Itching on scalp and other areas

[Pamkaye]

I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism a couple years ago.  A few months ago I noticed that once evening hits, I start itching.  I itch in the back of my head and in the back by my neck.  I also have one place on the inside of my thigh where I itch and it about drives me nuts.  I asked my dr. what I could do for it and he said over the counter cortisone, which didn't do anything for me.  I heard that Benadryl might help so I have started taking one 25 mg at night as well as using the cortisone cream on my leg area.  The Benadryl seems to help some but not completely.   I am on 75 mcg of Levothyroxine per day.   Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.


This discussion is related to levothyroxine and itchy dry scalp.

[Pamkaye]

Thanks for all the suggestions and comments.  I did ask my doctor about my itching and she prescribed triamcinolone salve for me to try; obviously not in my head, but other parts of my body where I itch.  guess we'll see what happens and if it helps.

[Barb135]

Stop the Thyroid Madness. com sit is a competing site and is not allowed to be referred on this forum.  

[Pamkaye]

I don't believe that Hashimoto's Thyroididtis was a factor in my hypothyroidism.  My mom was hypothyroid and my 3 sisters also have it so it definitely runs in our family.  My last result:
TSH:  .97.  That is the only result I received on the test, so I don't believe I had a thorough panel.  It sounds like I need to ask to have that done.  I also forgot to mention how thirsty I am at night...I have to take a glass of water to bed and by morning most of the glass is gone (one sip at a time).  I don't have diabetes.  The thirst started I think...when I started taking my thyroid medicine.  

[stevesevek]

Did your doctor do a thorough thyroid panel?
Including freeT4 and freeT3 as wells as reverse T3 and a full iron panel including ferritin , serum iron, TIBC and % saturation?

If your total T3/reverse T3 ratio should be 10 or higher or your free T3/reverse T3 ratio should be above 20.  If it is considerably less than that then you could be suffereing from reverse T3 dominance and the reverse T3 needs to be reduced.

The best way to do this is to take T3 only meds for 8 to 12 weeks instead of the Levothyroxine which is T4 only, that your are taking now.

If it turns out that your rT3 and iron levels are okay then you could have a problem converting the sythetic T4 to T3 in which case you may need to take both. Some actually do better on T3 only and many do better on natural dessicated thyroid which contains T4, T3, T2, T1 and calcitonin and if you increase your dosage by symptoms instead of TSH you should find success.

Visit the website StopTheThyroidMadness (dot) com.

[gimel]

Was Hashimoto's Thyroididtis the cause for your hypothyroidism?

Do you have any other symptoms that indicate you might still be slightly hypo?  

Please post your thyroid related test results and reference ranges shown on the lab report.