Levothyroxine Side Effects (Page 8)
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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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Just want to say that my first language is french so bare with me for my english story. Ten years ago I was diagnose with a goitre and a toxic nodule. I was suggested to have it radiated with radioactive iodine which I did cause I didn't know any better. I was put on synthroid for life. Two years ago I started to feel strange symptoms in my body such as trembling, dizziness, anxiety so I have read about natural thyroid which I wanted to try. I probably felt symptoms before that but I was to busy working 3 jobs at the same time and studying (being hyperactive I could work day and night). After 10 years and a lot of readings, my doctor agreed to put me on desiccated thyroid. At the beginning I could already feel a different in my blood circulation with the natural thyroid. I always had cold feet and hands. Now this was extraordinary since they were now warm. WOW. As time went by, I was feeling better until April 11, 2014. Before I go on, I think it is important to tell you that the pharmacist was the one adjusting my dose of natural thyroid which I leaned that she couldn't be the one dosing. As the diagnostic results came in, my results were telling me I was hyperactive for many blood examinations. My Tsh went up to 15 T3 and T4 outside range and I starting feeling like crap. Anxiety, panic attacks, trembling, having problem speaking, confusion is what happened after 10 months of being overdose and also going through a lot of changes in my life, sold the house, living at some friends temporarily, one of my boys had to live in our apartment building because there wasn't any place for him (he is 20 years old), at work, the environment wasn't very positive, the lady that we bought the house didn't want to sell even after signing the papers etc. My body collapse on April 11 2014. I was sent to a hormone specialist and she stopped the meds completely for a week (I was overdosed) while my doctor prescribe me levothyroxine 100mg even being overdosed. I am not a medication fan ! My doctor decided to put on back on levothyroxine sodium and when taking levothyroxine, I had stomach cramps and burning sensation in stomach but I figure it was because of the change (from dessicated thyroid to levothyroxine) so I wanted to give it a chance. The trembling stop after 3 weeks on Levo, the results were getting back to normal after 4 weeks on levothyroxine, the TSH was still high but the hormone specialist said not to worry. Everyday after the 4th weeks being on Levothyroxine I had new symptom coming in. The worst one for me that I couldn't figure out is this feeling of losing consciousness for a fraction of second. It feels like the head and body disconnected. It is a very scary feeling. Talking to people about it, got me a strange reaction or looks on people's face. The other bad feeling is pain all over (muscle ache). Forgot to mention the cervical pain were terrible. Everyday I would cry not knowing what was going on. I couldn't do any chores cause my muscles would weakened right away. I use to be a active person, always smiling, helping others, taking challenges and now I can do nothing except stand on my feet or lie down. I look around me and see people I know that abuse medications and alcohol and eat junk food everyday and enjoying life, I exercise, eat well, stop drinking red wine, and I am living hell and they are active. Thursday I am going back to see my doctor and will ask him to put me back on Natural desiccated thyroid and to closely watch me and test me to make sure I won't go overdose. I have read so many testimonies of people getting very sick on Levothyroxine and I also read that it is a very dangerous medication being under surveillance by FDA pharmacology branch which I don't remember the name. There is also a book explaining in detail and in a simple way to guide you with thyroid problems which is called The Thyroid Madness. Thanks to these website of testimonies that helps you not to feel along. I am going through hell and hope with these informations that you will read more and get information on possibilities to treat the thyroid. Your body will tell you what is good for you but you have to listen to it. He is the best doctor you can get for telling you what suits you or not PLEASE LISTEN TO IT ! Some people feel good on Synthroid and some don't. Some people feel good on desiccated thyroid and some don't. I think it comes down to the reaction of your body and to your beliefs, I personally don't like medications as it does intoxicate the body. I believe in natural medicine. I also think that my beliefs has an impact on what I will put in my mouth. Healing occurs on many levels, thoughts, body and consciousness. Speak out your beliefs and if doctor seems to know it all, change your doctor. I prefer choosing a doctor that is open minded but they are rare cause remember that they get $$$$ from the pharmaceutical companies. I had 2 doctors a hormone specialist and a family doctor and they were doing blood samples which came back with different results......now I am between and trusting DOCTORS with my HEALTH and they are not even agreeing on results.....I felt VERY ALONE. This is why my advice is get informations, read THE THYROID MADNESS so you will understand better the thyroid fonction, look for the wonderful document on the web on Panic and anxiety attacks which has help me decreased 95% of my panic attacks and control the 5% of the little one I'm still having. Bless you all!

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I seem to have this weird buzzing feeling on an off in my face and hands. Hard to describe ? I started on 75 mcg from 50 mcg I took for 5 years. My doctor told me to take more really for no reason. Now I'm back on 50mcg. Starting to feel a little better but still getting buzzing sensation sometimes. Anyone else?

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Your body is adjusting to the medication. It's a weird feeling and can make you feel disoriented, and lethargic. Eat healthy and exercise and let your doctor know if it gets worse or continues.

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I am hypothyroid but had no symptoms showed up on anual lab work that my tsh was 33, started on levothyroxine 75 mcg, was on it for 7 weeks , intially everything ok since i had no symptoms of hypo thyroid neither felt good or bad. But after 7 weeks of taking the med i started having severe chest pain, palpitations, went to my dr. did ekg , ekg ok . My primary stopped my medication, she told me will ck yr thyroid in 6 weeks, if high then we will put u on levothyroxine but ,lower dose . Its been 4 weeks i have stopped the medication , i am still having on and off palpitations , dr told me the medication should be out of yr system by now. She is sendinf me to a cardiologist , just wandering , someone experinced this and how long does it take for the symptoms to go away once u are off the medication..plz respond i am really worried , never has palpitations in my life....even if i drink coffee or choc brownie ...i will get severe palpitations

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Yes I get sore throat and flu-like symptoms, also chest pain at time. Sore breasts too.

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One thing that could be causing the head rush, is that you are not suppose to be eating or drinking things with caffeine. Caffeine is a stimulant which can mess with the hormones in the Levothyroxine.

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I just had my Levothyroxine increased from 50 to 75mcg. Before the increase when I went to see my pcp for regular blood check I was having really bad circulation issues in hands and feet. Freezing at night and painful feet/toes. I walk out run the treadmill 5/6 days a week. I've been out of work for 4 months so I'm about less active during the day. Yesterday I went for a 3 mile jog and my feet felt really good 1/2 through my run. Anybody else get really bad circulation and soar feet.

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Yes, had full thyroidectomy 3 weeks ago. Taking eltroxin 100mcg. Now dr added 50mcg. First 3 days of starting meds I was super! 4th day I crashed. Slept 3 days straight. Hands and legs freezing constantly and of course I can't stand light, but it started before my surgery. I suspect it will take time to adjust. I absolutely believe the key is the right THR dose. If I felt better once I know I will again. Patience is all we have and a good dr. Don't let all the negativeness discourage you. I had a panic attack when I first searched online. It is what it is. Either I think positive encourage myself or just simply give up and have no one but myself to blame. It's difficult. At times seem impossible. Where there's hope. There's always away. Oh I suffered from hypo 20 years. I'm 40 now.

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i started the same medicine 5 years ago and i had the same feeling when i first started. it'll go away once your body gets ammuned to it

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I went to my doctor a few months ago and he said I needed thyroid medicine, so he put me on 50mg. I took it for 5 weeks and I felt like my head was dizzy and I couldn't think, like my brain was shorting out. Then one morning I took it and 2 hours later , I was sick, throwing up, my vision was so blurred and double , I could not see anything, I could not walk, was confused, didn't know where I was. My husband put me in the car and drove me to hospital, I couldn't even get out of the car, didn't know where I was. I was in hospital for 9 days, they ran all kinds of test, still was not getting better, so they decided to send me home since the sickness had stopped, but I still am having the confused problem, dizzy can't walk by my self, blurred vision, pressure in my head and neck. They said it has to be vertigo, but it has been 7 weeks now and no better, I think it was the thyroid pill.

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I had RAI done last March due to being hyper and after the RAI was done I started becoming Hypo according to my blood results. I have been on Levothyroxin for about a year now and my symptoms seem to be getting worse! My hair is still falling out, I still have palliation's once in a while, and the main concern is I AM ALWAYS DIZZY. I wish this would all just go away. I've been to several endo's and they seem to brush off my symptoms or want to increase my dosage. I do not want to increase my dosage because I am worried more symptoms will appear. Has anyone been to a New York City doctor that has treated them and feel fine now? If so which doctor is it?

Thank you for your help!

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Try taking diazipam and citralopam. My wife ended up in a mental ward taking thyroxine doctor prescribed it to her and she felt much better she has suffered for 14 years with this but no one seems to have any real answers to thyroxinel

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Just a wild thought, I too had all your symptoms turned out to be severe vitamin D deficiency and gluten intolerance. The doctors kept coming back to my thyroid but those results showed normal. Took over 15 years before I found a doctor who knew what to look for. There are two types of vitamin D panels. Make sure to ask for the 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH) D and not the 1,25(OH) D panel.

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Yes my eyes turn red too.
Very weird..I stopped taking them, now my eyes are normal

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I have been on Levothyroxine for approx 3 months, my dose has been increased to 75mg. In the last couple of weeks, i have noticed that i seem to have acid reflux and a feeling that ive not correctly swolled my tablets correctly. Just wondering if im going mad or has anyone else experienced the same thing. Ive taken various indigestion tablets but nothing has worked. HELP!!

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I have been on Levo 125 mcg for around 18 months. I have had the weird head/ dizzy sensation. Have tried to describe but it's so odd and can't quite explain! I believe it's the medication. Took 2 week break from Levo, very tired but head sensation and brain fog went away! Tried nature thyroid which is similar to armour but hypoallergenic. After less than 2 weeks all horrid symptoms came back. Tried T3 only and it had same effect! At a loss over what's going on now. Seeing endo next week. Good luck to all xx

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You sound similiar to me. I was treated with anti depressants for many years and still felt depressed along with the other symptoms making me believe it could be my thyroid. But my PCP denied my request for a refer to endo. because my TSH was normal. I tried again with the NP and she referred me to endo. I have Hashimotos but PCP does not run the TPO nor do they listen to symptoms and did not listen to me saying I think I have a thyroid problem. I could not take the Levo. manuf. Lannett. I got much worse with new symptoms of anxiety, crying, thoughts of suicide. My endo. whom I saw only twice told me I might have to just deal it if increasing the levo. did not work. I stopped the levo. and I am trying now to find an endo. that treats with something other than levo. The stress of trying to find a competent doctor is almost as bad as the horrible symptoms.

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I have the same problem! I'm trying to find a better alternative, but I'm not having any luck. Did you stop your meds? I have had to stop mine, cuz I was just getting too psycho. So do you have any more info? Plz let me know if you can..Thank you, *Taridia*

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I have been an Amour Thyroid for about 10 months. I have had no problem. I believe after I started it took awhile for my system to detox from the levo.

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I took levothyroxine from Sept. 23 to Nov. 6 with no symptom relief. I actually felt worse. My endocrinologist increased the dose Nov. 7 and I got much worse. Anxiety, irritable, thoughts of breaking off my engagement for no good reason, and much worse. I was told I would have to just deal with it with the levo. did not work for me. I am now without a doctor and looking for a dr. who will prescribe more than only levo. I also stopped taking the levo. as it was killing me. I am sure it works very well for some, but not all.

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