Negative reaction to levothyroxine

[bhoutros]

Yesterday morning I took 1/2 of a .25 mcg levothyroxine tablet to treat my diagnosed Hashimotos. I was up much of the night with diarrhea.  I called my Endocrinologist and was told that it is probably something else and that it couldn't have been the medication as it is too soon for it to kick in.  I am wondering if I am just having a problem tolerating the generic form.  I appreciate any info on this that can be provided.

[bhoutros]

Hey Sarah,

I had never been on Levothyroxine before taking it that first time.  Did you have a problem with Synthroid when you went on that the first time?  Any panic attacks or anything like that?

Thanks,

Laura

[sarahcruz]

I've been on Synthroid and Levothyroxine.  I understand your pain.  I'm in the military, and it's cheaper for the Naval doctors to give me the levothyroxine.  They switched me to that for about 3 months, went back in to have my levels checked, and they climbed substantially.  

So now I have to have it annotated in my medical record that I am NOT to be prescribed levothyroxine.  It just doesn't work.  

It's so important too to stay on top of your meds.  I've got hashimotos also, I was diagnosed in bootcamp.  And if I forget my meds just one day, I feel like ****.

[bhoutros]

Unfortunately, my Doc wasn't very receptive to me going on a brand.  When I told him that I had "awoken with a start and was shivering and was unable to get back to sleep" that was the part that he said was not possible due to the drugs half-life.  He told me to go off the meds and try again in two weeks.  In the meantime, my thyroid has gotten swollen and I am shopping for a new Endocrinologist.  If the medicine hadn't impacted me, then why would my thyroid have swollen after going off of the medication?  I am beginning to wonder if I was misdiagnosed.  Thank you for your response, Dr. Lupo.

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

It may be one of the fillers in the generic or unrelated.  Usually would re-challenge and if happens again, switch to a brand.