Synthroid and frequent heart flutters

[Tinsk]

I was diagnosed with hashimotos disease about 6 months ago and put on .025mg of synthroid.  After a few months, I started to notice my heart flutter.  It eventually turned into a feeling that I experienced everyday...several times a day.  I had all the work up done by a cardiologist and nothing showed up.  My GP finally reduced my synthroid to half a pill.  When my numbers were checked a month later my TSH went up to 35!!!  But, my flutters went away.  My synthroid was increased again to .025mg and guess what is comming back...MY FLUTTERS!!  I want to know if there is anyone out there who is having or has had the same expierience.  I feel like no one that I know can relate and it scares me.

[Debr33]

I used to take .275 synthroid. I have thyroid cancer and they completly removed the gland. My synthroid is used as a replacement therapy as well as a type of tumor supression so it is an absurdly high dose causing bad side effects. My thyroid gland was removed 15 years ago.

I to had heart palpitations, shakes, insomnia the works. I did have some abnormal heart beats and the cardiologist wanted to do some procedure that involved an electrode thru a vein and zap some pathways in my heart. I am very young 33 now, was about 27 when cardio wanted to electrode me. It scared me and I never went back.

I tend to play with my synthroid. I noticed missing 3 days a week relieved me of those bad side effects.If I take my synthroid daily .250 I get those shakes, palpitations sweats and insomnia back. My doctor refuses to lower my dose as she wants my tsh low for the tumor suppression so I just take it only every few days to keep myself comfortable. My dr knows I miss doses and isnt happy with me for it but I need to do what I can to feel well.

you are not alone and if need anyone to talk with feel free to contact me.

[Agel]

I also take a low dose of Synthroid and a couple of years ago I had heart flutters/palpitations that were very scary, every day more than once. I went to my doctor and a cardiologist and they all thought I was crazy. My cardiologist told me to take more magnesium and a nurse suggested it was probably too much coffee. I always thought it was the Synthroid but have never been able to prove it and I'm not sure what to do about it either.  I stopped taking it for awhile, then started being very tired, depressed, etc. and a new doctor diagnosed me with Hashimotos and I am taking it again. I haven't had any heart flutters for awhile now, just an occassional almost unnoticeable one, so I'm not sure what helped if anything but I agree with Debr33's post to take a day or two off a week.

[Sculpey5]

Be careful taking a day or 2 off a week.  Remember, synthroid is a synthetic hormone so it really doesn't show up in your system for weeks.  What you do this week will affect you 4 to 6 wks from now.  synthroid effects are not immediate - they take awhile to regulate and you will not get proper readings .  Also try taking it at night with food.  Docs all say not to but I found it slows down the side effects.  I had Hashimotos and it turned in to Reidel's Thyroiditis, eventually had to have my thyroid removed.   Anyway, it took almost a year or so to get me regulated on the synthroid. There were days I was in tears over the palpitations!   My doc also explained to me that since thyroid runs your metabolism which includes your heart, it could be you are so used to the lower heart rate from Hashimotos that your heart needs to re-adjust to a normal beat.  He gave me Propanalol and it helped regulate the heart rythm.  Just be careful adjusting your own meds.  you may feel better now but there are serious serious long term complications to not having accurate thyroid levels.  Take care and hope this helps.  PS, Once I got regulated , I've been fine and it's been over 5 years now.  I have heart arrythmia problems, but it's not connected to my synthroid.

[Tinsk]

thank you guys so much for your in-put.  it is so nice to hear that there are other people who are feeling the same way.  everything that i have read about synthroid, though, has said that side effects were very rare.  thank you guys again for your help...it means alot!

[thyroidmrs]

Was taking synthroid (Abbott); was switched (w/o notice) to generic (Sandoz) with 6 mo supply; and noticed the last 2 refills were switched to MOVA.  Have noticed changes lately; that of gagging, diarrhea, and other discomfort.  Have been treated for hypothroidism since 1999.  Any input most welcome.

[Tinsk]

Did you ever decide to increase your magnesium?  Did it help?  I feel like these palpitations are starting to control my life.

[Barbara123]

Like the rest of you, I also get relief from the heart flutters and insomnia (also numbness and sweating) by decreasing my thyroid on my own - which makes my dr mad.  Sometimes my blood levels are high when this happens, sometimes they're low, so I can't figure out what's going on. Does decreasing synthroid cause my own thyroid to kick in and increase, and thereby relieve my symptoms with extra natural hormone, or does it  relieve the symptoms because I had too much thyroid in my system in the first place? All I know is that skipping days or cutting the pills in half really helps - but it takes one or two days. How does one figure all this out, and why do so many of us have these symptoms on synthroid?

[Tinsk]

I am now on 1 1/2 tablets of synthroid .025mcg.  I was switched from generic to name brand a few months ago.  My flutters did return as my dosage was increased but lately they seem to have subsided.  I don't know if the generic vs. name brand had something to do with it.  When I had originally gone on synthroid, I was told that the were no negative side effects but soon found out that was not the case. I did play around with my meds on my own and found out that my flutters decreased...I know that is not a good idea though.  It is pretty much trial and error as I am finding out.  Keep going to your Dr. and tell them what you are feeling.  I know it is frustrating.  It does help though to know that there are other people out there who are experiencing the same thing that we are.

[grannymirth]

I had my thyroid removed in January because of cancer. I am currently on .125mcg of synthroid daily. I had been on two higher doses, which caused the heart flutters, and sometimes more like heart hiccups, insomnia, terrible hot flashes that caused the makeup to melt and drip off my face. This is a more manageable dose, but still not correct. I also lost my parathyroid glands during the surgery and have to take 1500 mg of calcium a day. I have found that taking magnesium does help as does eating a banana a day, or drinking V-8 because it has potassium. I continue to look for healthy solutions, but so far nothing has worked for more than a week at a time. I am currently looking into Armour (a thyroid replacement made from pigs) maybe it is the answer. As with most of the comments I read, my dr only cares about the numbers, and not how I feel. I wish they could spend a few days in our shoes, I think it would make them care more.

[mlove]

I have been experiencing heart palpitations and have insomnia for the past few days now.  I am on Synthroid since February and the dr. has me now at 75mcg.  I have been wondering if it's the synthroid.  I'm glad I'm not the only one who has been wondering the same thing.

[Tinsk]

Are you on generic or name brand synthroid?  If it's generic, try changing to brand name.  This may help.

[cjFW]

well, i'm new to hypothyroid diagnosis. have miserable heart flutters.
i'm on armour thyroid. initially was on 120 mg. but went down to 60 mg.
does synthroid and armour thyroid work the same? my doc seemed puzzled about flutters.  so is this not a common thyroid or thyoroid med side effect symptom?
thanks, cj

[Tinsk]

I am currently taking synthroid .05 mg.  My dosage was just increased about  a week ago.  I'm not quite sure what the difference is between synthroid and armour.  I know that all Drs. don't like to use armour, though I don't know why.  My heart flutters started a few months after being on synthroid.  My dosage was decreased and finally the flutters went away...but my TSH rose to 35!  Needless to say they slowly increased my dose again to what it is now.  The only difference now is that I am on name brand synthroid instead of generic.  This does seem to make some difference.  Anyhow, I've been to a cardiologist and had many tests and was told that my flutters were not doing any damage.  They are still VERY scary when they occur as I'm sure you know.  Everything I've read and everyone I have asked said that being hypo doesn't cause flutters, but as you will find from this forum, there are many people here experiencing the same thing.

[witchway]

I found all the comments so comforting. The heart flutters are the most frighting thing I have ever experienced. I went to see a doctor, had EKG's and even went to the ER one night because I thought I was having a heart attack. Guess what they all said anxiety even gave me another Rx.  It took me a while to figure it out on my own. What did I do differently that brought on the flutters? It came to me that Synthroid must be taken first thing in the morning and on an empty stomach. I had started to take it after breakfast on a full stomach, or sometimes late in the day.  Well, guess what, no more flutters. I am following the instructions and I feel great !

[Sweetie2]

I started having heart flutters 2 days ago & today it was worse, along with low blood pressure.  I'm not on any medication & haven't had my thyroid checked lately.  I've had problems with borderline high TSH in the past but it always goes back to normal on its own so they've never put me on meds.  The heart tests always come back normal.  I have mitral valve prolapse so my heart flutters might be from that, but I feel like it's my thyroid.  My mother has history of thyroid problems & had to have hers removed.  Is there anything I can take when I get these flutters & low pressure back to normal?

[anniet]

I feel I'm losing my mind!  Over the last two months or so I haven't been well.  Finally my labs were done and they showed a TSH of 10.71 and antibodies of 2800. An ultrasound of my thyroid was normal along with my free T4 and T3.  My endocrinologist diagnosed me with either subacute lymphocytic thyroiditis or either the beginnings of Hashimoto's and put my on 50mcg of synthroid of which I've been on for 2 weeks now.  The first week, no effect.  The second week was hell. I had problems, awfull problems, falling asleep, felt like my mind was racing.  If I was able to fall asleep I would wake up automatically after 4 hours or so and couldn't get back to sleep.  Of course, my doc gave me sedatives and sleeping pills etc which in themselves really don't give me a sound sleep either in addition to ruining my day by being so groggy and hung over. My doc said I must take this med and this dose, that it's a very low dose and my body should tolerate it.  This is caused me so much anxiety thinking my body won't get adjusted to this and that I will need it to live.  Please help.  Is 2 weeks too early to tell?  Will my body get used to this?  I would appreciate hearing from anyone that has been there and that can help me.

[ShannieK]

Hi, been there, Have Hashimoto's, also was started on 50mcg when first diagnosed a year ago, and went up in dose real fast.  Now that you have started treatment, really keep a log of symptoms.  When I was diagnosed, I had everything wrong with me that I could have wrong with me, and each time they raised my dose I felt better.  Your level is pretty high right now, I'm thinking you will notice more of an improvement as they mess with your dose alittle more.  Sometimes this whole thing takes awhile, but you will find your dose.  Good luck

[anniet]

Thanks for responding...How did you deal with the insomnia?
Did your doc put you on sleeping pills etc? This whole thing is the absolute worst.

[cinnamon95]

Hi everyone!

I was diagnosed about two years ago as having an underactive thyroid. Last year, after losing a considerable amount of weight (which I liked), and high blood pressure (which I don't like), and a racing heart beat, the doctor then tells me after my general concern, that I have an overactive thyroid. I was put on PTU, and had been on it for some months, no change. I changed doctors, and my new doctor re-evaluated me and noticed that my numbers were now low, so I am back to an underactive thryoid. I now take Synthroid, because I have a gotier, and I imagine this is going to make it shrink, or atleast get my numbers to where they need to be. My hair has fallen out, and I have gained some of the weight back that I lost, but my main concern is this funy feeling that I get in my chest. I don't have it all the time, like most of you do. I sing alot, and have noticed that when I sing I get this feeling.I have had an EKG, EEG, and anything else that monitors your heart. Maybe someone can please tell me what this is, because it is very scary.


Anitha

[ShannieK]

Hi there, All I can add is that I have hashiomot's and I bounce back and forth between the hyper and hypo symptoms, have been lucky enough so far not to develop the nodules or goiters that are asscociated with this disease.  I have had the heart palpitations and chest pain, just as you mentioned, have also had heart tests, that come back normal.  I always can judge when my Synthroid dose is "off", When I get extrememly tired and sluggish, than I know my meds need to be upped again, and when I get those heart palpatations and chest pain, I know that i'm too high.  Now we all are different, but this has been my experience.  Also, I went to go see my endo, just this last thursday who put me on a diet, and I have not felt this good in a year.  I hear once your diagnosed with thyroid disease especially auto immune in nature, that you really have to watch what you eat, that some foods will really trigger your symptoms.  I didn't believe it, but started a diet on Friday after my dr talked to me, and I feel so much better than I have in a long long time, and there has been no adjustment to my meds or anything, it has really made a difference.  I was having chest pain, blurred vision, heart palpitations, thought my dose was too high, but started this diet and it all went away.   it's amazing.  Good luck to you Shannon

[joatmars]

Hi all.  Glad to find this place.  I would second the advice about taking synthroid in the morning on an empty stomach.  To sweetie2 and cinnamon I would suggest that you look at the www.ndrf.org website.  It deals with something called dysautonomia, of which mitral valve prolapse is a type.  Dysautonomia ALSO presents with heart issues, tremors, the low blood pressure that someone mentioned in one of the earlier posts. I don't advocate self-diagnosing, but folks do know how they feel.  I have both dysautonomia and hashimoto's (as well as fibro and cfs) and can tell you from personal experience that because they have many overlapping symptoms, it can be very, very difficult to determine which problem is causing the symptoms. If adjusting thyroid medications isn't helping, it's worth a look.  As most folks would probably attest to here, you simply cannot count on your doctor to do all the work - unless you're happy living your life from antidepressant to antidepressant.

[momofEB]

I have taken sythroid for several years now and have started to have "heart flutters".  I am not sure why unless I have "anxiety" but I don't think I do, as I thought that is what it may be but after reading all of your comments I'm beginning to think I don't have anxiety.  I am not really sure how to describe the sensation.  It's almost like adrenaline running through me.  Could that be the same feeling as "heart flutters".  Also, I will have my eyes closed (sleeping) and feel like I am shaking all over and open my eyes and my body's not even moving but I feel like I am shaking inside.  It only occurs when I am either just about to fall asleep or during my sleep and it wakes me up.  Does it occur at those times and like that for anyone else?

[marilee176]

A related discussion, Atrial Fib was started.

[healthytruthseeker]

A related discussion, Hashimoto's and diet was started.