New to Synthroid

[SRQFriend]

Greetings everyone.  Thanks for all your information.

A year ago I was told I had two "growths" on my thryoid.  They did a biopsy and it came back inconclusive because they were so small.  My TSH at that time was 3.2.  About three weeks ago I had a checkup.  The growths seem to be stable.  My TSH came back at 4.9.  In general, I feel pretty good.  I do have some difficulty concentrating and get tired some.  But nothing profound.  My doctor said he wanted to start me on 50mcg of synthroid.  After only three doses, I woke up at about 6 AM with a chilled/anxiety/shaking feeling in my whole body.  I thought I was going to crawl out of my skin. My heart was pounding as well.  By 8 AM I felt pretty normal again.  I've never had anything like that before.  

Is this normal when getting used to Synthroid?  The doctor told me it would take 2 - 3 weeks to feel any effects, but I certainly felt something that was completely new for me.  Was this feeling possibly caused by the hypo?  My doctor just says stay on the medication and is pretty dismissive about the whole things.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

[ChitChatNine]

When I take it in the early AM on empty stomach sometimes I get dizzy for about 1/2 hr .. other times no dizziness @ all . I find when I wake up with some anxiety that is when the dizziness is more apparent ?? .. If I've had a good night's sleep then don't feel the med at all?

As soon as I eat something and hour later it goes away?  

Brief history:  I, too, am on Synthroid (staring with 25mcg very small dose) for nodule on intact left lobe and supression for ThyCa found in small areas on the other lobe removed 3 weeks ago.

My orig TSH was 2.5 I think and stated as "normal".  Goal is get supression down to .5-1.0

Cheryl

[idesofmarch]

Where you just in the need of food? It almost sounded like you where hyperthyroid instead of hypo. Or in need of food-hypoglacymic(sp?)As the doctor said give it a month or so to even out.  Followup blood work should be done in the 3rd or 4th month of treatment then adjustments made if needed.  Try not to worry about it so much.  

[May9Lee]

I've been on 50mcg Synthroid for over 10 years - had 2 goiters and radioactive iodine treatment.

It took quite a few weeks to get the correct dose of Synthroid - they started me at 1.25 and gradually reduced; in each case, when I first began taking it, I experienced unusual anxiety first thing in morning.

I'd get in my car to drive to work and my thoughts would be racing - I'd think things like "what if I get stopped for speeding?"; "what if I get taken to the police station?"; "will I get fired if I get taken to the police station?" - then I'd think "Why am I thinking these things?" and then I'd start laughing and couldn't stop.

This happened 2 days in a row and then I called the doctor and he had me tested again and then lowered the dose.  The lowered dose to 1.0 worked for a while and then again the anxiety in the morning and racing thoughts began and he lowered it again.

It took about 12 weeks to get to the right dose and I've been fine since.

[GravesLady]

Doctor is referring to blood test and positive effects and it take 6 weeks or more before healing starts.
Your symptoms that you describe is not normal for synthroid and sounds like med. induced hyper symptoms.  Your dose might be too high for you. If symptoms persist call doctor again.

[ChitChatNine]

I *think* I have my answer 12 hrs later. NOT related to med at all .. GALLBLADDER acting up ... it better get better vs. worse as of this writing.  OH NO!

C~

[SRQFriend]

First of all, thanks for all your feedback.
I saw my doctor today because my symptons didn't subside.  I had a cold tingling feeling in my arms and legs and felt anxious.  The doctor said that I may be having some sort of reaction to the medication.  He told me to stop taking it and wait for two weeks.  Then start again with 1/4 of a pill  12.5 mcg. for one week.  Then go up to 25 mcg for 6 weeks and see if my body would tolerate it.  I dont know which is worse the lack of concentration and fatigue, or the anxiety from the medication.  Thanks again.

[utahmomma]

If you keep feeling that way on the lower dose talk to your doctor about changing brands.  I felt horrible on levothyroxine but wonderful on the same dose of Synthroid.  Others are the opposite.  Sometimes we react to specific brands (different binders and fillers in the pills) and trying a different one corrects the problem right away.

Worth a shot.  Hope you get feeling better soon!