SEVERE thair loss on levothyroxine

[msbelize]

I'm a 36 yr. old woman and back in December I was exhausted, depressed, cold, crying all the time and experiencing some hair loss. My TSH was 8.6 (sub- clinical hypothyroid) per my doctor. He was reluctant to start me on thyroid meds, but did since my symptoms were so severe. Since Dec. they have adjusted my levothyroxine up and down and now I am only on 75 mcg a day and feel better.  For the past 3 months I have lost almost all my hair. I shed at least 300 hairs a day and have thin, fine hair to begin with! I went to the doctor for my hair loss and my TSH is 3.5, but he wants me to stop taking levothyrocxine because he thinks it is making my hair loss worse. He also said he is not sure if I needed the medication in the first place... I am very confused, more depressed than ever due to the hair loss. Can anyone advise me if they had hair loss on levothyroxine and if they stopped did the hair loss stop?

[goolarra]

A TSH of 8.6 is NOT subclinical hypothyroidism, it is overt hypothyroidism.  The currently accepted reference range for TSH is 0.3-3.0, so your 8.6 was well over into hypo territory.

I don't think you are losing hair due to the levo, but due to the fact that you are still hypo and have never been on a high enough dose to alleviate this symptom.  Your current TSH of 3.5 is still hypo, and many people's symptoms aren't alleviated until they get close to the bottom of the range or even below it.  Your hair loss has gotten worse because you have remained hypo since December.  I've also learned from my dogs...the coat is the first thing to go when they get sick, and the last thing to come back!!!

Your doctor should be testing your free T3 and free T4 along with TSH.  FT3 and FT4 are the actual thyroid hormones (TSH is a pituitary hormone) and give a much better indication of your thyroid status than TSH.  

In my opinion (not a doctor, just a patient), you need to have FT3 and FT4 tested soon.  My guess is that they will be low (perhaps in range, but in the lower part of the range), indicating that you need a meds increase.  I think discontinuing meds now will only make your hair loss even worse.

[thyroida]

I was misdiagnosed hypo and stopped taking thyroid meds; I also lost 1/2 of my hair on Levothyroxine.  

After discontinuing the meds and having my TSH stabilize to a normal range the shedding is now under 70 hairs/day.  

Levothyroxine/thyroid meds suppress your natural thyroid function, so if you go off the meds the TSH will initially get worse, but should eventually return to the non-med level if you are really not hypo.  It took 4 months for my TSH to return to a normal range.  

[JenB12]

Yeah I agree with Goolara. I had hairloss when I was hypothyroid and my TSH levels were only 4.56 and then my hair fell out even more upon taking my levothyroxine (synthroid), but then after several months, and once my medicine had been adjusted a few times, my hair stopped falling out and started growing back. ANY TIME your levels are off one way or the other (too much or too little hormone), your hair will probably fall... It's unfortunate but that it one side effect of a improperly functioning thyroid.

Also goolara is right about the range of .03-3.0... if i am not on the lower side of that range I feel like death warmed over.

By the way, when i first began my thyroid meds it was really tough on my body... i was loosing CLUMPS of hair in the shower and in my hairbrush and all throughout the house. Unfortunately, usually meds are the only way to help in the long run. :(

Hang in there.... and do NOT allow a doctor to tell you that 8+ does not need to be treated. If you have fatigue and other symptoms of hypo and low FT4 and FT3.... then treatment absolutely makes sense. I'm also not a Dr. but a patient who has battled with the ups and downs of having a improperly functioning thyroid. Treatment has helped me but it took months to stabilize and get on the proper dose.

[Super_sally888]

Totally agree with Goolara.  Your hair loss is likely because your thyroid levels are still not ok and you are still hypo. Remember also there will be a delay in hair recovery becuase hair grow so slowly anyway.

Do not let this dr take  you off meds.  You need proper testing - FT3, FT4 and TSH, and antibodies.... and you need an increase in meds to get your levels within normal range (they say that if you are being treated for hypothyroid your target TSH should be between 0.5 and 2.5 (approx), with many people feeling better with TSH towards the lower end of it's range and FT3 and FT4 at mid to high normal range.

[thyroida]

It's possible your hairloss could be due to the medication itself.  You may want to look into Armour Thyroid, some people seem to do better on that.  

Thyroid has a profound effect on hair follicles; any change in thyroid levels will initially cause excess hair shedding.  

My hairloss didn't stabilize until my TSH was below a 4 (normal 0-5.5, depending on lab ref range).   I was loosing over 100 hairs/day when the TSH was elevated around 8.

[mommyjamieof2]

I was on synthroid and cyomel still loosing hair, switched to the generic and lost TONS of hair, switched to armour and hair loss is very minimal now :)  I am very happy I was getting very worried for a while.