Tirosint, what are you doing to me?

[librarygirl2]

I have been on Tirosint since November but I could not last longer than 10 days in a row on it.  Why? Because it gave me the following side effects:

- Intense sleepiness after taking it
- Hair falling out everywhere I go like it's supposed to be a sweater
- Anxiousness
- Heart beating rapidly
- Sweats and increased body odor
- Buzzing inside body like being really wired
- Teeth pain and dry mouth
- Anger issues
- Muscle pain
- No period

I was taking 50 mcg after being switched over from Synthroid 50 mcg. Not sure why my body reacts so weird to it but I couldn't even take it long enough  (6 weeks) to get a TSH, FT3, and FT4 test.   The sleeps and the hair loss was too much to deal with.

Anyone else have reviews with Tirosint?  I really was hoping that it would work for me but it was not the miracle treatment at all.

Thanks!

Can anybody else

[Ongie1975]

Before medication
T4 free 1.1 (range 0.8-1.8)
TSH .95
T3 total 94 (range 76-181)

Synthroid
T4 free 1.01 (range .78-2.19)
TSH .252
T3 total 1.35 (range .97-1.69)

Armour- T4 free 1.0 (range 0.8-1.8)
TSH 1.10
T3 total 84 (range 76-181)

Tirosent- T4 free 1.1 (range .08-1.8)
TSH .86
T3 total 125 (range 76-181)

Synthroid I was on for 4 months. Armour 6 weeks. Tirosent 3 weeks.

My thyperoxidase was >900

I have a history of anemia and I'm pre-diabetic. My last ferritin was 17.6 (range 11-306.8). Iron total 82 (range 28-170).  Insulin 8.5 (range 1.9-23). Glycohemoglobin 5.3 (range 0-5.6).

[Barb135]

Is TSH the only thing being tested?  What about Free T3 and Free T4?  If those aren't being tested, they need to be... TSH can fluctuate by as much as 75% over the course of a day, so dosing medication based on that, alone, is like shooting in the dark.

Tirosint is like all T4 meds... it takes 4-6 weeks for a dosage change to take effect and 25 mcg is a pretty small dosage.  Your symptoms of mood swings, brain fog and depression, along with the hair loss are all those of hypothyroidism, regardless of what your TSH is.  That's why Free T3 and Free T4 are so important -- they ae the actual thyroid hormones, while TSH is a pituitary hormone.

If you have results for Free T3 and Free T4, please post them and be sure to include reference ranges, as those vary lab to lab and have to come from your own report. That will shed some light on your situation.

[Ongie1975]

Hi Barb! I'm hoping you can shed some light on my situation. I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's in December 2014 (TSH .016) after the birth of my daughter in July. Before I was diagnosed I went through a MAJOR hair loss, losing a significant amount of hair and I developed a bald spot on the top of my head. I started Synthroid 25mcg in January and my hair slowly grew back and my hair loss subsided. However, I felt lousy on Synthroid so I switched to 15mg of Armor and stayed on that for 6 weeks and my hair loss returned (TSH 1.10). I am trying 25mcg of Tirosent now and it's been 2.5 weeks (TSH .86) and feeling pretty good. Having some mood swings, fog, and depression but hoping that subsides. The problem is my hair is STILL falling out and the speed is picking up and my bald spot is returning. It's getting really bad. From what I've read it's prob a dosing issue. I have to get labs done this week to see what's going on. I can supply you with any labs and or suggestions. Also, my weight started dropping on Armour and I'm stable at 115. Prior to that on synthroid I couldn't budge from 120.

[Barb135]

What are the reference ranges for the FT3 and FT4?  Ranges vary lab to lab and have to come from your own lab reports.  

Is the May 2015, the latest lab you have?  

TSH is affected by a number of variables and should never be the sole basis for dosing/adjusting medication.

[LauraSB]

They have tested those in the past.

April 4, 2015 Free T4 was 1.64 and Free T3 was 4.4 while my TSH was .23.

In May 22, 2015 my TSH was 1.33.  

February 4, 2015 Free T4 was 1.23 Free T3 was 3.5 and TSH was 2.39

I have gone through a few doctors at this point because so many won't listen. This one  has been the best so far at listening.

[Barb135]

If your doctor is dosing your medications based only on TSH, you'll never get well.  Is that the only test you're ever having done?  You should be getting Free T3 and Free T4 every time you have a TSH test done.  Those are the actual thyroid hormones and are much more important than TSH.

Aside from that, your doctor should know that it's customary to keep TSH suppressed after one has had thyroid cancer...

You need a different doctor; this one will keep you very ill for a long time.