Sensitive to thyroid meds?

Josephine · 09-16-2003, 10:17 PM

My TSH level was 8, meaning yes I need some help from medication. However! I can't even tolerate the 0.025 (lowest level) of Levoxin (Levoxyl in the States?) without feeling as if I'll jump out of my skin. The doctor says it's just my body adjusting to it, but huh? At that low of a level?

I swear it makes palpitations and makes me feel so horrible. Anyone else have problems adjusting to thyroid medication? THanks so much for any help.

shayros07 · 09-17-2003, 07:30 PM

Hi,

I have hypothyroidism myself and have also had trouble adjusting to medication because I am very sensitive. I just increased from 0.025 & a half (0.037.5) to 0.05 and I felt like I was going to jump out of my skin but I just stayed on it and it stopped after about a week and now I feel a little better (I have other health problems not thyroid related that are being investigated). Anyway, in answer to your question, yes, you can be very sensitive to that small dosage. Here is something you could do to help you adjust. Try breaking it in half (12.5mg) for a week or two and go from there. When you feel you adjusted to that, then go up to the full 25mg. Just kinda play around with it a little because your body is so sensitive, you have to take baby steps. Also, make sure your pharmacy is giving you the right dosage because they have been known to make mistakes.
Here is a great website that can help you gain a lot of thyroid knowledge and the people on the message board know quite a bit and can help you if you find you are still having trouble after trying the dosage the way I suggested.

It is www.thyroid.about.com.

Hope this helped, take care!

shenacat · 09-17-2003, 09:28 PM

An inability to tolerate thyroid can mean several things:

a) you are anemic - need iron (get ferritin and hematocrit levels checked)

b) you have an adrenal problem (get cortisol levels checked 3x day)

c) your body doesn't like the particular pill you're taking

All in all I'd say check out a) and b) but do try to slowly up your dose to see if the symptoms flatten out after a while.

karenuk · 09-21-2003, 11:39 AM

Hiya. I also have this problem. I feel really bad on T4. The only one i could tolerate was Eltroxin ( which alot of people do better on by the way ) and even then only a small dose . But even that made me fell bad in the end. My endo seemed to think i was allergic to the binders or something. He prescribed me T3 and i do alot better on that. I`m supposed to take the T4 as well ,but i tried without and my bloodwork shows as being ok at the moment so i dont take it (shh , dont tell my doc). I`m also trying to get hold of Armour thyroid ( which is very hard in the UK) . If you dont settle down you could always ask about the T3. Mines called Liothyronine or there is also Cytomel ( not sure about correct spelling ).
Anyway , good luck with your meds. Hope you settle down soon.
Karen

karenuk · 09-21-2003, 11:43 AM

Something else i forgot to say - i also asked about adrenals and my doc didnt want to know. She said i would be showing more symptoms of it and all she can test is my salt level. I feel this may be part of my problem , but you know what THEY are like ?! I may tackle it again at a later date. If your doc is more sympathetic this is definately something to ask about.