Levothyroxine Side effects

[PGphmtt75]

hello, I started taking 50 mcg of Levothyroxine about 3 weeks ago to help with hypothyroidism.  My symptoms were anxiety and depression.  2 nights ago I started to feel a lot worse and more anxious.  Yesterday and last night I went through the same thing and it's still pretty bad right now.  Has anyone else had the same experience.  I feel really awful right now.

[PGphmtt75]

thanks for your advice, this really stinks, i don't know if i've ever been this anxious and nervous before and really worrying a lot.  i've been hoping my thyroid was the reason for my anxiety and depression that's been off and on for the past several years and now that i'm treating it i'm feeling worse, but i'm not sure if that's the reason i'm feeling worse, so i'm kinda stuck in a viscous cycle right now :(

[Super_sally888]

Hi,

glad you could speak to your dr.  I agree that you should get blood work done asap.  Your TSH was only a little high, your FT4 on the low side of normal.  I suspect that your dose of 50 mcg may be too high, at least to start with.

There is some thought that optimal TSH should be between 1 - 2.

Let us know how you go.  It may be that your thyroid is struggling and needs a little support....

[PGphmtt75]

My test results right before I started taking it was the following: Thyroglobulin antibodies were <20 and normal range said is <20.  Thyroid peroxidase antibodies were 11 and normal range said is <35.  My T4 free is 1.0 normal is 0.8-1.8 and my TSH was 2.98, range said is 0.4 - 4.5.  i've had TSH tests before that were upper 4's and low 5's before so i was a little suprised nothing showed up on this one.  

i just spoke with my doctor and she said to have blood work done as soon as possible and see how that is first.

[Super_sally888]

Please advise us what your test results were, and the reference ranges.  You may have too high a dose too soon.  call your doc and see if you can reduce the dose to 25 mcg. some people do better if they start low and build slow.  Adjusting dose can take months with adjustments every 4 - 6 weeks.