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Levothyroxine side effects
I'm currently taking levothyroxine, 50mcg daily, except on Sundays I take an extra 50mcg. My blood-work shows I am in 'normal' range at the moment. However, I have been having some pretty difficult side effects that have become more uncomfortable since my 50mcg increase. The symptoms have been extreme sweating even when it's cooler. Moving around at a slow pace I break out into a sweat, my head drenched. My menstrual cycle has not regulated either, prolonged bleeding. My appetite has increased as well as anxiety. I have chest heaviness on and off, too.
Normal Range 0.40-5.00 and my results last week were 4.63. I believe this was the T4 from what the lab slip said.
Are these side effects normal? Is there a another medication less likely to cause of this?
Thanks in advance.
Normal Range 0.40-5.00 and my results last week were 4.63. I believe this was the T4 from what the lab slip said.
Are these side effects normal? Is there a another medication less likely to cause of this?
Thanks in advance.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Without the FT3 and FT4, we're kind of stuck. Both hyper and hypo can exhibit some of the same symptoms, so it's entirely possibly that you could be a bit hyper, even though TSH doesn't indicate that.
My sweats weren't just at night either, but they were worse then. That was before I was put on med.
I've no doubt the prolonged periods are thyroid related.
My sweats weren't just at night either, but they were worse then. That was before I was put on med.
I've no doubt the prolonged periods are thyroid related.
Yeah, I have a feeling I am up against a rock and a hard place. But I can't continue to have the prolonged periods and the GYN said it was specifically related to my hypo. He was in fact supposed to send my PCP a note regarding the outcome of his findings, etc. So, after almost 4 months of my dose increase, my symptoms are not better. My PCP is going to have to figure this out ...
The sweating only intensified after the actual Levo increase ... It's not night sweats, it's profuse sweating just at a lazy pace and that's when it's somewhat cool. I do have heat intolerance, cooking, etc and I over-heat very quickly. But when I can't even take a slow walk with friends because of how embarrassing the sweating is, it's just not fun at all.
I still have not spoken to my PCP. Waiting for her call-back. I do appreciate everyone's help here. It's a very confusing and frustration situation at best.
The sweating only intensified after the actual Levo increase ... It's not night sweats, it's profuse sweating just at a lazy pace and that's when it's somewhat cool. I do have heat intolerance, cooking, etc and I over-heat very quickly. But when I can't even take a slow walk with friends because of how embarrassing the sweating is, it's just not fun at all.
I still have not spoken to my PCP. Waiting for her call-back. I do appreciate everyone's help here. It's a very confusing and frustration situation at best.
COMMUNITY LEADER
You can sweat when hypo, too. Before I was dx'd, I used to have horrible sweats, particularly, at night. My doctor kept telling me it was menopause, but I'd had a hysterectomy about 12 years prior and I know menopause doesn't last for 12 years. The doctor finally admitted that there was something else going on, but would never do anything to help figure it out. I had to beg to get thyroid tested and when my TSH came back at 55+, the doctor had the audacity to be surprised. Now that my thyroid levels are good, I hardly ever have the sweats.
Often doctors will run TSH w/reflex; that means for the lab to run TSH and if it's out of range, to go ahead and run T4 (or FT4), but if TSH is in range, that's as far as they go. One of the biggest problems, here is that they are using an outdated range for TSH, which is how they show you "in range".
TSH is a pituitary hormone and is not a good indicator of thyroid hormone status. You really need the Free T3 and Free T4 - if they'd do those, we could live with the outdated range for TSH, because many/most labs still use them.
"But hopefully, I can confirm with the doctor all of this." I'm going to bet that your doctor is going to tell you that Free T3 and Free T4 aren't necessary; that TSH tells them everything they need to know. If he thought they were necessary and was running them, the results would have been available online, along with your TSH result.
Often doctors will run TSH w/reflex; that means for the lab to run TSH and if it's out of range, to go ahead and run T4 (or FT4), but if TSH is in range, that's as far as they go. One of the biggest problems, here is that they are using an outdated range for TSH, which is how they show you "in range".
TSH is a pituitary hormone and is not a good indicator of thyroid hormone status. You really need the Free T3 and Free T4 - if they'd do those, we could live with the outdated range for TSH, because many/most labs still use them.
"But hopefully, I can confirm with the doctor all of this." I'm going to bet that your doctor is going to tell you that Free T3 and Free T4 aren't necessary; that TSH tells them everything they need to know. If he thought they were necessary and was running them, the results would have been available online, along with your TSH result.
You would not be the first person to be Hypo and have sweating. Granted sweating and intolerance to heat is USUALLY a hyPER symptom. But human beings are complicated and there is never a one size fits all situation. You could be one of the few that sweat and are Hypo. You really have to go with the preponderance of symptoms.
I do not know if you are male of female or what age. But if you are female and over 40 years old, periodic hot flashes and sweating is not uncommon and it usually has nothing to do with your thyroid
I do not know if you are male of female or what age. But if you are female and over 40 years old, periodic hot flashes and sweating is not uncommon and it usually has nothing to do with your thyroid
It seems the 4.60 is actually the result for TSH. The T4 is not listed for me to view. So, I think that's where I've been confused in the past. The TSH is automatically tested with the T3 or T4 .... I'm assuming these are all falling under the normal ranges. But hopefully, I can confirm with the doctor all of this. Thy won't budge on the out-dated charts ...
Based on my symptoms, something has to be done. I'm going to do my best.
I still don't understand why most of my symptoms are hypo but the excessive sweating isn't ....
Based on my symptoms, something has to be done. I'm going to do my best.
I still don't understand why most of my symptoms are hypo but the excessive sweating isn't ....
Many, MANY people do NOT feel well until their FREE T4 is in the MIDDLE of the range and the FREE T3 is in the UPPER 1/3 of the range.
Being on the lower end of the ranges doesn't mean that you are fine. It just means that you "fit" within 95% of the people they test. Many if not most people need to be well above middle of the range in order to feel well.
Many if not most will feel Hypo (low thyroid) when their TSH is above 3.
My recommendation is to give your PCP one chance and DEMAND both FREE hormones be tested.
Total T4 as mentioned above is an outdated test of little value. And even with that result you can see that you are on the very low end of the range testing 4.6 with the range being 4-11. FAR from even middle of the range.
Understand that a portion of that total T4 is unusable since it is attached to a protein. So you are on the low end of the total scale and some or maybe even alot of that may be unusable. This is why it is so important to get the FREE tests done.
In Thyroid and probably other disorders. YOU need to be your own best advocate. Do NOT let the Dr's bully you around.
YOU know how you feel, Don't let them talk you into thinking that is normal.
The very same Dr who will not even consider giving you a thyroid prescription. Will most likely not think twice to prescribe you an antidepressant or anti anxiety medicine. Do NOT let them tell you it is all in your head simply because your blood values lie at the bottom of the so called "normal" range.
Being on the lower end of the ranges doesn't mean that you are fine. It just means that you "fit" within 95% of the people they test. Many if not most people need to be well above middle of the range in order to feel well.
Many if not most will feel Hypo (low thyroid) when their TSH is above 3.
My recommendation is to give your PCP one chance and DEMAND both FREE hormones be tested.
Total T4 as mentioned above is an outdated test of little value. And even with that result you can see that you are on the very low end of the range testing 4.6 with the range being 4-11. FAR from even middle of the range.
Understand that a portion of that total T4 is unusable since it is attached to a protein. So you are on the low end of the total scale and some or maybe even alot of that may be unusable. This is why it is so important to get the FREE tests done.
In Thyroid and probably other disorders. YOU need to be your own best advocate. Do NOT let the Dr's bully you around.
YOU know how you feel, Don't let them talk you into thinking that is normal.
The very same Dr who will not even consider giving you a thyroid prescription. Will most likely not think twice to prescribe you an antidepressant or anti anxiety medicine. Do NOT let them tell you it is all in your head simply because your blood values lie at the bottom of the so called "normal" range.
After checking my online results again and information on the site, the test was the Total T4. I'm assuming the reference range is the average 4 - 11 and my result was 4.63.
So this doesn't explain to me why I'm having the excessive sweating, prolonged periods, etc.
So this doesn't explain to me why I'm having the excessive sweating, prolonged periods, etc.
All I remember seeing was the T4 checked off on the slip and I asked the Tech as well what was being tested. She said T4. There was no "Free" or "Total" or even a box for TSH checked off. When I review my results thru my hospital online site, It doesn't specify T4 or T3. It's called TSH Group and is either T1 or T2 or TSH. Normally, it is the T2 that is recorded and either marked "High" or not. So, this is confusing. The last result was 4.63 and not marked high.
Due to my on-going symptoms, I put a call into my doctor but have not yet spoken to her. She has not ever tried to get my levels in the 3.00 range. As long as it falls under 5.00, it's considered normal. I'm hoping at this point, she will suggest sending me to an Endo. But unfortunately with the way healthcare works now, everything is managed by a PCP at my hospital, (Mass General in Boston) They don't typically refer patients out for something like this.
Due to my on-going symptoms, I put a call into my doctor but have not yet spoken to her. She has not ever tried to get my levels in the 3.00 range. As long as it falls under 5.00, it's considered normal. I'm hoping at this point, she will suggest sending me to an Endo. But unfortunately with the way healthcare works now, everything is managed by a PCP at my hospital, (Mass General in Boston) They don't typically refer patients out for something like this.
Agree with Barb.
The range you gave is common range see for TSH.
TSH for MANY, MANY reasons does NOT correlate with TSH very well. Often times for different conditions a person has it can even behave backwards from what would be expected.
Since your body ONLY used FREE T4 to be converted into T3 and your body's cells ONLY use FREE T3 at the cellular level.
Doesn't it make sense to actually test and measure the only two Thyroid hormones your body uses?
The idea that TSH is accurate is incorrect and leads Dr's to believe in the "immaculate TSH "belief" Many people end up in this forum because of this widely accepted and incorrect belief.
A Dr. who is trying to adjust medication dosage based upon TSH alone unless extremely lucky will almost assuredly keep you feeling far less than well. In fact it might result on a roller coaster ride swinging between Hypo and Hyper.
The American Academy of Clinical Endocrinologist (AACE) have recommenced the range for TSH be lowered almost 10 (yes TEN) years ago. Yet almost no lab seems to use it. AACE now recommends the TSH range to be (0.3 - 3.0).
Even though TSH is terribly unreliable. As mentioned above many Dr's try to keep the treatment patient between 1 to 2.
The range you gave is common range see for TSH.
TSH for MANY, MANY reasons does NOT correlate with TSH very well. Often times for different conditions a person has it can even behave backwards from what would be expected.
Since your body ONLY used FREE T4 to be converted into T3 and your body's cells ONLY use FREE T3 at the cellular level.
Doesn't it make sense to actually test and measure the only two Thyroid hormones your body uses?
The idea that TSH is accurate is incorrect and leads Dr's to believe in the "immaculate TSH "belief" Many people end up in this forum because of this widely accepted and incorrect belief.
A Dr. who is trying to adjust medication dosage based upon TSH alone unless extremely lucky will almost assuredly keep you feeling far less than well. In fact it might result on a roller coaster ride swinging between Hypo and Hyper.
The American Academy of Clinical Endocrinologist (AACE) have recommenced the range for TSH be lowered almost 10 (yes TEN) years ago. Yet almost no lab seems to use it. AACE now recommends the TSH range to be (0.3 - 3.0).
Even though TSH is terribly unreliable. As mentioned above many Dr's try to keep the treatment patient between 1 to 2.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Maybe you should check the lab slip again. The result and reference range you gave above, is very common for what we see in TSH, not T4. However, if they did a T4, it would make a difference whether it were Free T4 or Total T4.
I'm sorry, I beg to differ with your gyn. T3 and T4 do not always follow TSH. If that were true, I'd be extremely hyper all the time, because my TSH runs at a nonexistent < 0.01, but my FT's are right where they need to be.
Testing FT3 and FT4, could very well change the treatment. It's very possible that you might not be converting FT4, which is a pro-hormone and can't be used directly, to the usable Free T3, that actually enters the individual cells. If that would be the case, you might need a source of T3, which could be in the form of synthetic cytomel, generic T3, or a desiccated hormone.
I'd suggest that you find a doctor who is willing to test adequately, and treat clinically.
I'm sorry, I beg to differ with your gyn. T3 and T4 do not always follow TSH. If that were true, I'd be extremely hyper all the time, because my TSH runs at a nonexistent < 0.01, but my FT's are right where they need to be.
Testing FT3 and FT4, could very well change the treatment. It's very possible that you might not be converting FT4, which is a pro-hormone and can't be used directly, to the usable Free T3, that actually enters the individual cells. If that would be the case, you might need a source of T3, which could be in the form of synthetic cytomel, generic T3, or a desiccated hormone.
I'd suggest that you find a doctor who is willing to test adequately, and treat clinically.
The lab slip said T4 so it wasn't just a TSH ... That was not tested.
I'm waiting to hear from my doctor today.
My GYN had explained recently during a visit that when they don't need to test the T3 and T4 because ultimately if the TSH is low/high, the same would be true for the others. It doesn't change how they treat it.
I'm waiting to hear from my doctor today.
My GYN had explained recently during a visit that when they don't need to test the T3 and T4 because ultimately if the TSH is low/high, the same would be true for the others. It doesn't change how they treat it.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Is TSH the only test being done? TSH is so variable, that it's not reliable as either a diagnostic or treatment aid. You should be getting Free T3 and Free T4 tested, as well. Those are the actual thyroid hormones and will tell you exactly what your levels are.
Once you know your FT3 and FT4 levels, you will be able to tell for sure what changes may need to be made in your dosage.
Once you know your FT3 and FT4 levels, you will be able to tell for sure what changes may need to be made in your dosage.
Ha, I already suffered that fiasco of them changing brands. But I'm back on the original one I've been taking for 5 years now. So, I'm not sure what the deal is ... But this is no way to live.
Okay well you may be sensitive to this increase or you may want to try a different brand. If you are taking generic they switch companies all the time so you could have issues with that as well. Thyroid disease is frustrating lol. My other autoimmune disease is a piece of cake to treat. :)
I normally take only half on Sundays and the other half on Wednesday, that way it's not too much at once.
Unfortunately, anything under the 5.00 is considered "normal" and they don't target a lower level.
I'm very frustrated.
Unfortunately, anything under the 5.00 is considered "normal" and they don't target a lower level.
I'm very frustrated.
That is quite a lot to take on Sunday jumping up to 100mcg then back to 50mcg. I personally wouldn't be doing that as it's too much stress on the body. And based on your symptoms a bit too thyroxine for your body to handle. The thyroid likes to do things slow and steady. Your TSH is also far too high. The conventional target range for thyroid replacement is between 1 - 2mU/L but symptoms rule the show.
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