Levothyroxine side effects

[SonyaW]

I am on my 5th day of taking this medication. I have been on a medically supervised diet and lost a little over 50lbs since August 2nd. I am being monitored weekly and all has been good till last week. I was told that my brain is sending the signal but my thyroid is not responding and not producing any hormones. my dose is 112mg 1xday. The first day I had several near black out episodes that caused more than general malaise immediately after. Still having the black out feeling.  I have had small bouts of wanting to get up and do something and thinking I can but fatiguing quickly when I try. I wake up with a dull headache that I can not shake and an ache that I have not experienced before. It's not intolerable, just annoying. I find if I bend over and raise up to quickly I get dizzy. I feel like everything inside is really warm like I am taking a fat burner.  I have read some of the side effects but it also states that it takes a few weeks for cardiac function to adjust to this med. I am still perplexed at how spontaneous the diagnosis happened without other testing to rule out anything else. I am probable asking the same question that has been asked more than it can be counted but who has experienced and did this pass and get better? If not what did you find out to be the problem?

[gimel]

Low D reportedly can cause tiredness, depression, gastrointestinal problems, and bone pain.  Low B12 can cause severe fatigue.  Low ferritin can cause the following:

Achiness
• Weakness
• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Headaches
• Faster heart rate
• Hair loss
• Foggy thinking
• Memory problems
• Loss of sex drive
• Depression
• Increased irritability
• Heartburn
• Abdominal pain
• Pica, or the compulsive eating of non-food items
• Pagophagia, or the compulsive eating of ice
• Numbness or tingling of extremities

In addition, D and ferritin are important to adequately metabolize thyroid hormone.

[SonyaW]

This is a very simple explanation that could be conveyed to patients newly diagnosed to help them understand some of the symptoms they may experience.  At times the more you research it becomes overwhelming and confusion. The confusion starts to cloud your already foggy brain. I see my doctor once a week and will definitely revisit all of this in more debth but I would like to be more informed and less ignorant, thank you for information.  I really do appreciate it!!!!

[SonyaW]

I have requested a copy of the panel that was used to diagnose hypothyroidism.  I am taking levothyroxine 112 mg1x a day. My vitamin D level was 38 and I am taking 2000 iu 1x a day. In February, of this year, my Vitamin D levels were at 5. I was given a prescription of 50000iu 1x day for 5 weeks B was not discussed so I will call in the morning and see if it was a part of the panel. I do take prescription Virt-Vite, a vitamin B supplements. What does your Vitamin D an B levels indicate in association with thyroid function?

[Red_Star]

I was in a very bad state for 5 weeks after I started thyroxine. I had to deal with the worsening of symptoms of very bad untreated adrenal insufficiency but also had a week of hyperthyroidism followed by another 4 weeks of worsening hypothyroid symptoms. I then improved without any change in dosage.

Excerpt from the book Running On Empty by Robyn Koumourou...

"It is not uncommon to start thyroid hormone therapy and find that your symptoms become worse before they get better. When you begin taking thyroxine the areas in the brain that control thyroid hormone production sense the increase in T4 levels within the blood stream.  This feedback system will then cause the thyroid glands natural production of thyroid hormones to slow down.  

Less natural T4 and T3 will then be produced and released and blood levels may remain stagnant or even decrease temporarily.  Less free T3 hormone available to the body will slow down cellular metabolism. The symptoms of hypothyroidism may become worse until an increase in thyroxine is taken or an optimal dose is found."

[gimel]

What medication is it that you are taking?  Your doctor concluded that your thyroid gland was not producing hormone.  Please post your thyroid related test results and reference ranges shown on the lab report.  Also, if tested for Vitamin D, B12 and ferriti/iron, please post those, with ranges also.