Adverse reaction to synthroid

[midwest1]

From what I've learned here, you could just stop taking it... but you probably won't feel much difference till the T4 begins to clear your system. It usually takes about 4-6 weeks to completely clear.
If I may ask, how hypo were you before you began to take it? Was your TSH very high, and were your symptoms bad? If you genuinely need supplemental thyroid hormone, you really should try to have the perseverence to find a med that will work well for you. Untreated hypo leads to osteoporosis, heart disease, and/or dementia down the road.

[lucky charms]

Originally Posted by midwest1

From what I've learned here, you could just stop taking it... but you probably won't feel much difference till the T4 begins to clear your system. It usually takes about 4-6 weeks to completely clear.
If I may ask, how hypo were you before you began to take it? Was your TSH very high, and were your symptoms bad? If you genuinely need supplemental thyroid hormone, you really should try to have the perseverence to find a med that will work well for you. Untreated hypo leads to osteoporosis, heart disease, and/or dementia down the road.

Lets see I think my TSH level was 34.5 , t-4 1.0 if I am remembering correctly lol.
My hypo symptoms were and still are to some extent weight gain, memory problems, low sugar , brain fog ,tired , blurred vision,muscle weakness and low body temperature so I was pretty bad before treatment.I hope my DR will actually listen to me this time and work with me to find a treatment plan that will work best with my body.However Im thinking about asking him about Armour.Ive read so many positive things about armour on this board.
How hypo were you before you got diagnosed and what were your symptoms? and Are you feeling much better now?

[opalfirejucika]

Originally Posted by likeme28

Lets see I think my TSH level was 34.5 , t-4 1.0 if I am remembering correctly lol.
My hypo symptoms were and still are to some extent weight gain, memory problems, low sugar , brain fog ,tired , blurred vision,muscle weakness and low body temperature so I was pretty bad before treatment.I hope my DR will actually listen to me this time and work with me to find a treatment plan that will work best with my body.However Im thinking about asking him about Armour.Ive read so many positive things about armour on this board.
How hypo were you before you got diagnosed and what were your symptoms? and Are you feeling much better now?

Hi! Were there any other labs that you had done? Did you happen to have your Free T3 and Free T4 done? Now that you've your TSH done, you won't need that done again. If your doctor insists on the almight TSH, find another doctor that will treat you with Free T3 and Free T4, plus your symptoms. Better find out now if you need to change doctors before you get really discouraged and quit trying (please don't do that!).
I think that you might do better on Armour, which is 80% T4 and 20% T3. Although it's a natural product made of pig glands, it's dosage is as close to accurate as Synthroid (which is all T4). If your present doctor thinks that all you need is the T4, he's in for a rude surprise. If you have trouble converting your T4 into T3 (which you won't know without the FT4 and FT3 tests) you're never going to really feel well because you're not getting enough T3's. When adjusting your T4's, wait 6 - 8 weeks between lab tests as it takes that long for it to adjust to your new dose. When adjusting your T3's, you only need to wait 2 weeks.
By the way, you're going to want to have your results in the mid-upper ranges of your labs normals. Keep copies of all your lab work for yourself. It's easier than scribbling notes everywhere and losing them.
Good luck and keep us posted!

[aphowell]

Do you actually know if you are sensitive to the inactive ingredients (fillers) in Synthroid tablets?

[Acacia, confectioner's sugar (contains cornstarch), lactose, magnesium stearate, povidone, talc, anhydrous dodecahydrate]

Some people can be sensitive to the dyes used for the various colors of Synthroid’s tablets that vary with their dosages. The 50 mcg tablet is white and does not contain dye and that’s pretty much across the board with the other synthetic T4’s.

I agree with the other posters and think you were given too high a dose for just starting out.

Armour (natural T4/T3 combo.) is wonderful for some and others cannot tolerate it. Everyone’s body is different.

Yes, talk to your physician and ask him/her to work with you to figure out another solution that will prevent your reaction.

Good luck!
Ann

[midwest1]

How hypo were you before you got diagnosed and what were your symptoms? and Are you feeling much better now?

My TSH was 6.98 when I began Synthroid, but the level of TSH doesn't really have much bearing on the severity of symptoms. Some people can feel hardly any ill effects of TSH near 100, while others are debilitated by anything over 2. Illness mostly depends on how deficient the actual thyroid hormones (FT4 and FT3) are.
My worst symptoms were the mental ones... brain fog, lethargy, and depression, which I had associated with menopause. The physical signs weren't too bad; I didn't have much of the weight gain, fatigue, or hair loss that so many people have. It was only when I began a program to reduce my cholesterol that I realized something might be wrong with my thyroid; the regimen I undertook wouldn't lower my cholesterol [which I now know is from the hypo], and I didn't lose any weight, either.

I can understand how you might feel that if this stage is as good as it gets that you'd rather quit. But it can get better... I promise! When I first began Synthroid, I already had read all the testamonials here about Armour. But at that point, I was so glad to be diagnosed that I took the Synthroid on the premise that since it is the most-prescribed drug for hypoT, it must work for the majority of people. I no longer think that. I have found evidence on the Net that it can work for mildly hypo patients who haven't been experiencing symptoms for very long; but for moderately and severely-affected people, I don't think it ever has the edge. I believe most people have some degree of hormone-resistance or T4 conversion problems, and that for them, a natural med like Armour is superior.

I began the Armour in early October, have had two dosage bump-ups, and I am feeling better every day... not perfect... but pretty good.... Thanks for asking. My doctor is wonderful, and has promised to continue adjusting the dose until I feel well.

I encourage you not to give up yet; you may want to give another brand of synthetic med a try, or asking for Armour now might be the way to go. I hope your doctor would be open to the second alternative, but if not, it couldn't hurt to switch MDs to one who does Rx the naturals.
Please stick around and let us know how it turns out!