Synthoid - long term use and its effect on bones

[athena87]

I'm on 125 mg Synthoid. I usually take it for a month every 4 months. I've been on it for roughly 6 years now and i just turned 40. I have an underactive thyroid and it is hereditary, I believe normal levels should be under 2, mine have reached as high as 6.89

I just read that prolonged use of this man-made drug can lead to bone erosion, is that correct? Most likely than not, I will have to be on it all my life. My thyroid has never maintained a level of under 2 for no more than 4 months, and I thought it would go back to normal as my mother's has, whom I've inherited it from.

Anyone have any insight? And about 2 yrs ago, my doctor had prescribed levothyroxine, and after 20 days of taking it, I developed a red rash around my neck that went away 2 days after i stopped taking it. Anyone had that happpen? I'm asking because my insurance decided to drop coverage of the synthoid which costs $42, as opposed to the $9 of levo that is covered.

[athena87]

Thanks for the info - i will talk to my doctor on my next visit. Curious - I also read the levothyroxine and synthroid vary with their effectiveness, that synthroid  is more effective and overall healthier than the levo. Any truth to this? Would that give reason to the higher price?

[Barb135]

It's not true that long term use of Syntroid (or any replacement thyroid hormone medication) will cause bone loss.  It's possible that too high levels of Free T3 can contribute to bone loss, but that must be determined by a Free T3 test; it can not be determined by a TSH test.  There is no set level for TSH, because it fluctuates and so many things can affect it, other than thyroid hormones.

TSH is a pituitary hormone, not a thyroid hormone and its only purpose is to stimulate the thyroid to produce thyroid hormones.  It neither causes, nor alleviates, symptoms.

We could be more helpful if you'd post your Free T3 and Free T4 lab results, along with the reference ranges from your lab report, since ranges vary from lab to lab and have to come from your own report.  

If you developed a rash from taking levothyroxine, it's possible that you reacted to a filler/binder or dye in the medication.  Check with at your pharmacy and see if they can get the pills from an different manufacturer.  All manufacturers use different fillers/binders and dyes, so you might be able to take levo produced by another manufacturer.  

We've had some members that have been allergic to dyes; if that's the case, they have had to take the 50 mcg pills, which are dye free (white)... I know, you'd have take 2.5 pills/day to get your 125 mcg, but if insurance pays for it, it's a lot cheaper.  

Another option is to contact your insurance company - many will give waiver and pay for medications if you have a letter from your doctor stating that you can't take a generic for some reason.  They won't pay as much, but, at least, they'll pay a portion.

[ChitChatNine]

Do be proactive in discussing with your doctor(s).  It's so important .. Good advice above, too!

[des900]

Check your Vitamin D level and make sure its in optimal range. The blood test name is 25-hydroxy Vitamin D

Adequate levels of vitamin D, magnesium is needed for absorbing calcium from foods and deficiency can make your parathyroid glands to work more by producing PTH and over time this can lead to calcium loss from bones and also can lead to hyperparathyroidism. To prevent this make sure your Vitamin D3 level is in optimal and include calcium and magnesium rich foods in your daily diet. Concerning thyroid hormone pill, make sure your Free T4 and Free T3 levels are not going beyond or towards top normal reference range without concerning much about TSH unless it go beyond 5 and up to 10 provided ruled out any central hyperthyroidism issue.

If you can get natural dessicated thyroid, NDT then its a good substitute for synthroid or levothyroxine as it contain natural components and also contain more components like calcitonin, T4, T3,.T2 and T1 and cacitonin plays a role in inhibiting PTH activity and reduce calcium loss from bones in some degree.