Levoxyl and anxiety

I have been on levoxyl for about 8-9 years now. I have an under active thyroid which I believe is from radiation over my neck area for benign tumors. I have been reading the side effects from people and I am starting to think that most of my symptoms or side effects are from this medication. Slowly over the years I have developed several of the same things people are talking about on this, especially restless leg syndrome, fatigue, chronic pain in legs, trouble sleeping, anxiety, lack of energy, cold feet/hands, lack of sex drive depression, b-12 deficiency, neck and back pain. I am talking to my doctor tomorrow and see if I can go on something else. I am being treated for all these other things that could all be related to the levoxyl side effects. I had none of these other things before taking this medication, what is going on?

37 - Dx'd w/ Hyperthyroidism at 20 and have been on levoxyl since then. I started at .075 and was increased to .1 when I got pregnant w/ my 1st child at 29. I always thought I had anxiety so until I started reading the posts I didn't put it together. I was always shaky and nervous and super skinny before I was dx'd with hyper and after the treatment I was still anxious so I thought it was a different problem.

The anxiety has gotten much worse in the last few years w/ pressure, family, and career so I went to a psych last week and he gave me lexapro and klonopin. The klonopin had done nothing and I was treated 10 years ago with Zoloft which made things MUCH worse so I won't take the lexapro.

I recently switched to Synthroid .1 because I thought maybe the generic meds didn't work as well. I developed a small rash on my elbow a week or 2 later, then a week after that I got 2 big patches on my back over my kidneys. A bout 2 weeks later I developed a HORRIBLE itchy rash over my whole body. I thought the itching would drive me insane. I saw a dr who gave me prednisone (made me feel awful), after I took the dose pack it came back like crazy. I went to the ED and the dr gave me scabies medication (I was mortified) but nobody else in the house had anything. I went to the derm and they biopsied two areas and a week later have not given me the result. Meanwhile, I'm back on levoxyl and the rash is slowly getting better. It must have been the cause. Anybody else get that??

I am 34 years old. Back in 1985 I had most of my thyroid removed, due to a tumor attached to it. Since I was 10 until my late 20s, I was on Synthroid. By age 19 I had 3 knee surgeries to remove arthritis. I have suffered most of my life with joint pains, dry skin, weight that is like a roller coaster, and being tired most of the time. In my 20s I was put on Levoxyl. I has been on Levoxyl for several years now. Since being on Levoxyl I have been fighting anxiety, racing heart, joint pain in fingers and ankles, sudden dizziness to the point where i have to sit or pass-out. I feel like I'm 80 and not 34. After reading this site I am printing all this out and taking it to my doctor. No telling how much damage has been done after all these years.

I was on Levoxyl .175 for 6 years and found it was the only one that worked for me. I do have pain in my joints ,but defiantly have arthritis, I have anxiety and panic but have had this stuff my entire life. About 4 months ago my doctor had me cut my .175 in half despite my level was in the normal range,all it did was wack my thyroid out and now my TSH is 18.4 .Instead of giving me my .175 back he felt I may be getting to much with it (though my levels were always normal on it) and put me on .100.
I did notice when he changed it,I felt nervous and bad for a week now its been 2 weeks and I feel like I always did so far the only difference is im having trouble with constipation and stomach pain and I have nausea ..Not sure though if its the Levoxyl or something else going on.

I have hashimotos thyroid syndrome andi have been on Levoxyl for about 5 years, now the medication is .088 mg's. I do not get anxiety depression. i really wouldn't know what normal is because im only 19 and iv been diagnosed for so long. My sex drive is completely there, the only thing that is wrong is that i CAN NOT wake up in the morning. i must find out what will happen if i get off levoxyl to go to the coast guard. please let me know.

I have been on Levoxyl for about 9 years and have felt awful. I have had weight loss, dry hair, thinning hair,dry skin, muscle aches, migraines and the list goes on. I just got out of the hospital Monday after 4 days of testing of my heart and lungs. I was admitted for racing heart. The doctor's conclusion was anxiety! They said that Levoxyl has nothing to do with my rapid heart rate. The endocrinologist prescribed taking levoxyl .050 on day and .075 the next also a beta blocker, Xanax and Zoloft. I can not take any of these meds b/c they make it almost worse. I KNOW it is not Anxiety and it from the Levoxyl but what do I do?? I am a mess right now can not be in this condition with four young kids and a husband. None of the doctors would say it was the Levoxyl and instead prescribed more and told me to check up with blood work in 6 weeks. I took the .050 yesterday around noon and by 7:30pm my heart rate picked up again and continued until 4:30 this morning. I can not sleep more then 2 hours at a time and wakeup feeling like I am crawling out of my skin. PLEASE let me know of any solutions.

Wow - I just had an MRI today of my head and am scheduled to go through 3-5 hours of tests with a neuropsychologist next week. I have been on levoxyl with no substitute allowed due to this being the only drug that has leveled out my Hoshimoto's disease of the thyroid. My endocrinologist whom I saw on Friday suggested I see a neurosurgeon as "levoxyl can't be the cause of all your issues" which are identical to all of those I am reading about on here. I am a breast cancer survivor, take arimidex daily as well as xetia and a couple of other prescriptions for gastric reflux and anxiety. Now they all tell me that taking all these pills is fine as long as I don't take them all at the same time. Add today prednisone for the severe headaches - 6 at a time - I felt like a drug addict putting them all into my mouth at once. If this all is because of levoxyl I am going to be very relieved yet very PO'd that I have been told otherwise.

I only took Levoxyl for 5 days then stopped. The first couple of days were just headaches and extreme nausea. At night I would have sweats and during the day chills. I was going to live with these side effects but then on the fourth day I started being nervous, my face was flushing and one of the veins in my leg swelled. Then on the fifth day - along with everything else I began feeling a little weakness in my muscles - but the kicker was my toes and fingers were so sore and hurt so bad I couldn't stand it. My fingers felt as if I had been typing non stop all day - first thing in the morning and all day long. I called my physician who said that Levoxyl couldn't give any of those symptoms and I was imagining it all. I WAS NOT imagining any of it! I didn't wake up and say,"oh, i want my fingers and toes to hurt all day long for no reason". He didn't like me questioning him, but I wasn't questioning him, I was questioning Levoxyl. I asked him if there were any withdrawal symptoms and he said no. So I stopped taking it. Of course, I am not symptom free yet, as I figure it will take a couple days to get out of my system. My thyroid is slow and I know I am going to need to take something - I just wonder what suggestions other people with Levoxyl have done. And if anyone who has gone off it, actually had worse problems in the withdrawal phase. I know five days isn't that much, but I think my body is very medicine sensitive and responds very well. Thanks so much for anyones comments or advice!
Tammy in Florida

MT SIDE EFFECT THAT i HAVE , SINCE I HAVE HYPOTHROIDISM HAVE BEEN UP AND DOWN LIKE A ROLLER COASTER. i CAN TELL ALL THE TIME WHEN MY LEVELS ARE OFF. WHEN THEY ARE TOO HIGH OF TOO MUCH THYROID MEDICATION IN MY SYSTEM, I FEEL VERY NERVOUS, IRRITABLE. SHAKEY FEELING INSIDE LKE I CANNOT CALM DOWN IN SIDE. MUSCLE CRAMPING, AND BAD HEADACHE. WHEN MY LEVELS ARELOW , I AMY VEY TIRED AL DAY LONG AND JUST WANT TO SLEEP. i ALSO GET A VERY DEPRESSED FEELING AND WANT TO CRY ALOT, BECAUSE I DONT FEEL RIGHT. WHEN THE LEVELS ARE REALLY LOW I GET DIZZY, AND WHEN i TRY TO DRIVE MY CAR I CAN NOT CONCINTRATE VERY WELL AND i FEEL LIKE I AM DRUNK.. THE FEELING IS AWFUL, AND MAKES ME FEEL LIKE I AM NOT IN TOUCH WITH REALITY.

I have taken some sort of medication for hypothyroidism for many years, perhaps as many as 22 (I am 51).

Over the last few years, I feel like my health has deteriorated. Frequent, severe headaches, irritability, moodiness. My face had a sunken look.

I asked an expert in alternatives about the headaches and she immediately said that Levothyroxine has headaches as a side effect. I had not really considered the side effects of this medicine at all--I thought of it as completely safe. (The side effects didn't pertain to me--silly thinking, I know.)

Well, except for the thinning bones! Just a few months before, I read in *Strong Women Stay Young* that levothyroxine causes thinning bones. My doctor had diagnoses osteopenia, which is the beginning of osteoporosis. I don't want that, but it may be too late. (I am started a strength training program to strengthen my bones.)

I decided to stop the med. and try alternatives. The headaches lessened, but did not cease. Ran out of the alternative. Now I have what one site called "moon face." Puffy. Eyes look smaller. Very interesting -- makes me think I was taking too much before, because I looked haggard.

But even more interesting to me was the level of my general anxiety (and thus, my irritability) is down. Yes, I am tired, but I am also calmer!

Long story short (I know, too late for that!), side effects: headaches, anxiety, irritability, haggard expression, depression, thinning bones.

Here's to hoping that the alternatives work! I want to clear this med. out of my body (especially my brain) and try to feel better with healthy alternatives.

In 8/06 I was switched from generic to the brand name LEVOXYL and developed horrible problems. After 4 months I finally connected the dots and went to my doctor to get my levels checked. Sure enough they were too high. After lowering the dose most of the side effects went away but I am still suffering from anxiety and trembling. An all over, full body trembling. Like a haven't eaten. Which of course make the anxiety worse because now I am sure I have MS or Parkinson's. I am still working with my doctor but he seems to be fighting me on the idea that it is the LEVOXYL. We shall see.

I'm 26 and was diagnosed with HYPOTHYROIDISM in Oct 2005. I was put on LEVOTHYROXINE. At firt I felt sick to my stomach, and then started having really bad head akes. My MD lowered my dose and I felt like a new person. Had more energy than my 4 year old. I have had some site effects such as HEART PALPITATIONS, MILD DEPRESSION, UNABLE TO CONCENTRATE, FATIGUE AND SPACED OUT FEELINGS! But the one site effect that I have not seen anyone talk about is "RINGING OF THE EARS!!!!!!" PLEASE IF ANY ONE IS HAVE THE RINGING OF THE EARS...LET ME KNOW, IT IS DRIVING MY @&*!%#^ CRAZY. My MD says its ANXIETY! Give me a break pal, I know my body good enough to know when im NOT anxious. Also my sex drive is flat lined. Please email me if you have these same site effects.. Bless you all

Lowi~ Washington

I was diagnosed with low thyroid in July of 05 after my MD ran some blood work due to a rash and fever. Prior to that, I had no symptoms of hypothyroidism and in fact am a competitive triathlete and road cyclist. MD put me on Levothyroxine and even though my levels came down, I noticed no changes in energy, metabolism, etc. In October, I began having extreme headaches accompanied with numbness and tingling. MD refered me to a neurologist and after numerous, expensive tests, everything came back negative. Blamed it on anxiety and stress. I blame it on this drug. I feel worse now while my levels are normal?, then I did when they were originally diagnosed as being too high. What's the benefits of this drug if it makes you feel like crap? How can so many of us have these same side effects with not response from our doctors?

Has anyone had heart/chest pains and palpitations along with anxiety on synthroid or Armour? I am having this daily.

Ok, I am and have been on this med (100 mcg)since April 05. It was suppose to help regulate my thyroid. I have not had a weight issue until 2 yrs ago and they recently found my thyroid become wacked after not having this problem for years. I have bloated up and feel like a stugffed pig, I drink the required water but that does nothing. I too get the heart palpitations or anxiety flutters where I have to STOP everything. My right foot and ankle sometimes become tight and numb but it is said this is normal. How true is that? I have read someof you experienced this. My appetite has not been supresssed and I see no bebeficial facotrs of this med. I am considereing a request to be taken off of this medication because its initial purpose was to HELP with my sudden weight issue and Thyroid issue and I went from 145 and now sit at 230 lbs +/- 7 lbs (water weight). I think we have a problem here and I need it fixed, any suggestions or has anyone else gained weight also or find beneficial uses of this drug? What happened to old fashioned synthroid they use to give out?????

Hello all: You are right about that this medicine causes extreme hunger, and anxiety and if u lower the dose it would make you feel real bored and depressed. I think that you can experiment. Try to lower the dose and if you feel too depressed, try to increase it to the next available dose. I was taking 0.075 MGs but at this dose i felt too hungry most of the time, so i had to decrease it to 0.050 MGS.

iam so glad that i have found this site i thought i was going off my head i have hashimotos thyrioditis have had bad anxiety deppression chest palptations tingling and burning in hands arms legs feel aggitated all the time extreme tiredness NON EXSISTENT SEX DRIVE vaginal dryness sore eyes headaches everyday something new iam 36 feel like iam 106 feel like life isnt worth living got 4 children cant do anything with them got no enthusium for life been on tabs nearly 3yrs had heart monitored for 24 hours nothing found also tested for arthritis diabetis ms what next at least now i know that iam not going off my trolley please email about amour thyriod hair very thin sweats ibs very dry skin wieght loss

Even though my levels are in range on the Levoxyl, I noticed that this medicine causes anxiety. I is a terrible unavoidable sideeffect of this medicaton..Lowering the dose would only cause depression..Please advise.

I have been talking Levoxyl for years. I had my whole thyroid
removed in 99 with a precancerous nodule. For years
I have had trouble with concentration -- always feeling
kind of "out of it," "zombie -like," but just since about
September I have felt very bad. I have noticed this bad
feeling begins bout an hour or so after I take
my med.

I began in Sept on 88 mcg, then went to 100mcg,
then to 112, and then to 125. I cut myself back to 112
because with 125 I was so so so tired, and cried with
strange anxiety every day. Since cutting back to 112, I don't feel a lot better. During the day I feel to tired to do anything,
and I have lost my interest, personality, and sense-of-humor.
But, on days when I completely skip my med. I feel soo
good, but I can't do that two days in a row b/c then I feel
worse. Also, at my last dentist visit, I had 3 cavities and
I brush my teeth twice a day, every day.

I have another apt. tomorrow (with my specialist).
I hope he can fix me.
I have suggested Armour and Cytomel many times,
but he always says "this is rare that anyone needs to take
these" I hate feeling this way. I want to feel like everyone
else so bad, I just feel like I never will. It is very debilitating.
I have recently graduated from college and I feel like
an old woman -- too tired and bad to go after my career
goals.

Write back anyone that feels this way too.

From what i have been told, thyroid medicines have NO side effects when taken in the proper dosage. When my dose is increased, I do have slight anxiety for awhile. It goes a way after a week or so. I have learned to expect this and I am prepared for it. I am on a combined therapy of armour and synthroid. (I dont want my t3 to become to high.) Anyway, these medicines take a month or two to work. I see alot of people complaining about taking medicine for the rest of their life. I see it as a minor inconvience. If i didnt take it, i wouldnt be able to get off the couch! When I added armour, I began to feel much better. Hang in there, give the medicine a chance.

My doctor prescrible me thyroid med. to treat subclinical hypothyroidism. First I tried Armour and my energy levels were great, I felt great mentally and also had refreshing sleep which was something I had forgot what it felt like. The downside was I had diareaha and a few palpitations. This freaked me out so I stopped the armour for two months to make sure it was not in my system and then started LEVOXYL.
I am so sorry I did. I took a very low dose(25mg) for 2 weeks and stopped because of severe panic attacks and anxiety. I was waking up 3 times a night startled and with my heart racing. This has continued for over a month but
is lessening with time. I asked my doctor if the levoxly could
have caused this but of course the answer was not from such
a low dose.

I've been taking levoxyl for 21/2 months. Initially my TSH was 4.1 but I was pregnant so my Dr said she wanted to put me on meds to bring the level down. It worked to bring the level down to 1.2 within 3 weeks. Unfortunately I miscarried, but the Dr. said to stay on it. Since then I've experienced hair loss, anxiety, insomnia and extreme vaginal dryness. I thought it was a hormonal imbalance until I accidently left my meds at home on a 3 day vacation. All of my symptoms went away by the 3rd. day. So I'm a little suspicious! My doctor dais to go off it and they'll re check my TSH in 3 weeks. Lets pray it stays down because I don't want to ever be on that drug again!!

I started taking this drug last January and it gave me so much pain. I had tremors and finger twisting last April. Everytime I would do something new or do something that requires courage....I tremble and would not try to do it because of anxiety. I started to get palpitations everytime I wake up and the excitement I had in my life disappeared.
I got so depress and emotional crippled. I asked the doctor about it but she said refuse to comment that the medicine has an adverse effect on me. I am seeking another doctor to know if there is another medicine aside from Levoxyl so I can be my normal self again.