I've also had acne all my life and right now my skin is the clearest it's ever been. Not sure if this is due to the meds but I haven't done anything else differently. I'm still feeling tired and drained for no reason a lot and I always want to take a nap. Fingers crossed the levo will correct this. I wonder how long it takes...

REPLY

Was this helpful? 10

Been taking levo, Med 25, mcg for bout a year 1/2. I went from 180 to 217 and still climbing. I was walk and exercise daily. Some days my vision. Is blurry and other days it isn't, because of trying to wing myself off(splitting the pill)doc said it wasn't the levo!I think is was. recently, went to doc and he told me to stop taking them completely because the dose is so low. But when I researched the drug, the info stated that this drug affects your heart, and just taking them can cause problems! Wtf! So I am beginning to wing myself off again, ill see what happens.......help

REPLY

Was this helpful? 3

diagnosed 6 wks. ago given levothyroxine TSH was 6.7 Free T4-was 0.93 . Now 6 weeks later repeated blood test, think doctors a little off as the TSH came back at 1.34 and the T-4 l.l notice the first test being Free T-4 repeated he did a T-4 never a T-3, changing doctors needless to say. I don't have acne maybe cause I'm 69 but I can barely walk pain in feet and legs, soles of feet burning like walking on coals, look 8 months pregnant also was 120 or under all my life now 152 most days if I starve and just drink water and a can of string beans I might see 149 big whoop. Can't breathe always out of puff, might be elderly but I'm a feisty dancing fool ride bikes DID before levo that is, and take my grands and greats wading in the river on tubes now thanks DOC. can't even hardly walk, can't tie shoes so fat only 5 feet and I just want to stay inside. My family 5 kilds are nasty EXERCISE AND STOP EATING JUNK ,,,,,,,,EXCUSE ME I am the one person who cooks healthy fresh food not restaurants and mickey d crap like the young ones of today so that don't wash, when I say me feet hurt and I can't walk the boardwalk in AC I MEAN IT THE PAINS TOO MUCH I need to lose weight whatever but these pills they said once start YOU CAN NEVER STOP WELL GUESS WHAT AT MY AGE AS GOD IS MY WITNESS I am stopping in the a.m of May 2010 at my age I'll survive with a rotten thyroid or die, and I'll only die if my number is called not because I didn't listen to doc. know it all who apparently knows nothing not even the correct tests to give before shoveling out meds,,,,,,,,,,,,, and I'm ashamed to admit this but it might help others I am a licensed retired nurse who should know better, but one day I got a call telling me to go to pharmacy that my levels for thyroid were out of whack and I needed synthroid,,,,,,,,,,,,,so wish me luck.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 24

I feel for all of you. When I first started taking levo, I had the acne too and can gain and lose 5 pounds a week, was diagnosed hypo, and didn't care for the side effects. Now 5 years later, I'm at 175 mcg a day, diag'd with Hashimoto's Disease, and am fine with the minor weight problems. My energy levels are fine now, and acne's not a problem. I think once the body feels semi-normal things even out, though I hope y'all find whatever you need to get through to it. I'm happy I know what i'm dealing with for life and not sure I'd want to know how I'd be doing if I hadn't found out and gotten on the drug.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 6

Jennyb - That is so horrible I am so sorry you had to go through all of that!! I am glad things are looking up for you though. I know ho frustrating those chin bumps can be.. I wish I could give you advice as to what to take but I had to stop taking levo to get them to go away :( Have you asked your doctor? If he says they're not from the levo tell him you know other people who have the same symptoms and you want something done about it.. I think there are other drugs for hypothyroidism you could try... maybe ask about those. I have a friend that has acne and uses proactive but I do not know if it would work on those bumps, I never tried it. I was borderline hypo so my doc just said stop taking it... im scared to go back now, ive been dieting and exercising daily to try and solve all my problems without meds, haha... good luck in your search though!! I hope everything works out for you!! I know how frustrating all this can be! hang in there :)

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Hello you guys I am 21 years old and I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism last summer and somehow I went from hyper to hypo.. at the time I was taking methimazole and it caused me to gain 40 of the 57 lbs I had lost previously to becoming sick in 3 months. Literally I went from a size 14/15 to an 8/9 but it was sick or unhealthy weight that came off and as I said before I gained 40 lbs of it back in 3 months. So I noticed a change in my symptoms; I became slugglish and tired and it seemed I gained weight even if I didnt really eat, and to be honest I even fasted for a couple of days but I still took my meds but I still gained weight. So I begged my doctor to take me off of that medicine methimazole and she said that I had the symptoms of hypothyroid, so she did blood test and the results confimed I had went from hyper to hypo. So next she instructed me to quit taking methimazole and take levothyroxine. So I have been on Levothyroxine for 3 months now and surprising mainted my weight, but I have lost inches rather than weight which is even better. My friends immediately noticed a difference in my weight and many have told me that I look as though I have lost some weight. But to sum it all up I am glad that Levo is working but I have broken out in my chin area with blemishes and red bumps and its very frustrating to even have to be sick, but everything happens for a reason. So basically this whole process has been frustrating and I wanted to know if there is any acne meds that I can use to help clear up my face, if so your response would greatly appreciated.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

OMG! For all of you that have only been on levathyroxine for a year or less and have gained weight - be warned! It does not stop!! In 3 years, I have gained 35 pounds. My doctor says this is because of a hysterectormy 4 years ago. But truly, I have spent 2 hours per day in the gym lifting and doing cardio, then come home completely exhausted. I am in the process of seeing how to get off of this drug safely. My previously athletic figure looks more like a jellybean now, and I cannot stand it. So, thanks to all of you who have reaffirmed that this problem is common. You are not alone!!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 17

Hey Michele... I still get the chin pimples and I was so excited the first couple weeks because I felt so much better and never tired but it seems to have worn off now. I also just got a second blood test and my TSh levels are supposedly back to normal now... from 39.42 to 4.6 so I dont know what to do now. I want a higher dose but I guess Im cured already. Its frusterating!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 4

Hello,
I was wondering if you guys could help. I am looking up acne with levothyroxine becausse since going up on my dose I am getting horrible acne, this is the wierd part, I only get it on like my jaw line though. It is both sides but like on my jaw and where your jaw meets your neck. I have not had acne for well over 10 years. It is really bothering me. I am having just a horrible time with levothyroxine and even went to synthroid for a while to see if it helped and it didnt. I feel great for the first couple of days of taking it then it slowly wears off and i am back to being tired. But the acne is just killing me. I work with the humane officers so my appearance is important to me. are any of you having any of this?

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Not sure what to tell you... It's still happening to me even now that I've stopped taking the medicine.. they do hurt.. I stopped working out because when I sweat they burn a lot... it's really annoying. I need to see a dermatologist now I guess.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 2

So now I have been taking levo for about a month and I feel better and im not short of breath anymore, but I still keep getting wierd episodes of chin acne and they hurt! It went away for a couple weeks and now its back. I hope this will stop because I work at a makeup counter and the acne makes the products look bad.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 3

Hi guys, sorry it took so long to get back to you. That's so crazy that I am not the only one that got the pumply things!! I got off it a while back now when I said I was because my doctor said I was just borderline hypo and that i could stop taking it... the pimples seem to still go away and then come back... it's weird!! Did this medication give me a permanent defect?? Let's hope not... :( I still seem to be gaining a lot of weight... maybe my hypothyroidism has gotten worse, not sure.. my doc said to come back for a retest in January. I'd suggest stop taking it or ask your doctor to give u a diff thyroid medication.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 2

OMG! I just thought it was me...I feel better, no weight gain, but I have these nasty pimples all over my chin and around the right side of my mouth. I hate it....will it go away with time? I've been taking this for 6 weeks and I don't go back to the doctor for 6 more weeks

REPLY

Was this helpful? 5

Most of these are normal side effects to using this class of medications, there are many complaints about them on here. Not everyone experiences them, but there are fairly common.

HOWEVER the shortness of breath and difficulty breathing COULD BE AN ALLERGIC REACTION and you should stop using the medication and speak to your doctor IMMEDIATELY!

You can read more on it here:

https:/­/­rxchat.com/­wiki/­Levothyroxine/­

Are there any other questions?

REPLY

Was this helpful? 5

I have been taking levothyroxine for a few years and I went to a different Drug Store to get a refill of levothyroxine a...

4 REPLIES

What are the benefits of thyronorm over levothyroxine? Do the symptoms like hair fall continue even after starting medic...

3 REPLIES

Is the Amneal brand of Levothyroxine gluten free? I can't seem to find definitive wording that it is. ## Are you ref...

3 REPLIES

I've taken this medication on and off for years. New endo- thought we should try again, despite my very educated dis...

21 REPLIES

I've taken this drug for sometime now, or at least one with a very similar look. Originally I had to be represcribed...

2 REPLIES

Hi everyone, I am curious if anyone has experienced intermittent vision loss while being on levothyroxine. For about two...

6 REPLIES

Hi, my100mg levothyroxine tablets are no longer working for me.I have been taking these for 2 years with a gradual spira...

8 REPLIES

Hi, I have been on 100mg of thyroxine for around 2yrs now after a total thyroidectomy. I have recently decided to get fi...

1 REPLY

I was recently prescribed an ultra high dose (300mcg and climbing) by my psychologist for a mood disorder. I guess this ...

3 REPLIES

I have been taking 25mg of this crap for almost a year. Im 28 over weight and wondering if stoping this med suddenly wit...

6 REPLIES