Levoxyl and severe headaches

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 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.

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 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

After reading everyones comments, I was so relieved to see that it wasn't "just me". I have been on levoxyl 100 for about 2 months now. For the past month I have been very nauseated, have sore joints and muscles, severe headaches, dizziness, rapid pulse, I am tired, but I feel like My head and heart are going to burst. My legs are weak too. It was just last night that I woke up gasping, and my heart was hammering so hard I could feel it in my head and neck. My arms and legs were so numb like pins and needles. I thought i would pass out. I was so scared, I've never been so scared and I even woke my husband up and told him I thought I needed to go to the ER. I did'nt know what to do. I felt like I was having a heart attack, and I even got dressed and did not sleep the whole night cause I was too scared to sleep. Today I went into the doctor and they said it was probly too high a dose and cut me down to 50. they said I cant take it for 2 days, to let the high amounts out of my system, but I don't know if I want to take it anymore. I am only 25 and I feel horrible: older. I don't want to do anything anymore, I'm tired and ill, and I have gained 5 pounds. I usually take herbs for every kind of illness, but I don't know if there is any alternative to this horrible pill. I saw some of you mention ARMOUR thyroid. Is this a natural alternative? Can anyone give me more information?? I am really tired right now, cause I have only had about an hour of sleep since 12:30am this morning, But im scared to sleep, lest I have a repeat of last night. I thought I would have a stroke or heart attack. Im glad I found this page. It is nice to know it isnt just me.

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