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Does Tirosint cause stomach issues?
I was diagnosed with low thyroid in early June. I started out taking Synthroid, but it made my mouth dry. I have been on 50 mcg Tirosint for about 3 wks. I started out taking 25mcg. Since I've been on the Tirosint, I have been having increasing abdominal issues--gas, mild nausea, upper abdominal pain or mild pain around the middle of my abdomen. I didn't think this problem was associated with the Tirosint, but now I'm wondering if there is a connection. Any thoughts?
COMMUNITY LEADER
It's possible that you're on too high a dosage. If you'll post your current thyroid hormone levels, we can help you much better. Be sure to include reference ranges with test results since ranges vary from lab to lab and have to come from your own lab report.
Hi,
I had a thyroidectomy. I take Tirosint (88 mcg). It has been the most helpful thyroid med that I have taken since my surgery. I absolutely cannot take Levothyroxide!! OMG!! The Tirosint was doing just fine until a month ago. I started having upper abdominal pains and palpitations with this med. I don't know if it is because my 2cm Hiatal Hernia or a reaction to this med. I was once on 75 mcg of Tirosint and felt great. Oh my goodness....what to do!!!!! I'm so exhausted with all this!
Kimberly1955
I had a thyroidectomy. I take Tirosint (88 mcg). It has been the most helpful thyroid med that I have taken since my surgery. I absolutely cannot take Levothyroxide!! OMG!! The Tirosint was doing just fine until a month ago. I started having upper abdominal pains and palpitations with this med. I don't know if it is because my 2cm Hiatal Hernia or a reaction to this med. I was once on 75 mcg of Tirosint and felt great. Oh my goodness....what to do!!!!! I'm so exhausted with all this!
Kimberly1955
1 Comments
did you find that it was the tirosint? did something helped?
COMMUNITY LEADER
You've posted to a very old thread... dichucks has not been active on the forum since posting in Jan 2012. The symptoms you list are those of being hypo.
Just because your levels are in the so-called "normal" range, doesn't mean they are right for you. It would be helpful if you could post your actual Free T3 and Free T4 levels, so we can what they actually are.
Tirosint has nothing in it to cause a reaction such as you're suggesting and it would not take 3 months for your body to react to it, except to become hypo.
Just because your levels are in the so-called "normal" range, doesn't mean they are right for you. It would be helpful if you could post your actual Free T3 and Free T4 levels, so we can what they actually are.
Tirosint has nothing in it to cause a reaction such as you're suggesting and it would not take 3 months for your body to react to it, except to become hypo.
Hi ,
I have been taking Tirosint now for about 4mo, about a month ago I started having abdominal pain like gastritis ,cramps and severe constipation. My levels are supposedly fine according to endocrinologist. I am starting to think its coming from the Tirosint.....:(
I have been taking Tirosint now for about 4mo, about a month ago I started having abdominal pain like gastritis ,cramps and severe constipation. My levels are supposedly fine according to endocrinologist. I am starting to think its coming from the Tirosint.....:(
COMMUNITY LEADER
We haven't heard from chachawoman since her last post on this thread, so it's unlikely she will respond.
Can you describe your tummy issues? What do you mean that your stomach turned "into a volcano"? Did you get diarrhea?
If you can describe your stomach issues, I might be able to help you.
It would also be most helpful if you could post your most current thyroid labs (TSH, FT3, FT4), with reference ranges, since these vary from lab to lab and must come from your own report.
Can you describe your tummy issues? What do you mean that your stomach turned "into a volcano"? Did you get diarrhea?
If you can describe your stomach issues, I might be able to help you.
It would also be most helpful if you could post your most current thyroid labs (TSH, FT3, FT4), with reference ranges, since these vary from lab to lab and must come from your own report.
Hi - reading this a bit late. but I found the thread because I'm experiencing the same problem. My stomach feels like it has turned into a volcano since I've been on tirosint. Stayed on it for months hoping it would calm down. Even tried medication to stop the stomach issues so I could stay on tirosint since tirosint stopped all the other symptoms I had on other thyroid meds (i.e. feeling tired and achy). Stopped tirosint a few days ago. Switched back to Unithroid. My stomach has completely calmed down but the aches and pains and nausea are back, ugh. Please know you're not alone with this struggle. And please let us know if you found a solution!
Thanks so much for you imput. I appreciate the time you took to give me some guidance. I am contacting my doctor today.
COMMUNITY LEADER
You're doing fine, responding to everyone, just keep going to the white area below comments in your thread and type your new comment. Now anyone reading this thread can see our comments.
I responded to your questions in my comments to your PM. When you send a PM, only the person you sent it to can read it (in this case, me), but when you post here on the forum, everyone can see. I copied and pasted, below, my response to your PM, so others can read it, as well.
"You can't respond to everyone using the Personal Message feature, which is what we're on right now. In order to respond to everyone, you can continue commenting on the thread you originally posted in the thyroid forum. If you don't know how to do that and want to, I'll be happy to tell you how.
That said, I'll try to answer your questions. Yes, the American Association of Clinical Endrocrinologists (AACE) recommended about 8-9 yrs ago, that the range for TSH be changed to 0.3-3.0; however, many labs did not follow the recommendation, therefore doctors don't either because they simply read what's on the lab sheet.
Fibromyalgia is a set of symptoms for which doctors can't find an explanation. Many times, we see these symptoms alleviated when a person gets on thyroid medication and their levels are optimal.
At 3.99, your TSH was above the reference range; at 1.00, your Free T4 (FT4) was at the bottom of its range, therefore, I'd say the endo did right by putting you on medication, at that time. Your Aug 1 TSH was still above the range, even though your lab is using 4.0 as the top - that's way too broad a range. At 1.2, your FT4 is slightly above midrange, which is where most of us need to have it; however, with your Free T3 (FT3) at only 2.8, it's still at the bottom of its range, and most of feel best with FT3 in the upper 1/3 of its range.
It's very possible to be within the ranges and still not be right for you.
It often takes a while for our bodies to adjust to having the hormones that we've been without, which could explain why you're having the palps and other symptoms. BUT, the 50 mcg could be too much for you. Since it's been a month since your last tests, why not see if you can get tested again to see where your levels are. If they have gone too high, you might ask the endo to let you try alternating 25 mcg with 50 mcg for an average of 37.5 mcg. I've done this several times when I just needed a small bump.... the way to do it is to take 25 mcg today, then 50, tomorrow. That makes a total of 75 mcg for the 2 days, which would average out to 37.5 mcg. I've had really good luck this way, as it lets me go up, but not take a whole step up.
Remember that we are all different and our levels will not be the same, nor will you necessarily be comfortable at the levels I'm comfortable at. While it usually takes 5-6 weeks for a medication change to take effect, I would certainly suggest that you call your endo tomorrow and request to be retested - actually, if you were tested Aug 1, it's time to be retested again anyway.
Do make sure you get copies of all your lab reports. I keep mine in a file and note on each one, what medication I was on at the time, the dosage and what, if any symptoms. That way I can look back tell where I feel best and which levels to target."
I'll add to that - symptom relief is the most important thing, so even if the labs say "normal" and you don't feel right, you need med adjustments.
I responded to your questions in my comments to your PM. When you send a PM, only the person you sent it to can read it (in this case, me), but when you post here on the forum, everyone can see. I copied and pasted, below, my response to your PM, so others can read it, as well.
"You can't respond to everyone using the Personal Message feature, which is what we're on right now. In order to respond to everyone, you can continue commenting on the thread you originally posted in the thyroid forum. If you don't know how to do that and want to, I'll be happy to tell you how.
That said, I'll try to answer your questions. Yes, the American Association of Clinical Endrocrinologists (AACE) recommended about 8-9 yrs ago, that the range for TSH be changed to 0.3-3.0; however, many labs did not follow the recommendation, therefore doctors don't either because they simply read what's on the lab sheet.
Fibromyalgia is a set of symptoms for which doctors can't find an explanation. Many times, we see these symptoms alleviated when a person gets on thyroid medication and their levels are optimal.
At 3.99, your TSH was above the reference range; at 1.00, your Free T4 (FT4) was at the bottom of its range, therefore, I'd say the endo did right by putting you on medication, at that time. Your Aug 1 TSH was still above the range, even though your lab is using 4.0 as the top - that's way too broad a range. At 1.2, your FT4 is slightly above midrange, which is where most of us need to have it; however, with your Free T3 (FT3) at only 2.8, it's still at the bottom of its range, and most of feel best with FT3 in the upper 1/3 of its range.
It's very possible to be within the ranges and still not be right for you.
It often takes a while for our bodies to adjust to having the hormones that we've been without, which could explain why you're having the palps and other symptoms. BUT, the 50 mcg could be too much for you. Since it's been a month since your last tests, why not see if you can get tested again to see where your levels are. If they have gone too high, you might ask the endo to let you try alternating 25 mcg with 50 mcg for an average of 37.5 mcg. I've done this several times when I just needed a small bump.... the way to do it is to take 25 mcg today, then 50, tomorrow. That makes a total of 75 mcg for the 2 days, which would average out to 37.5 mcg. I've had really good luck this way, as it lets me go up, but not take a whole step up.
Remember that we are all different and our levels will not be the same, nor will you necessarily be comfortable at the levels I'm comfortable at. While it usually takes 5-6 weeks for a medication change to take effect, I would certainly suggest that you call your endo tomorrow and request to be retested - actually, if you were tested Aug 1, it's time to be retested again anyway.
Do make sure you get copies of all your lab reports. I keep mine in a file and note on each one, what medication I was on at the time, the dosage and what, if any symptoms. That way I can look back tell where I feel best and which levels to target."
I'll add to that - symptom relief is the most important thing, so even if the labs say "normal" and you don't feel right, you need med adjustments.
Hi, I do not know how to respond to everyone using this blog. When I started treatment for low thyroid my TSH was 3.99 with the reference range being 0.50 - 6.00. I had heard that that there was a new "normal" range that some endocrinologists were using (.03 -3.00). I have fibromyalgia and thought that maybe some of my symptoms were from low thyroid or that low thyroid was making my symptoms worse. So, even though my primary care physician told me that I was in the normal range, I went to see an endocrinologist. This was early June. As I said, my TSH was 3.99. My Free T4 was 1.00 (0.75 -1.54). My pcp did not have my T3 tested. So, based on these numbers and my symptoms (no stomach issues at the time), the endocrinologist put me on 25 mcg of synthroid on 6/2. On 6/23 he switched me over to the Tirosint. On 8/1 my endo had me re-tested and my TSH (3rd generation) was down to 3.194 with a reference range of 0.300 - 4.00. My Free T4 was 1.2 (0.7 - 1.6) and Free T3 was 2.8 (2.3 - 4.2). He increased my dosage from 25 mcg to 50 mcg, which I am now wondering why, since all my numbers are within the normal ranges. Besides the stomach issues, I just started having palpitations, sometimes I feel like my body is "buzzing" inside, feeling a little anxious and having more frequent BM's. I'm thinking that maybe 50mcg's is too much for me. I'm calling my endocrinologist tomorrow! Your thoughts.
COMMUNITY LEADER
I doubt seriously that the Tirosint is causing your issues. Being a gel cap, that contains only the T4 medication, water and glycerin, Tirosint is about as hypoallergenic as you can get. There is nothing in it, that would cause your stomach issues. Many of us find that we have stomach problems when we are hypo.
Can you post your most recent thyroid lab results, along with the reference ranges, which vary from lab to lab, so members can comment more fully on your situation?
Can you post your most recent thyroid lab results, along with the reference ranges, which vary from lab to lab, so members can comment more fully on your situation?
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