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 ?

[oscar999]

Then, what is the solution ?  continue taking Synthroid or replace it with something like Armour Thyroid  ( T4 & T 3 ) ?  or add Cytomel in the regimen ?

[gimel]

A T4 med like Synthroid or Levothyroxin is the usual choice of doctors.  T4 meds are the easiest to administer, since they are slow acting. T4 works well as long as your body adequately converts the T4 to T3.  If not, then a T3 source like Armour, or Nature-Throid is a good substitute.  If the doctor only wants to add T3 to your T4 med, then Cytomel or a generic is the choice.  Whichever meds are used, they must be increased as necessary to raise Free T3 and Free T4 enough to relieve symptoms.

[gimel]

In one of my prior posts somehow  I mistakenly agreed that constipation could be one of the side efffects of Synthroid.   That was not the answer I really meant to give you.  I meant to say that constipation is a symptom of hypothyroidism, not a side effect of Synthroid.  Side effects from thyroid meds are typically hyper like symptoms such as palpitations, sweating, and heat intolerance, etc.  

[Paus]

Im Scared about constipation I don't want to experience again, there's no side effect being constipated synthroid, i thinks that's  one of a symptoms of hypothyroidism.

[oscar999]

I do see a report on the web showing CONSTIPATION as one of the minor side effects for taking Synthroid.   http://www.ehealthme.com/ds/synthroid/constipation
I don't know how true it is .
However, I do have severe constipation flares up when taking SYNTHROID .

[kayjon67]

I have had IBS with constipation for years.  Three months ago, my doctor put me on a generic Sythroid RX for low thryroid and it totally messed up my system.  My gastroenterologist has me on Miralax that really changed my life.  With the thyroid RX, the Miralax stopped working completely, which of course had me on the verge of a really bad situation.  I stopped taking the RX; my doctor suggested I try a half dose.  Didn't work.  I'm no longer taking the RX and see my doctor next week.  I will NOT risk another digestive disaster and hope she can come up with something else.  So, YES....thryroid meds CAN cause constipation.  If anyone thinks otherwise, they haven't been through what some of us have.