Stopping Levothyroxine (Top voted first)

I have been taking Levothyroxine .88mg for the past two years. I just left town on a three week vacation and realized I left this prescription at home. Should I be concerned?

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I am 32 I have been taking levothyroxine for almost two years. At first it helped with my cold hands and feet and tiredness. My doctor decided to up it to .5 mcgs in the summer. I then experienced my first panic attack ever. I felt like I was going to die. Well she kept me on same dosage bc my blood work was fine. We'll after my recent blood work it showed too high. She kept me on it anyway thinking it would help me loose weight (Dr did this with out telling me). Well one week before my honeymoon I started feeling anxiety heart palpitations short of breath and hot. I went to Dr she took me off it completely and told me to take half when I returned from Barbados. Well nine days after being off meds (still in Barbados) my body went hay wire. I had heart palpitations dizzy mess anxiety like never before and shakes. I went to the medical center and they told me to start taking it again. So I did and I was starting to feel better but now a week later I'm feeling occasional anxiety and dizzyness. It happens in morning usually. I vs been taking my meds at night. So frustrated it makes me feel crazy or that I have a heart problem. I also have had weird tingles in my legs and my left arm. Anyone else experience this? Needless to say I made an appointment with an endocrinologist but can't get in til June 3rd. I'm also looking for a new primary dr.

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Ive been on levothyroxine for 6 months. I still feel a lot of fatigue, hot flashes, and have gained about 30 pounds. My moodswings have gotten better but still these bad side effects. I am considering stopping this medication because all my doctors keep telling me is my bloodwork comes back with normal thyroid levels. Why the side effects? Any answers would be awesome!!!!

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Carol,

Would like your opinion on something. My wife has been taking 0.5 mg of levothroxine for the past few months. She was still having some of the original symptoms, and asked her doctor about upping the dose. The doctor said the throid levels were fine. So we went the other way now - she has stopped taking the pills to see how her body reacts. I would like to know if you stayed off the medication and what symptoms you faced? Please help. Thank you.

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I did not find a difference stopping the medication for three weeks.

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Have been off levothyroxine for 4 weeks now and two to go until I have the thyroid uptake test. Has anyone experienced this before and I have not felt any ill effects as yet, but sluggishness. I was on 150 mcg and have been on thyroid med since 1980.

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Hi, have you already gotten back to levothyroxine? I had been experiencing really bad symptons while taking it, so the doctor decided to lower the level from 75 mcc to 50 mcc, but I still didn't feel well, then I went to 25 mcc and kept on with diahrrea, nauseas... So I decided to quit. it's been a week now and I'm afraid of the withdrawal sympthoms... After a week, i got a little diahrrea again...do you think I can get worse than that? I never find anything on the net telling what to do and the doctor says I have to keep on with the medication... Don't know what to do.

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I decided to stop taking my levothyroxine because my doctor has informed me that my levels are low, but withing the "normal" levels. She prescribed it to me because I had told her that I am not able to get pregnant and she thought it might help with fertility. However, since it was within the normal levels, I felt that taking an additional medication while trying to conceive may not be wise. Also I have not been able to gain any weight (am under-weight) and it may be because of the meds. I have been taking 25 micrograms for about 2 months. I plan to increase my iodine intake, and hoping that I haven't messed anything up. If I'm in the range, it feels strange to take the medication.
Thoughts? Will I have horrible withdrawal symptoms?

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If you suddenly stop taking Levothyroxine, your body can go through withdrawal.

"Levothyroxine withdrawal may cause hypothyroidism, or underactive thyroid. Hypothyroidism causes weight gain, fatigue, depression and sensitivity to cold because your body does not have enough thyroid hormone so your body processes slow down. Patients with thyroid cancer may suffer acute hypothyroidism because of levothyroxine withdrawal."

Referenced from: livestrong.com/article/levothyroxine-withdrawal

Since you've been taking this medication for so long, I would consider contacting your doctor about this if you have been experiencing any of the withdrawal symptoms mentioned above. Better to play it safe knowing that you're going to be alright these next few weeks.

I hope this helps!

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Hi Daneil,

How bad did you feel? I took 75mg for one week from 50 mg. I feel depression, very dry throat. So I go back to 50mg and see how it works.

Thanks,

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Been on 100mcg for 6 years still get all symptoms Dr doesn't seemed bothered /in the summer heat its intolerable please help

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I am on 2 doses really underactive thyroid and have continued ti gain enourmous amount of weight I am stopping today and seeing what will happen if I will accually lose weight also I am blasting a vegtibles kale broccoli spinach garlic tomatoes and eating healthy im going to win this dam, fight since all my blood work came back 100 perfect levels on every level why can we heal our bodies naturaly it in our minds we can heal our selves god I am sick of dying of over weight due to medication causeing dam weight gain wish me luck , I will restore my thyroid

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I had been on levothyroxine for around 8 months and and pursued a new better job opportunity. I ran out of the pills as one coverage ended and new coverage started 90 days after. I have been currently off the pills for around 5 days and have a planned physical in 2 months (first available appt).

I really have no choice to wait for doctor appt for further health updates. I have made some major health changes since last appt (eating more thyroid superfoods and balanced eating and exercise)

What permanent damage could be done for being off it. Any chance of successfully of not needing it with healthier thyroid proactive foods?

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Ive been on thyroid for 15yrs. Its up down up down even wth this medication. I have decided to STOP .. its been 6 days no withdrawels yet. Ill get a thyroid testvin a fortnight and if its normal ill never go on it again. Its a pain in the butt the way it changes on meds.

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Erin, I am currently experiencing the same symptoms you described. I actually had to be taken to the ER after a dosage increase of levothyroxine. I quit taking the meds after that. When i take the medication i am swollen, dizzy and have shortness of breath and sometimes trouble swallowing. I am now extremely fatigued and cold, also dizzy. It's been six days. Did you get your levels under control and if so how was that done?

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I went off Levothyroxine about 5 weeks ago and just began experiencing the following symptoms a few days ago:
-Irritability
-Sluggishness
-Bouts of depression
-Appetite swings
-Confusion (ie. I'm having trouble remembering if conversations and events happened in real life or dreams)
-Constipation
-Hot flashes
-People have been remarking how uncharacteristically quiet I've been

Levo takes a while to leave your system (3-5 weeks, according to a few Google searches I've done), so this is perfect timing to be experiencing the effects of thyroid crash. I've messaged my doc to advise. I have a refill pending, but don't want to go back on full dose in case that's a bad decision. I'd recommend consulting with your MD/OD before doing anything.

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Because the medicine is synthetic. Levo is not natural. Levo is taking over and your body is trying to adjust to it or process it.our bodies know the difference between fake and natural. My son is 20 I am thinking about taking him off of the levo. Do the research on levo.

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hey everyone me again still not takign thyroid meds feeling way better stil gaining weight however no more depression , no side effects as of yet changed diet to include all the active ingriendients needed to function there is alt you need to do , its not easy but my dosage was 250 mcg daily pretty high and i have had no side effects if anything feel more betterbeen what now 5 weeks should of seen or felt something \as i said no more depresion weight gain try cutting our carbs and sugers could be wheat intolerence autoimmune cause of weight gain and hard weight loss im not giving up so fast wakimi sea vegtible coconut oil and selenium i also bout thryro supplements at health food store keeping the body in some kind of function gonna quit those too see if lose weight since im not experiencing any side effects but weight gain pills could be keeping me hypo and thyroid since i still have my thryoid aint gonna give up without a fight, also try vegtibles raw foods cinninmin all kinds of things you can do to help your body heal remember the thyroid effects everything you need to figure out th damge and go heal it good luck everyone keep you posted middle of march suppse to get blood work

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I have been on 25mcg of levothyroxine for about a year. I've never had a weight problem. Since on this medication I've put on 10 lbs and cannot take them off. Im just as tired as I was before. The dr. says my numbers are fine and won't change the dose. I'm thinking of just stopping the levothyroxine and seeing what happens. Anyone else have this experience.

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If you felt no difference I'm wondering if you actually have a thyroid problem in the first place. I've stopped a few times for various reasons and within seven days I could barely put one foot on front of the other, I felt an overwhelming sadness, lethargy, falling asleep standing up...only for a few seconds but the drowsiness is unbelievable. Into the second/third week, weight gain, extreme sadness and agitation, hair loss, scratchy throat and horseness, sore throat, swelling of face, especially my eyes, constipation. I could go on but you get the jest lol. Horrible side effects. It doesn't level off either, just gets worse until I'm practically comatose. It's very bad. I just find it so strange you felt no change at all...emotional or physical. Crazy. Good luck. I know I won't ever stop taking mine abruptly again!

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I've been on Synthroid for 15 years (rotating 137mg and 125mg every other day). I have always continued experience all the classic symptoms of hypothyrodism so I have always been suspicious about what exactly is being "managed" by taking Synthroid. About a month ago I hit a wall, where I had severe fatigue -- sleepy, chemical-feeling like you're falling asleep while driving fatigue. I stopped taking synthroid cold turkey. First morning I woke up feeling FANTASTIC, clear-headed fatigue gone. I see doc in 2 weeks, and am going to ask for justification for continuing to take meds. If T4 is always in normal range, then why do I have to take meds, eh?

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