Even more tired on Synthroid?? WHY?

[anree]

I am a 33 year old female. I have been tired for 6 years, but just took naps to deal with it. I was recently weaned off of Zoloft 25 mgs. that I had been on for 4 yrs. because of the awful sexual side effects.  I was diagnosed with Major Depression then. Anyway, while I was going off my hair started to fall out like mad. So I went to my GP and she had blood drawn and it came back that my Free T4 was low .6 and she said it should be at 1.3. I cannot remember for the life of me what my TSH was, but she told me it was with in the 'normal' range. She then prescribed 75 mcg of Synthroid, which I have been taking for a week. I have become even MORE tired and exhausted, and have been unable to concintrate. So I tried to contact my Dr. this morning, but she will not be in the office till Thurs. They then left a note for the On Call Dr. to call be back. Nothing yet. So I called my Pharmacist (who is great) and she told me to quit taking the synthroid. And that she would fax a note up to the office asking them to switch me to Armour. Is this a good idea? Or am I just one of the 'lucky' ones who don't do well on any thyroid meds?? Should I quit the Synthroid? I am not on ANY other medications at this time. Thanks for your time.

[kitcurious]

Just an opinion from a patient. One week is probably not giving it enough time to determine its effectiveness or lack thereof. Also follow instructions carefully.

Armour is derived pig hormone and includes T3. Human beings convert T4 into T3. Perhaps the pharmacist thinks the T3 will give you a "boost" of energy, though one may question the appropriateness of them telling you to stop taking a physician prescribed rx without a more compelling reason.

Good luck, hope you feel more energized soon.

[kitcurious]

Perhaps, but symptoms attributed to thyroid are non specific. Don't rule it out as a possibility but it is always good to look elsewhere beacuse it doesn't seem that there is a reason related to thyroid.
It would make sense to to be "clean" at your next blood draw to make sure you know what's really going on, but that's just my opinion from experience. The Armour has a good chane of making you hyper and then you won't have a clue whether or not you have any thyroid problem at all.

[anree]

I would think that, IF I didn't have so many issues with depression, fatigue, and now MASSIVE hair loss. So I do think there is a thyroid problem.

[kitcurious]

It could simply be that you don't need any medication at all since you TSH is normal. Perhaps they should take you off all of it until your next blood draw because it could have just been a lab thing.

[anree]

Well, thankfully stopping the medication was the RIGHT thing to do. Since it was too strong and sending me over to the hyPER side. So trust your body. If you can tell that things are getting WORSE call you Dr. get a blood test and see where you are at. I am supposed to be off meds. till Sat. and start Armour at the lowest dose possible, 15mg, then go back in 2 weeks to be tested again. I know that I am super sensitive to medications, but just can't believe that just 6 pills of 75mcg of synthroid pushed me to the hyPER side! Yikes, I'll have to be careful when I get adjusted!

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

TSH is more useful than T4 in adjusting meds -- talk to your doctor about these issues -- the pharmacist is trying to help, but stopping a medication altogether is not usually good advice.