Why Can't I Take This Drug???
Posted over a year ago
Diagnosed with hypo, doc gave me .050 synthroid but I got horrible headaches, shaky, shortness of breath, chest pain, couldn't sleep...........doc reduced me to .025 but same thing......started taking 1/4 of the .025 pill a day and felt ok, enough to stop ... more »
Diagnosed with hypo, doc gave me .050 synthroid but I got horrible headaches, shaky, shortness of breath, chest pain, couldn't sleep...........doc reduced me to .025 but same thing......started taking 1/4 of the .025 pill a day and felt ok, enough to stop the slow heartbeat and extreme tiredness I had before I took any thyroid medicine. After blood tests, the doc said to try 1/2 pill but had shortness of breath, chest tightness and slight headache. Every woman in my family takes this drug and does fine......why can't I?
Noahbear - I don't know, but I have the same problem. I seem to get hyper symptoms on the lowest dose and it's so disappointing. The worst symptoms for me is the anxiety and insomnia.
Mountainmeezer - I have the same issues. I have tried taking Synthroid 3 different times and quit each time because of intense anxiety and heart racing. My doctor keeps telling me I shouldn't be having these problems after a week or two, but...........
Bikerdude - Unfortunately Docs don't really know much about Thyroid, Synthroid and what patients feel because they just read the popular literature that says all should be well.
Cas in point... I was taking Synthroid for 3 years and never felt 100% but the symptoms from my Thyroid and Synthroid were manageable. I just got used to the weird symptoms/side effects and didn't sweat the small stuff, only the big stuff. Then one day I had the shortness of breath reaction which freaked me out. Saw the doc, everything checked out, but he upped my dosage from .075 to .088. Eventually the shortness of breath side effects (or whatever you wish to call them) went away. Within 3 months I suddenly had poor vision problems (very sore eyes), anxiety problems and shortness of breath. My blood tests all checked out fine. Since my doc couldn't help, I went off the Synthroid and felt great!
Of course I couldn't remain off the Synthroid because I needed to take something for my thyroid. So now I go through days where I have the shortness of breath, sore chest, muscle ache, light headed, bloating... almost as if I was not taking synthroid and was hypo type feelings... then I go off it for awhile and everything is great.. then back on and everything sucks.
So... I agree that there is something to be said that Synthroid can cause some strange side effects and docs are rather clueless in this matter.
Synthroid_help - If someone finds a good doctor that understands this medication we'd all be better off. My doctor scared me into taking it, saying that untreated, hypothyroidism will start damaging vital organs. So now I have to cope with severe fatigue, low motivation, and lately... "slower" thinking. I used to accomplish more than 5 people. Not anymore. Oh, and when I was on the lower doses of Synthroid I was very anxious. Now I could be chased by a tiger and I wouldn't even get excited.
Glynisrose - First off, blood tests are a waste of time, if the lab finds your TSH is OK then they don't do any more tests! You should always go with your SYMPTOMS not your blood tests, after all what may be the right levels for you could be very different from the blood reference ranges.
Thryroid Stimulating Hormone - hmm, I had Radioactive Iodine Treatment and my thyroid is dead. Why then would I need a hormone that 'stimulates'a dead thyroid? My GP's answer? 'Oh well it could come to life again' I roared with laughter and asked if I should cut off a finger to see if it grew back!! I asked another GP, no idea, I asked my endo and he threatened to discharge me from his care, even though he knew I relied on him for my NDT.
Q - I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism and a multinodular goiter. I have tried Synthroid and Levothyroxin at the lowest dosage and have HORRIBLE scary bad headaches after just one dose and am not able to take the medication. I finally found another Dr. that listened to me and he prescribed the Armour Rx, but I have yet to summon the courage to try it. I am afraid that I will get another one of those headaches. Good luck to you all. Don't quit looking for an answer for yourselves! Have confidence in yourself! I have learned over the years that nobody knows what is going on with your body better than you, and the Dr's don't really know that much at all!
Chere - I am going crazy taking Synthroid. I was put on Levothyroxin in March of 2012 and I kept telling my doc I could not take it any more so she sent me to an Endocrinologist in July and he made sure I got the name brand Sythroid... after about 2-3 weeks I was going crazy again. I have lightheadedness, nausea, headaches, diarrea, and MOJOR anxiety - partly because of me worrying all the time because of the way I feel. My 5 year old even tells me he don't want me to die because I feel bad almost all of the time. I have an appointment with another Endo this coming Tuesday in high hopes that he will try me on something else.
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