Metformin and Synthroid Mix - The Horror of it all!

Lew · 06-08-2007, 05:43 PM

Hi Everyone-

I just wanted to find out if anyone has had the same problems with taking Metformin and Synthroid as I have.

Metformin rocks. That's all I need to say about that. Synthroid on the other hand, ugh!

I started taking the Synthroid about 5 months or so ago. I have had nothing but problems with it. I was starting to get really nasty, gaining weight, craving sugar, depressed, couldn't think straight and no sex drive whatsoever. Pretty much what I was going through before I started seeing my Endocrinologist. I felt like I was on diet pills. It is the most horrible feeling in the world. I told my Endo this and she told me to stay on the Synthroid and up my Metformin. Well, I did. I ended up having to stay home from work for a day because I felt like I had taken about 6 diet pills at once.

I stopped taking the Metformin and it seemed to ease up a little but I still felt crappy. (Sorry, but that is the best way to describe how I was feeling) Anyway, I am seeing another Endo in the same office and she wanted me to up my Metformin. Well, I did and guess what? It happened again. I was so full of anger and couldn't get a grip. I stopped taking the Synthroid. I called the Endo's office and told them. They insisted that I come in within the week. My appointment was this morning.

I wrote down exactly how I have been feeling while on both of the med's. She looked back over my thyroid levels from the past couple of tests and come to find out, I don't even need to be on the Synthroid at this point in time!!!! AAAAGGGGHHH!!!!

Apparently, my thyroid is working fine and the Synthroid was putting everything in overdrive. I honestly felt like my body was going to give out. It has been horrible.

But now I am back on the Metformin and I am starting to feel good again. I even dropped 3 of the 8 lbs. that I gained while I was on the Synthroid.

Just a heads up to everyone with Hypothyroidism, please keep an eye on your levels. She said that for me, my levels are between 4 and 6. She said that if I get up near 11 that I have to go back on the Synthroid. I was just afraid of messing myself up in the future with the whole thyroid thing. But I am in a way better frame of mind now.

The one thing that I am learning with the whole PCOS/Hypothyroidism is that you HAVE to be proactive in your healthcare. I am glad that my Endo actually listened to me. THANKS DR. N.!!!

I hope that if anyone else is having side effects like I was having please, please, please make your doctor listen to you.

pbvoice · 06-21-2007, 03:22 AM

Lew,

Whoa from another MD cyster in G'burg. I've been looking for someone to talk about the mix of Met and Synthroid. I've been on generic Synthroid since Dec. and have been gaining weight although I have been far from a saint in the eating department. I had been on Metformin for a year and a half (quit in Aug. 2006) after asking my OB/GYN for it for PCOS and he gladly prescribed. It was super helpful in dropping 15 lbs. I dropped Metformin myself after experiencing a the last bad food poisoning type symptoms (I'd had about 4 during the 1.5 years of taking it) and finally figured out it was from the Metformin. I suppose it was from not eating on a regular schedule.

Supposedly, my glucose levels are in the normal range and even did a glucose tolerance test which was normal so my endo didn't think I needed to go back on the Metformin. However, I'm really wondering if I should go back on it as the weight is definitely an issue.

Decided to finally get a GP (who fortunately used to be an OB/GYN) to run more tests since I'm wondering if I'm experiencing premenopausal symptoms. I have an endo appt. in a few days.

My TSH is now a 3.0 (had been a 9.7) and both my GP and Endo want to make it a 2.0.

Any thoughts?

Best,
Pam

tiredoftired · 04-19-2009, 04:08 PM

You say your doctor prescribed Synthroid and says now you don't need it?

I have had very similar issues -- feeling worse since on Synthroid, not better -- and my Endocrinologist assured me that it cannot be from my thyroid levels going up & down. She said it will only change because of dosing, that my own thyroid won't ever increase production. I wonder if she is wrong? Has anyone else heard of such a thing?

pbvoice · 04-20-2009, 11:43 AM

Hi. I'd forgotten I'd ever posted to this thread ;-).

TofT,

What's your TSH level now? So sorry that you're experiencing lots of tiredness. How long have you been on Synthroid?

I've been on generic Synthroid since Dec. '06. TSH levels have gone up and down and the dosage has also gone consistently up (now on 1 mg). The lowest my TSH had ever gotten to was about a .35 (but I felt fine) and so we cut back the thyroid meds and then it jumped back up so we've been trying to get it back down. She now says she wants it to be around 1.0.

I am concerned that I'm killing my thyroid and that it will never be normal again although I have heard from two other people (older, one being my mom) that she had to have thyroid meds and was able to discontinue using them. My doctor also said that this is possible as well.

Lew, if you subscribe to this thread, would you post your doctor's name to see if she's near where I live? Thanks.

Best,
Pam