Levoxyl and hypothyroid

After being on Synthroid for a few years and getting NOTHING from it, I was switched to Levoxyl for several more years, and got NOTHING for it either. They are some of the most useless medications ever made, and all they do is put money in the pockets of the maker. Armour is what made a HUGE difference in my hypothyroid. ******

I've been taking Levoxyl for approximately two years or Hypothyroid. Before that I took levothyroxine, but my symptoms were worse with that. I've never taken Synthroid.
When I was first diagnosed, my TSH level was around 144... off the charts. It tooks about 4 or 5 months before I got level. The medication seemed to make my symptoms increase. Each month however, my TSH level dropped.
I started feeling good when my TSH level was below 10. I felt awesome at TSH level 1.
My doctor became concerned that my level would drop too much so she lowered by dosage to .150mcg. Over several months, I noticed my symptoms returning. I requested to have my level checked but my physician said it wasn't time. By the time I was checked, my TSH was 20.
My dosage was increased to .175 mcg. The last two weeks after the dosage increase have been horrible. Migraines, vertigo, nausea, irritability, and absolutely no motivation.
I've been feeling better over the last two days and think I'm getting level again.
Don't assume your doctor knows you better than you do. Find out the number that works for you and fight for it!

I've been taking medication for hypothyroid since 1987 with some changes of dosages and brands based on lab tests and, I suppose, doctor preferences. Until 2 days ago I was taking 112mcg Levoxyl, with no side effects, I thought. Recently, my pharmacy ran out of the usual brand and substituted another brand with 7 pills until their shipment came in. No problem. Without medication my throat and tongue starts to swell within 3 days and in 10 days I'm sitting around trying to see how little I can breath. Even that wasn't so bad but the heart beat slowing and then quickening gives an unsettling adrenaline type feeling. OK back to the switch. I retrieve my usual brand when it came in and was 5 days into that when BAM!. intense chest pain woke me up 2:30 in the morning. I took aspirin and TUMS, thinking I covered everything. The pain radiated from the center of my chest to my back, continued tingle sensation down the undersides of my arms, and achy ears. It even hurt to breathe. 30 Minutes later, and after unsuccessfully trying to minimize symptoms using WebMD, I decided to go to the ER. Lots of test later that rule out heart they said I was taking way too much Levoxyl and wrote a prescript for .75mcg. Since researching I've notice other symptoms I attributed to age (am 52) painful joints especially hands, wrist, feet, ankles, and knees that I've been popping Tylenol for 2 years. Stiffness. I'd like to blame the 20 pound weight gain in 8 months on it too but seems like I should have lost weight.
Since I can't go without medication it seems like I'm but to the hunt and peck method of finding the right dosage and brand. Any recommendations on which direction to take?

I was prescribed 25 MCG tabs of levothyroxine (generic for Levoxyl) by my MD for my hypothyroid. (I was tested at a 4.5 reading -- just below a normal 5 reading). After 60 days of taking levothyroxine EXACTLY as prescribed (i.e.; on an empty stomach, 1st thing in the morning with a glass of water; no vitamins for at least 4 hrs afterward), I started to have symptoms that I've never experienced before: my hands began hurting so bad with joint pain; my lips felt numb; and I was sweating more than I ever had in my life. I decided to stop taking the medication due to these symptoms, and in about 7-10 days from stopping, ALL these symptoms had disappeared and have not returned to date. I relayed this information to my MD who told me that my symptoms had nothing to do with Levothyroxine and that I needed to continue taking the drug. It's more than strange to me how some MDs will not listen to his/her patient -- even more so now that I've read other info on the internet where many other people have had these same side effects taking levothyroxine!! On my own, I am now looking into taking an all natural alternative that I found on wellness resources called "Thyroid helper". I will not take Levothyroxine again if I can avoid it by taking an alternative. Has anyone else out there had success taking "Thyroid Helper"?

I have only been taking Levoxyl for about two weeks, following RAI treatment in May. I'm on 100 mcg. I had gone from being hyperthyroid to hypothyroid - with walking or much movement, it felt like the muscles in my back were being stretched from each side and held up to a sunlamp to the burning point. I was also having upper back pain and a stiff neck.
After a little over a week of taking Levoxyl, the stiff neck is still there, but the back pain has eased off a little. There is just one spot that feels like a sunburn from the inside out. The biggest problem I'm having is with the sodium content - it feels like I've eaten an entire shaker of salt. I suspect that my blood pressure is increasing on this med. I'm noticing restless leg syndrome and while I always have tinnitus, it has worsened in the past week. I'm also noticing fluid retention all over, puffy eyes, puffy fingers, and calves. I'm also having more headaches.
On the plus side, the unbearable muscle pain has eased up some, as I mentioned. I'm less depressed. It's too soon to tell about weight but I think I've stopped gaining for the moment.

Just started on 100mcg Levothyroxine 15 days ago for mild hypothyroid. Experienced immediate side effects of ringing-in-the-ears headaches and hot flashes. Thinking of discontinuing the medicine.....I'm hardly ever sick and have no other medical conditions.

This is for a friend of mine diagnosed with Parkinson's and dystonia. All her big problems began shortly after hypothyroid diagnosis and her starting on Synthroid. Is it coincidence? Or has anyone heard of synthroid or thyroid meds promoting or mimicing Parkinson symptoms,or involuntary muscle spasms? Am I just imagining a connection?

My biggest complaint on the 25mg dosage of Levoxyl is joint pain in my hands. It even hurts to shake someone's hand. I called my doc. to get my prescription changed to something else. (I'm hypothyroid), and he said the Levoxyl was not causing my problems. Are there any other drugs available to treat hypothryroidism, and what are they? Thanx!

Hello,

I am a 37 year old user of Levoxyl since February of 2006; thyroid was overactive(Hyperthyroid), received radioactive iodine treatment for that and now my thyroid is underactive(Hypothyroid). My side effects have been severe headaches that last all day and now I am losing my hair by the root. I am starting to get upset about my hair loss. Dr has not answered/responded to why my hair may be falling out. I need to know if anyone else is having this problem and if you have any suggestions as to what I can do to save my hair. I can deal with a headache. Please Help!!!! DZireous@aol.com

I have been hypothyroid for 8 years. I was taking generic levothyroxine SOD for years, and had no extreme problems. However, they switched me to levoxyl about 4 months ago and it has been bad ever since. Stomach problems, very tired, can't sleep well, hard to function, and woozy in my head all of the time. I quit taking it for a couple of days and I felt somewhat normal again. I do not know what is in levoxyl that is different, but I am going back on just generic levothyroxine SOD.

I am 33 and have been on Levoxyl 50 for 6 months for slight Hypothyroid. It seemed to bring me out of the fatigue at first, but now suffering from severe headaches, severe memory loss, insomnia and increased appetite. I just had a dr.'s visit for my symptoms and we did not even discuss the possibility of Levoxyl being the culprit. He suggested that I seek counseling for stress. I am taking myself off the medication and will find a thyroid specialist. KD

My entry is slightly different the the ones I have read so far. Iam writing in behalf of my 10 yr old daughter who has recently been diagnosed with a pretty sever case of hypothyroid. She has been on Levothyroxine for 6 months. At first it was amazing.She went for being anti social and extreamly lazy to finally acting like a 10 yr. old and playing and making friends. She has grown almost 4 inches and lost 26 lbs. Of course she is more to handle but I enjoyed seeing her act like a kid. How ever she did have insomnia, but has over come that. But in the last 3 months she has NO train of thought she has gone from a gradeA student(i know alot of it was because she had no friends or social life,childrenare very crule and all she did in school was work, no socializing) But now her 5th grade teacher does not belive she is the same child.She began the meds in july, so her teacher never knew the old Dani. But of course she looked up her previous records and saw she went from being in the 98th percentile nationwide to failing this years Terra Nova testing. The teacher knows Dani is a wonderful child and this is not rebelling. But at the same time she has not learned anything this year. I spoke to her doctor and she blew it off, because her "T" tests are finally in range and no longer has 400 cholesteral level. Hypothyroidism took every effect on my child, just short of hospitalization. I was told she has to be on this for ever.She says she feels so much better, but she will have to repeat the 5th grade.I have no problem! Healyh comes first but her side effects are getting worse every day! Will she ever be able to live a productful life when she can't remember anything.Even things she learned years ago! I am just a very worried mother that has no answer! 4 hours too do 20 SIMPLE math problems! Please help!

Thanks to everyone for their courage to post their effects. I was tested 4 months ago and found out I was hypothyroid at 27 yrs old. I started on .25mcg and now at .50 daily of levothyroxine. I have developed a horrible skin rash on my neck, chest, shoulders, and upper back. It looks like small blisters/acne, like chickenpox. Ive never had a skin problem till I took the medication. I have consulted with several doctors and they have given me the usual skin creams, etc. but nothing works and its getting worse. It seems to me that no one knows what to do and I am the only one doing an y research on it. Now, I have an appointment with a dermatologist but my pharmacist said that many thyroid medications can have this reaction and there is little to be done to cure it. Yikes!!!

For a year I had all the symptoms of hyperthyroidism, rapid heart beat, muscle weakness, no sleep, bulging eyes, weight loss, etc., but the drug Evista masked the thyroid lab tests. When I ceased taking Evista, a subsequent lab test showed extreme hyperthyroidism. No doctor treating me knew of the connection. After treatment with nuclear medicine, I became hypothyroid and required Levoxyl. Dosage is monitored and has remained at 75 mcg for two years. I am "cured" because my thyoid is now normal, and I have absolutely no side effects from the Levoxyl. I am a 70-year-old woman who hates to take pills, but this is mandatory. I had lost 15 pounds and in two years have gained 5.