Aa
hair loss levothyroxine
Hello,
I am 30 years old female, I have recently been diagnosed with sub clinical hypothyroidism - at TSH 5 (It was also 5 and 6 at one point).
Ive had slight hair loss sometimes before and muscle pain about once a week before levothyroxine.
Since Ive been trying to get pregnant for 2 years without luck, my doctor has decided to give me 50 mcg generic levothyroxine (He claims this is equally as good as brand!).
I started on April 1st and 4 weeks alter my hair is coming out in buckets! I cry all the time. I am so depressed and miserable. My TSH is now 1.2, but I have no also constant joint muscle pain every day and the excessive hair loss worse than ever before.
Has anybody else had this with levothyroxine?
How long does it last?
Does the hair grow back?
Does it make sense to try nature-thyroid? (My doc is VERY much against this, Ill have to find a different doc). - or will changing meds cause another bouts of hair loss?
I don't have much more to loose, my hair is so thin.
I feel so unhappy and alone.
Any feedback welcome.
I am 30 years old female, I have recently been diagnosed with sub clinical hypothyroidism - at TSH 5 (It was also 5 and 6 at one point).
Ive had slight hair loss sometimes before and muscle pain about once a week before levothyroxine.
Since Ive been trying to get pregnant for 2 years without luck, my doctor has decided to give me 50 mcg generic levothyroxine (He claims this is equally as good as brand!).
I started on April 1st and 4 weeks alter my hair is coming out in buckets! I cry all the time. I am so depressed and miserable. My TSH is now 1.2, but I have no also constant joint muscle pain every day and the excessive hair loss worse than ever before.
Has anybody else had this with levothyroxine?
How long does it last?
Does the hair grow back?
Does it make sense to try nature-thyroid? (My doc is VERY much against this, Ill have to find a different doc). - or will changing meds cause another bouts of hair loss?
I don't have much more to loose, my hair is so thin.
I feel so unhappy and alone.
Any feedback welcome.
Best Answer
COMMUNITY LEADER
All of your symptoms can be caused by thyroid as well as reproductive hormones. It must all work together in order for you to feel well. Considering that you are on thyroid medication, we already know you have a thyroid issue.
COMMUNITY LEADER
With your FT4 at the top of the range, and FT3, at slightly over 1/2, you might benefit from a source of T3. This could come either in the form of a dessicated medication, or a synthetic T3, such as cytomel or the generic liothyronine (which is what I take).
Most everyone has their own opinion of what's best. I think both ways, dessicated or synthetic are equally good - depends on your individual needs. I like the synthetics because I can adjust each medication separately, since I only need a small amount of T3; whereas with the dessicated, you get so much T4 and so much T3 in each pill and you can't adjust the amounts individually.
You might try asking for a small dose of cytomel/generic T3, and see if it helps you. For each 5 mcg T3 added to your regimen, you should cut back 25 mcg T4 med (i.e. if you are on 50 mcg T4 med, and add T3 at 5 mcg, you should cut your T4 med to 25 mcg), since T3 is approximately 4 times stronger than T4.
Most everyone has their own opinion of what's best. I think both ways, dessicated or synthetic are equally good - depends on your individual needs. I like the synthetics because I can adjust each medication separately, since I only need a small amount of T3; whereas with the dessicated, you get so much T4 and so much T3 in each pill and you can't adjust the amounts individually.
You might try asking for a small dose of cytomel/generic T3, and see if it helps you. For each 5 mcg T3 added to your regimen, you should cut back 25 mcg T4 med (i.e. if you are on 50 mcg T4 med, and add T3 at 5 mcg, you should cut your T4 med to 25 mcg), since T3 is approximately 4 times stronger than T4.
Reference Range:
TSH : (0.25 - 4.20)
Free T4 : (12.0 - 22.0)
Free T3 : (3.9 - 6.8)
My Results:
TSH - 1.23
Free T4 - 18.9
Free T3 - 5.6
TSH : (0.25 - 4.20)
Free T4 : (12.0 - 22.0)
Free T3 : (3.9 - 6.8)
My Results:
TSH - 1.23
Free T4 - 18.9
Free T3 - 5.6
COMMUNITY LEADER
What are the reference ranges for the Free T3 and Free T4? These vary from lab to lab, so must come from your own lab report.
Yes, you can change brand/dosage from one day to the next, but would be better do it slowly.
Yes, you can change brand/dosage from one day to the next, but would be better do it slowly.
Free T4 : 18.9
Free T3: 5.6
TSH: 1.23
Can you tell form these numbers if I am converting the T3 to T4 or not? My doc says yes I am converting well, but I think he would say anything to stop me asking for nature thyroid....
Free T3: 5.6
TSH: 1.23
Can you tell form these numbers if I am converting the T3 to T4 or not? My doc says yes I am converting well, but I think he would say anything to stop me asking for nature thyroid....
Thanks so much guys, I went to a specialist yesterday (Thyroid & Hair loss) and she said I was over medicated. She prescribed me 25 mcg of brand Eltroxin. I am scared to change my dosage again - but I guess better now than later. Hopefully this wont cause another boust of hair loss. Thank for your help!
I forgot to ask - can you change brand & dosage from one day to the next? So I would be changing from 50 mcg gereric levothyroxine to 25 mcg Eltroxin....????
I forgot to ask - can you change brand & dosage from one day to the next? So I would be changing from 50 mcg gereric levothyroxine to 25 mcg Eltroxin....????
COMMUNITY LEADER
Is TSH the only test being done to determine your thyroid status? TSH is a pituitary hormone and should never be used alone, to diagnose or treat thyroid issues. You need to talk to your doctor and get testing for Free T3 and Free T4, which are the actual thyroid hormones, with Free T3 being most important, since, for most people, it correlates best with symptoms.
There is a brand of dessicated medication called NatureThroid. This contains both T4 and T3 medication (much like Armour Thyroid), while synthroid or levothyroxine, which are synthetics, contain only T4.
Since T4 can't be used directly by the body, it must be converted to T3, which is the active hormone. Some people do not convert well; therefore, must add a source of T3 to their medication. Testing for FREE T3 and FREE T4 tells how much of each hormone is actually available for use.
Some doctors are very reluctant to prescribe ANY form of T3 medication, but before you can even determine if you need T3, you need to have both Free T3 and Free T4 tested, along with TSH, in order to see where your levels fall within the ranges....... Many of us do best with FT4 about mid range and FT3 in the upper 1/3 of its range....
Since all of your symptoms, including the hair loss, indicate that you are hypo, you most likely need medication; however, I believe that 50 mcg might be too much to start; particularly since you apparently don't have Free T3 and Free T4 results to go along with it. It's usually best to start a low dose and work up slowly. This reduces the chance of being over medicated and going hyper.......
If your doctor refuses to test FT3 and FT4, you might want to start looking for another, as any doctor who treats, based only on TSH, will keep you sick for a long time....... I've been down that road......
Not everyone who has thyroid issues, has adrenal issues, but in the event that adrenal issues are present, they should be addressed prior to beginning thyroid replacement therapy.
There is a brand of dessicated medication called NatureThroid. This contains both T4 and T3 medication (much like Armour Thyroid), while synthroid or levothyroxine, which are synthetics, contain only T4.
Since T4 can't be used directly by the body, it must be converted to T3, which is the active hormone. Some people do not convert well; therefore, must add a source of T3 to their medication. Testing for FREE T3 and FREE T4 tells how much of each hormone is actually available for use.
Some doctors are very reluctant to prescribe ANY form of T3 medication, but before you can even determine if you need T3, you need to have both Free T3 and Free T4 tested, along with TSH, in order to see where your levels fall within the ranges....... Many of us do best with FT4 about mid range and FT3 in the upper 1/3 of its range....
Since all of your symptoms, including the hair loss, indicate that you are hypo, you most likely need medication; however, I believe that 50 mcg might be too much to start; particularly since you apparently don't have Free T3 and Free T4 results to go along with it. It's usually best to start a low dose and work up slowly. This reduces the chance of being over medicated and going hyper.......
If your doctor refuses to test FT3 and FT4, you might want to start looking for another, as any doctor who treats, based only on TSH, will keep you sick for a long time....... I've been down that road......
Not everyone who has thyroid issues, has adrenal issues, but in the event that adrenal issues are present, they should be addressed prior to beginning thyroid replacement therapy.
This is most likely a result of your thyroid, and not the medication itself. By the way, your depression and muscle pain is symptomatic of the thyroid malfunctioning as well. The hair does grow back, but you need to be doing something different for treatment. Levo/Synthroid is not enough!
Go to www.*********************.com to see what I'm talking about.
"Nature Thyroid", as you call it, is Armour or Thyroid, which is a naturally desiccated thyroid that contains all of the components you need; not just the T4s.
Many doctors are "against" it because they do not understand that adrenal fatigue (which many also do not believe exists) can rear its ugly head when switching to Armour, thus making the patient sometimes feel worse. You are your own best advocate, and that is why I've suggested the above website. It explains all you need to know to make an educated decision.
Go to www.*********************.com to see what I'm talking about.
"Nature Thyroid", as you call it, is Armour or Thyroid, which is a naturally desiccated thyroid that contains all of the components you need; not just the T4s.
Many doctors are "against" it because they do not understand that adrenal fatigue (which many also do not believe exists) can rear its ugly head when switching to Armour, thus making the patient sometimes feel worse. You are your own best advocate, and that is why I've suggested the above website. It explains all you need to know to make an educated decision.
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Thyroid Disorders Community
We tapped the CDC for information on what you need to know about radiation exposure
Endocrinologist Mark Lupo, MD, answers 10 questions about thyroid disorders and how to treat them
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Your symptoms don't ring out thyroid disease to me. You hurt when you walk? and you are losing hair? You're having difficulties getting pregnant?
First, do start a journal. It is important that you correlate your hair loss, your joint pain, and feelings of depression to your menstrual cycle. Severe hair loss can come toward the end of the cycle (before a period), and many the other symptoms too (depression, aches).
I'd get a new ObGyn, and start again with a fresh opinion about your symptoms and pregnancy issues. Have you been getting endocrine therapy for your pregnancy issues? Did you know that high Estrogen can have a marked effect on Thyroid levels (causing them to lower). Are past therapies messing up your cycles and you don't know WHAT is happening?
Begin as a detective. Correlate each bit of blood work with the cycle days, with day 1 being the first day of your period and day 28+/- being the last of the cycle.
What is your diet like? Are you eating well?
Sorry, but given that this is a thyroid forum, you're going to get a lot of thyroid advice, and I think the problem is with your hormonal cycle and perhaps your normal hormone levels, especially since you say you've been trying to get pregnant for two years.