Levothyroxine Side Effects (Page 7)
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I was recently diagnosed with an underactive thyroid. I have been taking levothyroxine for almost two weeks. For the last four or five days I have had a weird feeling. It is hard to explain. I don't really feel dizzy but I get a strange feeling in my head. I guess you would describe it as a head rush. Has anyone else had this feeling and will it go away as my body adjusts to the levothyroxine?

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I was diagnosed with underactive thyroid last month. The doctor did not know whether I should be on Levothyroxine or not, as he told me that the thyroid was okay but that it was more to do with the "hormonal" imbalance to the brain, but suggested I try Levothyroine 50 mg for approximately six weeks in any event to see if they would make a difference and then have further blood tests to establish whether the thyroid had regulated itself. However, since taking this medication, I also have a strange feeling - a sort of dizzy feeling in my head, I look and feel tired all the time - partly due to my insomnia I know but I just feel different - my weight is escalating and I have palpitations at night. Also, my feet and knee pain has worsened over the last two weeks and I believe it could have made my Osteoarthritis worse. I haven't seen any benefit since taking this medication at all and if after six weeks I still feel the same, then I will speak to my GP - and suggest I stop taking the tablets. I just have a gut feeling that they aren't doing me any good.

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It's been 5 months now on Natural Dessicated Thyroid. Anxiety, panic attacks are gone, cervical pain gone, fainted feeling gone, pain in muscles and joints gone down to a 2 out of ten, no more insomnia etc. I could see an immediate relief on NDT. I would recommend to every one with Thyroid issues the book Stop de Thyroid Madness. It has helped me a lot. I had big side effects with levothyroxine. It is not compatible with our human body and only gives T4 hormone. NDT gives T0,T1,T2,T3,T4 and calcitonin. No more hair lost ! I feel better, a lot better ! I also took care of my adrenals issues !

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hi everyone, I'm so glad I found this website. I thought I was the only one that was feeling dizzy/tipsy from Levo. I was recently diagnosed with hypothyroid because my tsh was 4.63 and according to my doctors note, the range is 0.1-4.5 so it says it's "slightly elevated." Anyway my doc prescribed me 25mcg of Levo. let me say before I get into my symptoms that I really didn't know I had hypothyroidism because the the only real symptoms I had of it was that I noticed i forgot certain things I knew I should've remembered (and I usually have a very good memory). I also noticed once in awhile that is be a little more tired than usual and that my libido went from 100% to about 50%. Lol yes u can laugh at that part. :P

anyway, so I've only taken one Levo pill so far--- I took it 30mins before I ate breakfast. the first 3 hours was fine... but then I started feeling extremely tired, then changed to mad, irritated, sad, anxious, nervous, nauseated, back to being tired. and for the rest of the day my mood kept continuing to change. I ended up falling asleep late (I'm surprised I even fell asleep). the next day rolled around and I woke up with a headache like a hangover. thought the day I felt tipsy like I drank alcohol, of course I didn't. on to the next day, same thing, woke up with a headache and felt like I was tipsy. Today was actually the first day I woke up without a headache. but I currently still feel like I'm a little tipsy.

When is it going to go away?! The feelings I mean? you're all probably laughing that I'm feeling this way after only one pill and it's only 25mcg. hehe it's ok, I'm actually quite sensitive to meds that are strong like steroid type meds and corticosteroid inhalants. I just would really want this feeling to end. I've also been having some slight pain in my chest, kinda like heartburn. it can't be a heart attack or stroke becuz I've already been to the er twice for diff reasons but they checked my heart and I've had a cat scan n all that crabby stuff and I'm fine.

I've been looking up alternatives for this med becuz I don't think I can tolerate it. I do have to work too, so it's even a bigger challenge to stay up at work.

has anyone gone natural as far as trying to treat heir hypothyroid by eating the right foods or pills from a whole foods store?

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Michelle that is exactly what happened to me a couple years ago. My levels were off and started getting palps and drove myself to the hospital. Hooked me up and ran tests and found nothing. (That bill was over $4000) I wish the doctor would of explained more to me about side effects and what can happened, I might not have gone. Having thyroid issues with low levels effects everyone different as we have all experienced. I have a low level depression that I deal with daily. Circulation can get crazy with cold hands and feets to overheating. Weight gain also can be an issue. Best non-medicine is to exercise and stay healthy. This picks up where the medicine leaves off and helps regulate your body's functions.

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Hello, I started with hypothyroid 6 years ago and was put on 75 mcg's of the generic and after a month thought I was going crazy with weird feelings and ended up in the cardiologist office thinking I was about to have a heart attack. After all the tests there was nothing wrong. They switched me to the actual synthriod and my levels are normal and I feel so much better. The pharmacist told me some people can not tolerate the generic form. Hope this helps!

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I have been on and off Levothyroxin and have GERD when I take it. I went off for a week once and felt so much better except for the extreme exhaustion. Why isn't there something better for us to take? I'm at my wits end. I have chest pains, panic attacks, can't drink my beloved coffee anymore, back pain, GERD, feeling of just unwell all from this stupid Levothyroxin! :(

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I too get bad heart palps, was on a monitor and saw cardiologist. Nothing wrong they said. Its the meds and my doctor wants me to start a low dose beta blocker. Scared to do that so havent yet. My heart feels like it is shifting along with little ones too. This medicine is poison and i feel helpless to it. You think someone could come up with a better medicine. Take care and hope they ho way for you.

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Liz, I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism during a physical, routine blood work. I had no symptoms and I have been on Levothyroxine 50mcg for 6 weeks and I feel horrible, I actually felt better before the medication so I can definitely relate to what you're going thru. All I keep hearing is stay on the meds it will get better... Coming off the meds seems pretty good when you feel terrible! Hope that you get to feeling better and get to the bottom of the issue, but you are not alone!

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Worried, hopefully we will get on the right track soon! I don't wish this madness on anyone. It will literally drive you crazy!

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Angela.I understand what your going through.Same here your not losing it.I started taking 75mgs of Levo about 2weeks ago,Now I have more probs then before.I feel warmth all over me sometimes.Around my thyroid the most.Pains in my joints,in my legs so much where I cant stand.It seems like the Levo woke up all the systems of being hypo and said get to work.Iam new at this to.My doc says its just side effects.To keep taking the Levo and I will get better.Doesn't feel that way sometimes.Going to see another doc,just to see what else I can do.But just stay strong and know you can get this under control .Hang in there :)

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I started taking levothyroxine 50mcg almost 6 weeks ago for underactive thyroid. I felt better before the medication. Since taking the meds I have felt worse. On top of feeling worse I am getting new symptoms such as a warmth in my mouth and the back of my throat but not painful like a sore throat just uncomfortable. Pain and stiffness in my hands and wrist. My throat get tender and uncomfortable when touched. I am very fatigued with little to no appetite and all this started shortly after I started the meds. I go back to the doctor in a couple weeks. Has anyone else had any similar symptoms? I know I'm not losing it...at least I hope not!

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Sorry to hear about such severe side effect to your Levothyroxine. The side effects are different for everyone and have various levels of severity. When you first take Levo.. you can be quite anxious and nervous about how the medication will work. It can take a few weeks for it to work properly. The important thing is getting on the right dosage which also works in contradiction to getting on the right dosage because your body is adjusting to the medication. You just have to let your doctor know right away and if you feel too uncomfortable with taking your Levothyroxine than discuss what alternative medications you can take.

thyroid.about.com/od/thyroiddrugstreatments/tp/thyroidhormonereplacement.htm

Do some research on Levothryoxine alternatives. There is a lot of information out there but make sure it's from reputable sites.

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Hi I am 36.Found out I have hypothyroidism.Was giving Levothyroxine 75mg to take for it.I took it n the morning like I was suppose to.Was doing fine.Thinkin it was helping me.But arnd 5 o clck that day I got a pain shoot up my leg fell to the floor then all these emotions came over me.I thought I was going to die.I was shaking so bad, couldn't focus cant move really.Was so scared.I came out of it all bout 5 hrs later.Doc say it was a side effect that I need to take it so my body get use to the meds..But now I am to scared to take any more meds. Can someone help me with a natural way to treat this..

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Been on Levothyrox since April and some symptoms went away but aches and pains (muscles and bones) are still there. I know that being on natural thyroid gave more to my body (T0,T1,T2,T3 and T4.) and now only receiving T4 my body is reacting to not receiving all the benefits of natural thyroid. I had a deal with my doctor that when my tests results will come back OK (balance) I will go back to NT and my doctor asked me to give him more time like 2 more months before switching to NT. I will be back to see him in september and will ask a cortisol and iron test before switching to NT since I know that those levels needs to be balance to avoid bad symptoms.

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Just curious Christine why are you getting off the Levothyroxine and switching to a different medication. How long had you been on Levo... The side effects can drive you mad but it seems once you are aware it's the thyroid not functioning right you can try and adjust the medications. Hope your new med works well for you.

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Hypothyrodism could give you those symptoms of strange feelings in head or body kind like wave feeling. Neck problems are very common for this condition. At first on Levothyrox I hab numbness, tingling in left arm, heart pain like pinch, dizziness, joint pain in wrists, elbows, knees, ankles, very hot feet and muscles weekness. I had cervical x-ray, brain CT scan and everything came back normal. I was overdose on dessicated thyroid and doctor put me on Levothyrox but this tuesday, I am going back on dessicated thyroid but has mentionned in Stop The Thyroid Madness wonderful book, adrenals and iron level needs to be balance before taking dessicated thyroid cause you will be in for quite a ride of unwanted symptoms. I am now ready to go back on dessicated thyroid and live a better life, a life in heaven instead of a life in hell ! Buy yourself a wonderful gift: Stop The Thyroid Madness which explain in a simple way what's happening in your body at hormone and cellular level while diagnose with hypothyroidsm and all the mistakes made from doctors not knowing in detail what is really going on. Even endo's don't know the impact of pharmacology and the impact on body which CAN get your condition worst! Your body is the best doctor there is cause he tells you the truth of what is really going on and what it needs.

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Omg me too...I started taking it 4 weeks ago. A few hours after I take it I feel stoned and tired and weird... I can't handle it...what is the reason why?

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Pretty normal Johnny. Everyone has various side effects with Levothyroxine, some more intense then others. The head rush, feeling weird, flushed face is normal and for me and many others this happens the first couple weeks of taking as your body is adjusting to the medication, or an increase in dosage. If this would continue for more then a couple weeks at most contact your doctor who prescribed the medication and let them know how your feeling. The constant ? with most of us on the board is getting on the right dosage and even switching to a different medication. I've been on Levothyroxine for over a year now and I've had 3 doctors for legit reasons put me on different dosage of Levo. I'm now on 75mcg and it's finally where I need to be. Like many of us the symptoms can be numerous and constant. Anxiety is a big one. I was getting allot of weird chest sensations, not really palpatations, I wasn't really sure and it scared me really bad. Muscle tweeks, cold and hot feet and numbness. Also with the hands. I've compared the thyroid to the thermostat in your car in how in controls temperature of the car, the thyroid controls so much of your bodies functions. Thyroid hormones control metabolism, growth, body temperature, muscle strength, appetite, and the health of your heart, brain, kidneys, and reproductive system. Allot of us have gained weight and a few have lost weight with the Hypo- The best advice I can give you is to exercise daily and try and eat right. Let us know how you feel in the next couple weeks, and don't feel you are alone with this. It can be scary and frustrating but it's manageable. Take care.

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I was diagnosed having hyperthyroid last may 2013 I had all of thsoe symptoms and I was hungry all the time and never gained weight; no blurred vison until I had the RAI treatment. I was put on synthroid right afterwards to help restore my levels to normal, after trying diff. dosages of the levothyroxine I started having the blurred and double vison; went for more test and found out I was getting an overdose of levothyroxine and was takin off of the med all together and that was 6 weeks ago and I still have the vision problems and now find out that I have graves disease in my eyes, it can go into remission but Im hoping as the meds get out of my body that this will cease; So far all of the other symptoms have greatly improved and Ive stopped gaining weight; I was 118 pounds when I was diagnosed and went up to 160 it has takin only a week and 1/2 to start shedding the pounds 6 pounds so so far but htat is the least of my problems; I cant SEE... (very well) Ive benn on propranolo for palpatations, omeprazole for tummy, levothyroxine, oitment for my eyes and bystollic for blood pressure; and now Im going to an endocrinologist I dont know the next steps

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Michelle when I went from 50 mcg to 75 it took about a week to get use to it. My face was feeling really hot and was red. Give it some time for your body to adjust. It can be very frustrating. I had three doctors from the same clinic (one moved, got another and than changed insurance and couldn't keep my PA) and each one raised my Levo- 3 times and each time it went up my body was doing all sorts of weird things, For me it's all stress related. Best thing IMO to do is exercise daily is you can and eat right. Try to do some yoga or relaxation activities.

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