Get Informed: Levothyroxine
Active Ingredient(s)
Levothyroxine
What does it do?
This product is primarily used to treat hypothyroidism. It consists of T4, one of the important hormones produced by the thyroid gland.
- Last Text Update:
- 2009-Nov-07 2:09 PM
- Last Data Update:
- 2009-Nov-07 8:28 AM
Other Names
- Levothroid
- Levothyroxine
- Levoxyl
- Synthroid
- Unithroid
How Safe Is It?
- Your Risk Rating
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- Average Risk Rating
-
- Pregnancy Category:
- A
Black Box Warning
This product has a black box warning relating to its ineffectiveness and dangers as a weight loss treatment.
Facts & Figures
- Date Approved
- 01 Dec 1963
- Est US Patients*
- 12,440,000
- Generic Available
- Yes
- OTC Available
- No
User Age Distribution*
< 21
21-39
40-59
60+
Age (Years)
* Estimated number of US people currently taking Levothyroxine or its active ingredient based on population adjusted patient numbers registered with iGuard.org.
Recent alerts for Levothyroxine
There have been no alerts regarding Levothyroxine during the past year.
Levothyroxine Safety Report
Learn more about iGuard's risk ratings
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What is Levothyroxine used for?
iGuard.org is currently tracking more than 71,900 patients that use Levothyroxine (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)). Use the table below to learn why iGuard users take this product; click on any underlined condition to get information on other medications used for treatment.
| Disease / Condition | % | Average Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Hypothyroidism | 91% | 
|
| Other | 10% |
|
How well does Levothyroxine work?
iGuard.org regularly polls our more than 71,900 users taking Levothyroxine (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medications (TSQM) . This feedback is continuously updated in tables below for the benefit of the iGuard community. To request scores for specific patient subgroups, please contact research@iguard.org.
Average Satisfaction Score
(out of 10)
Average Effectiveness Score
(out of 10)
- 80%
- of patients are confident that the good things about Levothyroxine outweigh the bad things.
- 26%
- of patients wish they were told more before they started taking Levothyroxine.
Common Side Effects of Levothyroxine
iGuard.org regularly polls our more than 71,900 users taking Levothyroxine (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) to monitor the development and frequency of side-effects. This feedback is continuously updated in tables and graphs below for the benefit of the iGuard community.
23% of patients experience side-effects on Levothyroxine
5% of patients experience signifcant side-effects on Levothyroxine
Most Common Side Effects...
-
Fatigue
-
Hair Loss
-
Weight Gain
-
Dryness
-
= 10%
Less than 1%: Abdominal Pain, Allergic Reaction, Anxiety, Back Pain, Bleeding, Blurred Vision, Bone Loss, Bone/Joint Pain, Breathlessness, Chest Pain/Tightness, Cold Sensitivity, Constipation, Cough, Diarrhea, Dizziness, Drowsiness, Dry Hair, Dry Mouth, Elevated Glucose, Elevated Heart Rate, Fevers/Chills, Flushing, Grogginess/Confusion, Headache, High Blood Pressure, Hot Flushes, Increased Appetite, Insomnia, Itch/Rash, Light Sensitivity, Low Blood Glucose, Memory/Speech Problems, Mental Haziness, Mood/Behavior Changes, Muscle Pain/Stiffness, Nausea, Palpitations, Restlessness, Sexual Problems, Skin Problems, Sore Mouth/Throat, SUN Sensitivity, Sweating, Swelling/Edema, Temperature Sensitivity, Tremor, Weakness, Weight Loss
Global Patient Feedback for Levothyroxine ( Post a comment )
Question/Comment:
I have been on Synthroid since 1989, at which time I had nuclear radiation to overcorrect a long undiagnosed case of hyperthyroidism. When it was finally diagnosed, I was down to 93lbs. and bouncing off the walls with anxiety until I would frequently faint. The specialist worked with my synthroid dosage until it was correct at 100mcg.
After relocating to another state, my new MD changed ot to generic, which is NOT the same as synthroid. Through levothyroxin, levothroid, etc. I suffered all of the above mentioned side effects ie: weight gain, fatigue, hair loss, depression, etc. as he started increasing dosages. Finally, I demanded my synthroid 100mcg. represcribed. It worked great for several years.
In 1997, I had a complete hystorectomy, which made 100 a bit much and went to 88mcg.
After losing my mom & sister to cancer, becoming disabled from work due to other physical disabilities, my synthroid has had to be increased to 125mcg so far. This is helping a lot. My MD moved out and the lady MD who replaced him saw my records and didn't rely only on the tsh. She did a complete thyroid panel, which detected what I had complained to him about-I was hypothyroid again. After dealing with it all of these years, I feel when it is too high or too low. I am feeling better now, but will have another panel done next month. She is thorough and wants to be sure not to go over. I hope this helps someone else to prevent the problems I had two years simply because I wasn't being heard and the doc relied only on tsh testing.
God bless you all.
48 year old Female
Posted: 2009-11-05 16:57:39
Question/Comment:
I’m 49. I broke my hip 1/26. By March I had RA symptoms. Ortho did labs 8/20, it’s RA. Ortho prescribed Meth Pac for pain & swelling. Luckily a Rheumy had a cancellation. I take Prednisone, Sulfasalazine & Methotrexate. I have bone density loss due to inflammation on the knuckles on the back of my right hand. X-rays were taken of my left hand & I’ll have x-rays on my coccyx Fri. due to chronic pain. Fatigue was bad. More labs. Thyroid a little low. 50mcg Synthroid & by day 3, fatigue is gone.
49 year old Female
Posted: 2009-10-27 13:00:42
Question/Comment:
Has anyone had any success with synthroid and ANY antidepressants? I'm also worried about weight gain with them too.
33 year old Female
Posted: 2009-10-20 12:15:28
Answer/Reply:
I take synthroid and Wellbutrin. No weight gain. Wellbutrin works a little differently from other antidepressants so there aren't quite the same side effects. In fact, I lost about 10 pounds shortly after beginning with Wellbutrin. It also helped with my fatigue so that, paired up with synthroid, I feel more energetic throughout most of the day. Sometimes I feel like I need a little more synthroid than what I'm on, but my tsh numbers say I don't, and doc won't consider it. Rats.
45 year old Female
Posted: 2009-11-06 09:13:19
Answer/Reply:
I am on Levothyroxine and Zoloft. This combination does in fact work for me. However, I am not just depressed. I have borderline personality disorder. I had been on 100 mcg of levothyroxine for almost 9 years. Just this past month my doctor upped my dosage to 112 mcg. I am due back for a blood test in another month. I feel fine. However there has been weight gain but I am also on birth control and lead a very sedentary lifestyle so I cannot blame the medication for the weight gain. I have not experienced any other side effects that could not be linked to my BPD.
25 year old Female
Posted: 2009-11-06 09:19:27
Question/Comment:
I've been taking the Levo for about a year now when I was tested after mentioning fatigue. My dose was increased about 6 mos. ago to the 88 mcg. I found this discussion several days ago and have been thinking about every since and paying attention to myself. I've noticed that I have this itch in the throat and it feels like I have on turtle neck sweater and the snoring is horrible, along with non-existant sex drive and some weight gain. All of these have been off and on for some time.
39 year old Male
Posted: 2009-10-19 09:19:41
Question/Comment:
My last TSh 9/09 was 11 at that time Dr increased ny Levoxyl from 50mcg to 75mcg at the same time I stopped taking Lipitor and started taking Red Yeast Rice and Citrate 600+D. I take the Levoxyl in the morning and the other with dinner. I have been on this for about three weeks. This past Monday, I started experiencing shortness of breath and fatigue. I was walking a mile each day, now I can't walk two block without giving out and can barely make it. Any suggestions or thoughts?
67 year old Female
Posted: 2009-10-17 19:38:10
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
It is best to talk to your doctor about your new symptoms. There are many things that could cause your shortness of breath and your fatigue. Your doctor will be the best person to evaluate you and determine the cause.
Also, please remind your doctor that you are taking Red Yeast Rice. Although Red Yeast Rice is sold as a nutritional supplement, it naturally contains lovastatin which is a cholesterol lowering medication similar to Lipitor.
Posted: 2009-10-18 18:39:36
Answer/Reply:
I've experienced much the same problem, along with memory loss, weight gain & muscle weakness- along came Tendinitis too! I've been elevated to 150 mcg (I weigh 120) & have opted to add T4 Cytomel. There seems to be an improvement. Too soon to tell really, but weight has leveled out & am getting better breathing making the exercise easier.
49 year old Female
Posted: 2009-10-19 01:10:44
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250
Patient Comments about
Levothyroxine