CAN SYNTHROID CAUSE CONSTIPATION AS A SIDE EFFECT ???

[oscar999]

Have been taking SYNTHROID 50 micrograms for 3 weeks . Mostly the experience has been positive EXCEPT the severe constipation
My endocrinologist said this is not the side effect of SYNTHROID .
Is there a better alternative ?

[helyanna]

If I increase my Thyroid  Erfa dose, and particularly if I add a little T4 to Erfa I get constipation, bloating and water retention.

I am taking about 2 60-mg tablets Erfa per day. My FT3 is 5.5 (ref.  3.5-6.5).

I am thinking whether increase of thyroid medication causes increase of Ca and that causes constipation. Note that I have primary hyperparathyroidism!
I cannot realize any other cause to reacting so. Or do some people have hypo symptoms when they are becoming hyper?
I do have odd reactions to some medicines.

[Barb135]

How long are you trying each suggestion for?  It does take time for things to work; it doesn't just happen immediately when you start taking something because your body has to re-balance and get used to a different routine.  It took a couple of months of me taking the digestive enzymes and probiotics before they really made a difference.  With probiotics, you're actually rebuilding gut flora, so depending on your current gut health and what you eat on a daily basis, that can take a while. Plus if you're taking antibiotics, you're constantly killing off good bacteria as well as bad, and you have to get back those good bacteria again, as well.  

Additionally, you've never posted your actual thyroid hormone (Free T3 and Free T4) levels, so we don't know if they are optimal or not.  If your thyroid hormone levels are not optimal, it will be much harder to get the rest of your body functions balanced out.  

If you have the results of your latest tests, please post them, along with reference ranges, which vary lab to lab and have to come from your own report. Once we see your actual levels, we can better determine whether your issue may be caused from the med, being hypo or from something else.

[kayjon67]

You weren't mistaken...thyroid meds CAN certainly cause or make constipation worse.  Mine was manageable before I had to start synthroid, etc., but not any more.  Doctors and professionals need to start listening to us..the patients.  We aren't all alike and we aren't robots and we aren't ignorant.

[kayjon67]

I have NOT tried the betaine HCI; thanks for that.  Will research it and see what comes up.  I will try anything at this point.  

[kayjon67]

hey Barb... I still at the same place I was last year.  Have tried all the above that you mentioned by mail order or locally.  NOTHING.  Saw my gastro guy Monday of this week; he gave me samples (yet again) of Linzess and Amitiza to take together.  Did that and got nothing.  He told me...if this doesn't work..I have nothing else for you.  He's a specialist.  And he has nothing else for me.  From research I've done, he's crazy.  OR..he's uneducated in his field and only does colonoscopies.  I found the Mayo Clinic site and all kinds of things were listed that a person could have, along with treatments.   There's no place close to me that has what Mayo has...so I'm on my own.  When and if the laxatives stop working, I hace no idea what I'll do.  The only thing  I can hope for is a thyroid med that won't cause constipation.  And a doctor who gives a damn who will find one.  

[smd53]

I went thru all of the same.  Spent a lot of time, money, effort and pain trying to resolve.  Turned out to be the generic brand caused the issues; not the brand-name Synthroid.  Very angry about all this as these side effects are not listed by the manufacturer.  Is there another levothyroxine lawsuit that would cover issues like all of ours?  Thank you! smd53

[Barb135]

You might want to try taking a probiotic, with digestive enzymes.  I've had chronic constipation for a good share of my life (even before becoming hypo, though that made it much worse).  I've tried the extra fiber and if you aren't used to that, you have to be very careful and ease into increasing it slowly because a fast increase can unwanted bloating, as well.  Opt for fresh vegetables as the main source of fiber.  

I, first, started taking digestive enzymes a few years ago, because I do have absorption issues, as well.  They helped, some, with the constipation, but not as much as I'd hoped, so I kept researching until I came across the probiotics.  Too often, I think we're very unkind to the good bacteria in our guts, so digestion ends up suffering.  Eating fermented foods, such as yogurt, kefir, etc also helps replace good bacteria and helps with digestion, which in turn helps alleviate the constipation.   I also find that taking Betaine HCl, with meals, helps with nutrient (particularly protein) absorption and the constipation issue. These are all things to discuss with your doctor, but they aren't harmful (the Betaine HCl may give you acid reflux if you don't need it, so you'll know not to take it), if you just want to try them.

Of course, nothing is going to help, if your thyroid levels aren't optimal "for you", not just within the reference ranges.