Adverse Reaction to Levoxyl

[bretbunch]

I was reading these questions and answers and have found that I have also had a reaction to Levoxyl.  I have been on the drug since the end of January when my endo switched me from Synthroid to Levoxyl (125 mcg).  For about 3-4 weeks now I have noticed that my blood pressure is higher than normal, 138/78, it used to be 110/70.  I get heart palpitations and my chest feels like it is squezing in the front and the back.  I discussed my symptoms with my endo and was sent for a chest CT to rule/out a PE.  That came back fine.  I went to the ER and also had an echocardiogram, which also turned out fine, but with some tachycardia.  My endo changed me back to synthroid (112 mcg) and I have been back on that medication now for almost 1 week.  The symptoms are gradually reducing.  How long will it take for the symptoms to dissipate?  Should I be put on a beta blocker for my heart in the process or is that not necessary?  Second question.  When I was on Synthroid for 1 year prior to the medication change, it worked well for me except that my liver count was slightly elevated, ast (54) and alt (82).  On Levoxyl my ast most recently was (10) and my alt  (17).  It is very clear to me that my body cannot tolerate Levoxyl, but I don't want to have any liver effects on the synthroid either.  My thought is that I need to remain on the Synthroid, short term, until the adverse effects of the Levoxyl diminish.  After that, what other thyroid drugs should my doctor try and which ones should I avoid?  I am afraid of having this type of a reaction again.  Please advise as I would like this opinion for my next conversation with my endo Dr.  Thank you.

[bretbunch]

Very true statement!  Thanks for the support.  Can't wait until all of the symptoms of Levoxyl go away and I can feel good again.  I am 2 years post RAI treatment, was doing well, and have now gone backwards.  It's time to feel better.  

I also scheduled an appointment for a second opinion from another endo in June.  We'll see how that goes.  My doctor didn't consider that I may be having an adverse reaction to the drug, which bothers me.  I would like to find a really good endo like it sounds like you have.  

[stella5349]

It's all about you and your body's tolerance to medication. I went to a doctor's appointment Fridy and I like how he said it - If one med doesn't work - keep trying until the patient feels better.

He was awesome - first time I heard that out of a doctor's mouth. TSH should be based as a number and thyroid patients need to be looked at symptomatically.

[jd2]

hi AR,
my mum and i are both lactose intolerant and recently switched from oroxine (like synthroid - contains lactose) to levoxyl. we both feel heaps better now. my tsh is not right yet, my tsh keeps going up and i may have a parathyroid adenoma (so basically feel very bad) but my stomach feels a lot better on levoxyl (at least its one thing that isnt as bad as before).  i had constipation, wind and diarrhea from the lactose and it is much better now.

my mum feels heaps better, her tsh was good when we switched, she went for a blood test the other week and her tsh came back at 26! this is because she reduced her dose of levoxyl because she thought the lactose might have been stopping the thyroxine from getting absorbed (which i guess it wasnt) - but she reckons she feels better than she has in years - at a tsh of 26!

bretbunch - when my mum switched to levoxyl she found she got some hyper symptoms at first (palpitations), so she reduced her dosage, but now shes up to nearly the same as before.

[AR-10]

So far, I have only tried generic Levothyroxine, and Synthroid.

I have been taking Synthroid for two years or so, and I don't know what to think of it just yet. Being lactose intolerant, I am not sure if some of my digestive issues are from the Synthroid or not.

I have been waiting to get balanced on my meds before making any decisions about it. I had RAI in January, and it will be several more months before I get my hormones balanced, and several more months after that before I am in a position to say the complaints I have are from the disease or the medicine.

There are other T4 meds out there. It's hard to figure out which ones are available in the U.S. Maybe a local pharmacist could tell you of more options.

[bretbunch]

Thank you for your response.  Have  you had any experiences with Levothroid or Unithroid? (I am in the US).  Have you had an adverse effects to any thyroid drugs?  

[AR-10]

You could try Levothroid or Unithroid if they are available in the U.S., assuming that is where you live. Your doctor may be more familiar with the choices available. Or not.