Muscle Weakness & Aches From Synthroid

[russ3030]

I have been on 88 mcg  of Synthroid for a while now. My legs and knees started to ache, along with weakness. I stopped taking synthroid to see if the symptoms go away. They did. I started taking Synthroid again and the pain came back.  II have tried Armour and it gets me very agitated to the point where I can't take it. 75 mcg of Synthroid is to low according to my blood tests. The symptoms do not go away with Synthroid since I have been on it for over a year. They seem to get worse. So what do I do now? Take Cytomel? Many doctors refuse to give you Cytomel. I did call the makers of Cytomel to ask about the short life 8 hours. They said even though it has a short life, the metabolical effects of the drug will last all day if it is taken on a daily basis. Has anyone else experienced muscle pain or weakness on Synthroid?

[Barb135]

This is a very old thread and it's unlikely that russ3030 will respond as he hasn't been on the forum since he posted this thread.

It sounds like your muscle/joint pain is due to being hypo, rather than from the synthroid.  Your synthroid dosage won't make you anemic or raise your glucose levels.

If you have a copy of the lab report, you can post the results here, so we can have a look and see if we can offer any suggestions. Be sure to post reference ranges with any lab results, as ranges vary lab to lab and have to come from your own report.

[Debbie6865]

YES!!!!  :/  I am SO sick of it.  I feel like I will NEVER be normal.  I have been on so many dosages of synthroid -- and my stupid blood tests are usually showing in the range, so doctors are very reluctant to change my dosage.  Because of this, I've been to neurologists, cardiologists, and gastroenterologists... Once they say all is "normal" and they think it's my "dosage", then endos are more willing to move me up or down with my med.  I keep getting episodes of muscle weakness about every 3-4 months.  I'm on my 3rd endocrinologist and she did a slew of blood testing.  It shows I'm anemic and my glucose was high... it's probably the damn dosage... I can never exercise for more than a few days in a row before I have problems again.  I am SO. FRUSTRATED.  I wish you all the best!

[Barb135]

I had the muscle pain and weakness when I was hypo.

What are the results of your latest thyroid lab tests?  

Cytomel is a T3 med and should only be used if you have a conversion issue or something similar.  

Please post your latest results, along with the lab's reference ranges for each test run, since different labs us different reference ranges depending on the method used for analysis.  That will help members comment more fully on your situation.