Thyroid medication causing GERD?

[Seraphine]

Hello everyone,
I am curious to know if anyone out there has experienced GERD as a direct result of taking thyroid medication. None of my doctors have heard of this happenning. I only have GERD when I take thyroid hormones or even supplements that support the thyroid. It is very strange and frustrating. I can't seem to take any medication. I have tried several types and also tried taking reflux meds at night but the reflux is so severe that they don't work. I went off the thyroid meds and reflux disappeared, but I can hardly function from fatigue, brain fog, muscle aches.

Any insights appreciated.
Thanks.

[gimel]

If you are having a reaction to Cytomel, I suggest that you should test for cortisol and ferritin.  

[Jenn1302]

I had GERD when I was hyper. Maybe your dose is too high. Also, some medications contain fillers that cause allergic reactions. Have you tried other brands?

[dany1982]

What were your labes when u were hyper? And how are your labs now? Fo u feel good? I’ll go on Monday to test again.  Cytomel is killing me when taking it, chest presure and burning. Tsh 0.4 ft4 1.1 ft3 2.3

[Jenn1302]

When I was hyper my TSH was <.01 and my FT4 was borderline high. I had all the symptoms.

At some point my thyroid went hypo and I was put on desiccated thyroid (I have Hashimoto's). I feel better now.

[dany1982]

Thank u, did disecayed thyroid orkd better?

[Jenn1302]

Desiccated thyroid is the only thyroid medication I've ever been on. I've never been on Synthroid or Cytomel.

[dany1982]

just got my results: TSH 1.5, FT4 2.08 (range 0.82-1.77), FT3 2.9 (range 2.0-4.4), I don't understand why is my ft4 increasing when I decreased the meds, I went down from 100mcg tirosint and 5 mcg cytomel to 88mch tirosint and 2.5 cytomel and even on this dose, i felt over medicated, with heart palps and feeling freezing cold after taking the meds.

I'm trying synthrod now, and even on that one I feel that 88mg is too much, I might go down to 75mcg, but I'm afrad it's too low. I've recently lost 20 pounds due to issues with my stomach and having my gallblader removed, could that be the reason I feel overmedicated?

[Jenn1302]

Stomach problems can cause heart palpitations (when the vagus nerve gets irritated) but so can medication-related hyperthyroidism. Your FT4 definitely seems too high to me and your high levels could be causing your stomach issues and palpitations. Have you asked your endo about this?

[dany1982]

I have an appt to discuss the results next week.  I’m very surprised of my high ft4

[gimel]

More likely than the med itself is that you are still hypothyroid.  What med and dosage?  What symptoms do you have.  What are your Free T4 and Free T3 levels and reference ranges shown on the lab report?

[dany1982]

I’ll go on Monday to test again.  Cytomel is killing me when taking it, chest presure and burning. Tsh 0.4 ft4 1.1 ft3 2.3

[dany1982]

I’m on 88mcg of tirosint and 5mcg of cytomel

[dany1982]

What has worked for u? I get terrible heartburn from the thyroid meds.

[dany1982]

What has worked for u? I get severe heartburn from my thyroid meds

[stella5349]

I did develop acid reflex and went to the GI doctor and was told it was GERD. I tried many acid reducers and I had no relief.

It was very painful until I did some reading and found a connection on acid and hypothyroidism. I found that the PH levels in my body were actually very acid after developing the hypothyroidism after having radio active iodine that induced it.

Since no acid medication was working to rid the acid I tried several natural approaches to get rid of it.

I found for myself that apple cider vinager along with baking soda mixing it in a glass  of water worked very well for me Also eating an apple right before bed was working too.

Later I read more information that informed me that my stomach was actually not producing enough acid and after leveling off my PH in my system I had no more reflux.

I also started to take a probiotic enzyme like you find in yogurt and still to this day. It helps alot with processing the foods we eat and assists the GI digestive track.

After I started this - I went to my doctor and told him what I had done and found both the ACV and Probiotic was a good thing per him -  and to keep doing what worked best for me.

[sidneythyroid]

Gerd, can also be caused by not enough cortisol support. I eat bio-probotic foods stay away from breads containing bromine. I don't take drugs such as nexium because that would encourage your liver to stop producing enzymes essential for the breakdown of food.  I have alot of problems at the moment with my adrenals that has caused me to have more stomach acid produced by stress related to adrenals. So as you I haven't all the answers just lonely work in progress.  Also I never take asprain or said products in the morning that would interfair with the synthroid and you can alway change your does or brand and see if that makes a difference you may be allergic to the dye or fillers in the pill.

[Totie]

I have been on thyroid medication for the last 14yrs and have never suffered from GERD. Have you been to a GI doctor for this? It could be the brand you are taking. When do you take your thyroid medication? I take mine first thing in the morning on an empty stomach.

Sorry not much help here, but i would try the GI doctor. Having GERD for a long time can cause serious damage.

Hope you find answers..