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Change in How you React to Levothroid?
Has anyone had a change in how they tolerate or react to levothroid in the last 3 or 4 years? anyone have experiences of headaches, nausea, fatigue, dizziness from levothroid?
Does anyone know of any reformulations of levothroid in the last few years? Thanks for your replies.
Does anyone know of any reformulations of levothroid in the last few years? Thanks for your replies.
Interesting to have both exactly the same!! I havent really looked into it much (obviously)!!
Eutroxsig and Oroxine are made by the same company??? Hmmm...that's interesting. I learn something new every day!!
In Australia the thyroid medication we have is Eutroxsig, the generic is Oroxine. Both made by the same company and both are exactly the same in formula etc. I have had nausea, etc but I don't believe it is from my T4 medication, rather, from my ongoing symptoms of stupid thyroid disease. I had many symptoms before I started taking Eutroxsig.
By the way, even in Australia we still doctors who dose by only TSH!
Naturopaths can help you adjust your diet to help you cope better, but don't put all your hope in thinking it will be the answer. Just use them in conjunction with your regular doctor. I used one for a year or so and his ideas and understanding helped me greatly in my diet. As to my thyroid issues he said he is well aware of the way hypo and hyper affect the body, but he would never push any herbal remedies that might interfere with that function. Mine is a GOOD naturopath. Do be wary of ones that try to push bottles of pills for 'thyroid function. They often do not understand some of the herbs can interact with thyroid medication!
By the way, even in Australia we still doctors who dose by only TSH!
Naturopaths can help you adjust your diet to help you cope better, but don't put all your hope in thinking it will be the answer. Just use them in conjunction with your regular doctor. I used one for a year or so and his ideas and understanding helped me greatly in my diet. As to my thyroid issues he said he is well aware of the way hypo and hyper affect the body, but he would never push any herbal remedies that might interfere with that function. Mine is a GOOD naturopath. Do be wary of ones that try to push bottles of pills for 'thyroid function. They often do not understand some of the herbs can interact with thyroid medication!
Sounds to me like you are still hypo and could have adrenal fatigue or an rT3 problem. ...
I completely understand your frustration...I think most of us have been to he// and back in one version or another.
They're often not easy to find, but the unicorn does exist (maybe not in your health plan). Very few doctors impress me, so when I was looking for an endo, I faxed questionnaires to all the endos in the area asking them some pointed questions before making an appointment. I live in a fairly small medical market, so there weren't a lot of choices. Only one answered my questionnaire, but his answers by and large passed my muster, and he answered the questionnaire "himself"! Wow. However, I was still prepared at my first appointment to have to call him an idiot and stomp out telling him not to bother billing me! LOL I immediately loved him and still do.
You can interview them over the phone also, probably through a nurse. Ask what tests they routinely order, what meds they're open to using, what experience they have treating thyroid along with any other health problems you may have, etc. You may just have to go outside your health plan to get proper treatment.
They're often not easy to find, but the unicorn does exist (maybe not in your health plan). Very few doctors impress me, so when I was looking for an endo, I faxed questionnaires to all the endos in the area asking them some pointed questions before making an appointment. I live in a fairly small medical market, so there weren't a lot of choices. Only one answered my questionnaire, but his answers by and large passed my muster, and he answered the questionnaire "himself"! Wow. However, I was still prepared at my first appointment to have to call him an idiot and stomp out telling him not to bother billing me! LOL I immediately loved him and still do.
You can interview them over the phone also, probably through a nurse. Ask what tests they routinely order, what meds they're open to using, what experience they have treating thyroid along with any other health problems you may have, etc. You may just have to go outside your health plan to get proper treatment.
HessyKat,
I agree. But, I have yet to find a doctor willing to work with me and try things. The resistance I face - and have faced - baffles me. Its like we are in some contest, if the doc tries things i have suggested and would like, then she or he has lost.
I do not understand it. I go into every new doctor as positive as possible, with as much information as i can offer them. I do not bully and I listen and I ask questions and I never tell them they are wrong. But, still, I get BS in response.
Neither my PCP nor my END believe that a Free T3 is a necessary test. I have asked for it anyway and they refuse. Now, I have an HMO with a deductible. So, I will still have to pay for the blood test. They are already employing the lab and the lab techs, so they will be making money off me. Yet, still, they refuse.
I have asked for cytomel to be added and my PCP says its beyond her experience. The ENDO tells me she thinks its a placebo. I Told her i will take the placebo effect. she says "we'll see."
I know. I need new doctors. there is only one other Endo in the city with this HMO. I saw him in 2006 the last time I had this HMO. I was 32. He focused on getting me pregnant and how that would go (i was not trying to get pregnant and was not even in a relationship much less married). He said to me, no lie, "why do people always come into my office and talk about brain fog. what is this brain fog? I do not even know what that is." so, I said, "yeah, people keep coming into my office with their legal problems. I don't why that happens." I am a lawyer. He said " I do not appreciate sarcasm." I said neither do I. I will never see him again.
He is only one of two doctors I have ever fought with. But, no matter what I do i end up with some really obnoxious doctors who insist on keeping me away from anything i have read about. I really cannot get another insurance right not. I am a solo practitioner and there are little few options to purchase individual healthcare.
I am going to a Naturopath next, even though its money out of pocket i really cannot afford right now.
I feel awful most days. I am at about 30% viability everyday. It very hard to keep advocating for myself. I am so very discouraged. I keep thinking what i can do different for the doctors to listen to me. What am i doing wrong?
so, what you says sounds simple, but it has been so elusive for me. that doctor who takes the full panel and who listens to symptoms and clinical presentation and who makes a plan to get to the bottom of how i feel and actually help me - that doctor is an urban legend, a unicorn as far as i am concerned.
I agree. But, I have yet to find a doctor willing to work with me and try things. The resistance I face - and have faced - baffles me. Its like we are in some contest, if the doc tries things i have suggested and would like, then she or he has lost.
I do not understand it. I go into every new doctor as positive as possible, with as much information as i can offer them. I do not bully and I listen and I ask questions and I never tell them they are wrong. But, still, I get BS in response.
Neither my PCP nor my END believe that a Free T3 is a necessary test. I have asked for it anyway and they refuse. Now, I have an HMO with a deductible. So, I will still have to pay for the blood test. They are already employing the lab and the lab techs, so they will be making money off me. Yet, still, they refuse.
I have asked for cytomel to be added and my PCP says its beyond her experience. The ENDO tells me she thinks its a placebo. I Told her i will take the placebo effect. she says "we'll see."
I know. I need new doctors. there is only one other Endo in the city with this HMO. I saw him in 2006 the last time I had this HMO. I was 32. He focused on getting me pregnant and how that would go (i was not trying to get pregnant and was not even in a relationship much less married). He said to me, no lie, "why do people always come into my office and talk about brain fog. what is this brain fog? I do not even know what that is." so, I said, "yeah, people keep coming into my office with their legal problems. I don't why that happens." I am a lawyer. He said " I do not appreciate sarcasm." I said neither do I. I will never see him again.
He is only one of two doctors I have ever fought with. But, no matter what I do i end up with some really obnoxious doctors who insist on keeping me away from anything i have read about. I really cannot get another insurance right not. I am a solo practitioner and there are little few options to purchase individual healthcare.
I am going to a Naturopath next, even though its money out of pocket i really cannot afford right now.
I feel awful most days. I am at about 30% viability everyday. It very hard to keep advocating for myself. I am so very discouraged. I keep thinking what i can do different for the doctors to listen to me. What am i doing wrong?
so, what you says sounds simple, but it has been so elusive for me. that doctor who takes the full panel and who listens to symptoms and clinical presentation and who makes a plan to get to the bottom of how i feel and actually help me - that doctor is an urban legend, a unicorn as far as i am concerned.
It makes perfect sense. I think the tools are there to treat thyroid disease; I've never heard of anyone who wasn't eventually successfully treated once doctors were willing to use all the options - T4, T3 and dessicated.
The problem is that many doctors don't test appropriately (FT3, FT4 and TSH). Many of them are biased against T3 meds (a bias they learned in med school). Most of them don't understand how to use reference ranges. They think that the minute the patient is "in range" that their job is done; the problem is no longer thyroid. This couldn't be further from the truth since many of us have to be in the upper half of the ranges to be asymptomatic.
However, don't give up...be your own advocate, make them give you what you need, and you will be asymptomatic.
The problem is that many doctors don't test appropriately (FT3, FT4 and TSH). Many of them are biased against T3 meds (a bias they learned in med school). Most of them don't understand how to use reference ranges. They think that the minute the patient is "in range" that their job is done; the problem is no longer thyroid. This couldn't be further from the truth since many of us have to be in the upper half of the ranges to be asymptomatic.
However, don't give up...be your own advocate, make them give you what you need, and you will be asymptomatic.
It seems to me that so many of us that complain with symptoms of thyroid problems no matter if it is hyper or hypo that we all have similar complaints. It just seems that although the doctors treat us with these different medications that we still seem to suffer from our diseases of the thyroid. I think that although some of these meds work to a certain extent that the way we feel with our symptoms doesnt seem to get addressed by most physicians. I have come to the conclusion that there is still much research that needs to be done on how to treat the different thyroid diseases. To me it seems they really are missing something critical on how to treat it. I hope what I was trying to say makes sense.
I was on Synthroid brand for 8 years, generic never worked for me. Now that I have quit smoking (1 year November), synthroid is doing nothing for me and I totally crashed. Changed over to Naturethroid, did much better but DR cannot control dosage. I know this takes time. Now was just prescribed Tirosint, 75 mcg and will start tomorrow morning with 5 Cytomel (2 dose daily). I did very well during the last few year of Synthroid and actually started loosing the weight. But the non-smoking and hypo symtoms have caused me to gain weight again. I'm still hopeful to start losing thru exercise.
I should also have mentioned that it might be a good idea to look back and see if you changed health plans and meds around the time your symptoms started. That might give you a better idea if it could be related to the fillers.
The currently recommended range for TSH according to AACE is 0.3-3.0. Your lab and doctor are using an obsolete range (most of them still do). So, your TSH of 4.63 is clearly not "fine".
Your FT4 looks good. It's just above midrange, and midrange is the rule of thumb for FT4.
So, my guess, and it's nothing more than that since we don't have FT3, is that you are a slow converter and your FT3 is probably way too low. Adding a little T3 to your meds might make all the difference for you if that's the case.
You can try to find a more enlightened doctor. I don't know what your options are in the HMO. You can also order your own FT3, FT4 and TSH online, and they will send the results directly to you. That way, YOU will know if low FT3 is your problem, which will help you qualify your next doctor.
Your FT4 looks good. It's just above midrange, and midrange is the rule of thumb for FT4.
So, my guess, and it's nothing more than that since we don't have FT3, is that you are a slow converter and your FT3 is probably way too low. Adding a little T3 to your meds might make all the difference for you if that's the case.
You can try to find a more enlightened doctor. I don't know what your options are in the HMO. You can also order your own FT3, FT4 and TSH online, and they will send the results directly to you. That way, YOU will know if low FT3 is your problem, which will help you qualify your next doctor.
i also take generic prilosec everyday too. i use to take them together without a problem. but, when all this started i started taken the levothroid at night so it does not interfere with the prilosec and the vitamins.
i forgot to add i also have a strange racing heart. not really palps, but it just races at odd times. but, the worst is the headaches, dizziness and nausea, cause that is what keeps me from functioning - sometimes all days, sometimes most of the day.
i forgot to add i also have a strange racing heart. not really palps, but it just races at odd times. but, the worst is the headaches, dizziness and nausea, cause that is what keeps me from functioning - sometimes all days, sometimes most of the day.
thanks for responses. I too have taken t4 for 16 years. But, not always the same brand. It has changed as my doctors and insurance have changed over the years. Currently, I have an HMO in california. Let's just say their commercials say "thrive" but their doctors say, F off.
about 3 years ago things started to change for me and no one can figure out why. The PCP sends me to ENT who says there is nothing wrong who sends me to Endo who says my labs are fine.
my current labs are:
TSH 4.63 range 0.10-5.50 uIU/mL
t3 total 92 range 50-170 ng/dL
free t4 1.4 range 0.8-1.7 ng/dL
ok, i fully know that the tsh is super high. i am usually around a .67 or .8 but, a while ago - about a year- the headaches, dizziness, anxiety started to take over, and i lowered my does from 125mcg to 112 mcg. things got better. but then 9 months later my labs came back as this. increased to 125mcg again and within 10 days the dizziness, headaches, nausea anxiety returned. weird right?
the endo says that 4.63 is "fine" and she does not take freet3, she does not believe in it, and she thinks adding cytomel is just a placebo effect and i could say more. Bottom line, i despise her but she is my only option. PCP treats the norm but cannot go into adding cytomel and tryong new things with thyroid treatment.
I am actually taking levothroid. I think. At least that is what my bottle says. Levothroid "for synthroid/levothyrox".
i have these symptoms: fatigue, depression, lethargy, weight gain, swollen eyes; dizziness, headaches, nausea, stuffy ears, headaches; anxiety
i have been thinking that its all one thing. But, now i think maybe the dizziness, headaches, nausea and stuffy ears and headaches are part of chronic sinus infections. it happened last December and got better by February. now its happened again in octer and is still around.
the fatigue depression, swollen eyes, lethargy are always around, sometimes worse, sometimes better but always around.
the shrink thinks its all in my head and is anxiety. I have tried 5 anti depressants, none of them worked and all of them had unbearable side effects.
i am wondering if the increase in levothroid was coincidentally at the same time as an onset of a sinus infection. I have been taking 112 mcg for 2 days and then 125 for the next two days.
i cannot figure out what changed with my body in the last 3 years that things started going down hill. I am 37, so maybe hormonally things changed?
i have never ever in all my years had a doctor who looked beyond the TSH to treat me. I read books and blogs and forums and see so much info on needing to test free t4 and free t3 and adrenals and to treat symptoms and trying cytomel and trying dessicated thyroid.
All i am ever told is that everything is fine. your levels are fine. it makes no diff if my levels are .67 or 4.63, they are always "fine" and how i actually fee matter not at all.
i am going to seek out a naturopath to see if they can give some insight. i am very tired and frustrated.
about 3 years ago things started to change for me and no one can figure out why. The PCP sends me to ENT who says there is nothing wrong who sends me to Endo who says my labs are fine.
my current labs are:
TSH 4.63 range 0.10-5.50 uIU/mL
t3 total 92 range 50-170 ng/dL
free t4 1.4 range 0.8-1.7 ng/dL
ok, i fully know that the tsh is super high. i am usually around a .67 or .8 but, a while ago - about a year- the headaches, dizziness, anxiety started to take over, and i lowered my does from 125mcg to 112 mcg. things got better. but then 9 months later my labs came back as this. increased to 125mcg again and within 10 days the dizziness, headaches, nausea anxiety returned. weird right?
the endo says that 4.63 is "fine" and she does not take freet3, she does not believe in it, and she thinks adding cytomel is just a placebo effect and i could say more. Bottom line, i despise her but she is my only option. PCP treats the norm but cannot go into adding cytomel and tryong new things with thyroid treatment.
I am actually taking levothroid. I think. At least that is what my bottle says. Levothroid "for synthroid/levothyrox".
i have these symptoms: fatigue, depression, lethargy, weight gain, swollen eyes; dizziness, headaches, nausea, stuffy ears, headaches; anxiety
i have been thinking that its all one thing. But, now i think maybe the dizziness, headaches, nausea and stuffy ears and headaches are part of chronic sinus infections. it happened last December and got better by February. now its happened again in octer and is still around.
the fatigue depression, swollen eyes, lethargy are always around, sometimes worse, sometimes better but always around.
the shrink thinks its all in my head and is anxiety. I have tried 5 anti depressants, none of them worked and all of them had unbearable side effects.
i am wondering if the increase in levothroid was coincidentally at the same time as an onset of a sinus infection. I have been taking 112 mcg for 2 days and then 125 for the next two days.
i cannot figure out what changed with my body in the last 3 years that things started going down hill. I am 37, so maybe hormonally things changed?
i have never ever in all my years had a doctor who looked beyond the TSH to treat me. I read books and blogs and forums and see so much info on needing to test free t4 and free t3 and adrenals and to treat symptoms and trying cytomel and trying dessicated thyroid.
All i am ever told is that everything is fine. your levels are fine. it makes no diff if my levels are .67 or 4.63, they are always "fine" and how i actually fee matter not at all.
i am going to seek out a naturopath to see if they can give some insight. i am very tired and frustrated.
Which brand or generic do you take? I've been on Levoxyl and have noticed no changes. If you are on generic, perhaps your pharmacy is now getting the generic from a different manufacturer (this is the argument against taking generics - lack of consistency). Different manufacturers use differend fillers, and sometimes those are the culprit.
However, your symptoms might also be being caused because you need an increase or decrease in dosage. Do you have recent FT3, FT4 and TSH labs to post? If so, please do so and include reference ranges since ranges are specific to each lab and have to come from your own lab report. It sounds to me like you need an increase, and that's what's causing your symptoms.
However, your symptoms might also be being caused because you need an increase or decrease in dosage. Do you have recent FT3, FT4 and TSH labs to post? If so, please do so and include reference ranges since ranges are specific to each lab and have to come from your own lab report. It sounds to me like you need an increase, and that's what's causing your symptoms.
I have taken Levo for 16yr now. I have not had any reactions to it at all, but everyone is different. I have had to decrease my dosage (became hyper) in that time frame due to getting off birth control & just hormonal changes in general.
No adverse reaction to it. Sorry I could not have been more help.
No adverse reaction to it. Sorry I could not have been more help.
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