DISCLAIMER: iGuard is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. iGuard cannot and does not take into consideration every possible interaction or account for individual responses to medicine. Different individuals may respond to medication in different ways. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with any questions you may have before making any changes to your treatment. The use of the iGuard site and its content is at your own risk. The iGuard site and the information contained in it is intended for users in the United States and information in other countries may be different.
Global Patient Feedback for Levothyroxine ( Post a comment )
Question/Comment:
Just remember that you will need to take every day for the remainder of your life and that's OK.
53 year old Female
Posted: 2008-03-10 00:00:00
Question/Comment:
Just read the package insert and report any and all symptoms to their physician. I was able to continue to take the medication at a lower dose and it is still effective.
62 year old Female
Posted: 2008-03-10 00:00:00
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
YES ITS STILL EFFECTIVE BE BLESSED
Posted: 2008-10-25 23:42:01
Question/Comment:
Be sure to take it without food and get your levels checked regularly.
33 year old Female
Posted: 2008-03-10 00:00:00
Question/Comment:
I am taking Levothyroxin 88MCG 1-daily and O/C Ocuvite 1-daily. Do you think it is safe for me to continue to take these drugs.
79-year old female
81 year old Female
Posted: 2008-04-16 20:06:41
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
Hi, My doctor said never to take the generic brand of synthroid because it is not regulated. If you are to have 100mcg. daily the dose might only be 80mcg more or less. I took the generic for a little while and had horrible headaches! Good luck!
Posted: 2008-05-05 08:27:24
Question/Comment:
question
My blood test reading for my thyroid is 5.44.My doctor does not think it is high enough to be on thyroid medications, but I am tired all the time. Should I be on Synthroid?
62 year female
64 year old Female
Posted: 2008-04-10 09:13:53
Answer/Reply:
AT first mine was 6.1 and with every person it is different on how it affects you. I would insist that my doctor try it and see if it helps you. My doc kept me at a low dose for a long time and then the next T4 check it was at 25.1. This has to be monitored everyi 3 months or so.
53 year old Female
Posted: 2008-04-30 08:15:01
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
The new lab value for normal on TSH is .30-2.5. This is recognized by the endocrinologists association. Not recognized by some docs. You need to be on synthroid. Have your doc check your thyroid antibody level. Have been thru this before. You need to see an endocrinologist that goes by the new lab value of .30-2.5.
Posted: 2008-05-07 23:02:06
Answer/Reply:
I understand from research most people feel their best when their blood test reading is under 2.0. I take 125mg Unithroid and my blood test reading is .75 and I feel so much better. I am 59yrs. old.
60 year old Female
Posted: 2008-05-08 14:46:04
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
Your doctor needs to be informed that the new normal TSH high is 3.0 ( According to the American Association of Endocrinologist and American Association of Clinical Chemists). And that you should be treated to between 1-2 or until you feel better.
Posted: 2008-05-22 11:40:26
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
I THINK SO THAT GLAND TAKES YOUR ENERGY THEY DOING ME THE SAME WAY GET YOU A SECOND OPINION BUT THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU GET THE RIGHT DOSE BEFORE SYNTHROID IS PRESCRIBED.
Posted: 2008-10-25 23:41:22
Question/Comment:
I was recently told to watch which brand I take, but I generally just go for whatever the pharmacist gives me, usually some generic. I frequent different pharmacies, so I'm not really sure if they change up the brands or not (generic Levothyroxine, Synthroid, Levoxyl, etc). I've also gotten free samples from the Doc, too.
Not that I'm saying any particular kind is better (I could stick with generic for all I care) but as long as I'm consistent. Different brands might have different variations, I'm told. Is the brand really that important for this particular drug?
23 year old Female
Posted: 2008-04-01 12:30:37
Answer/Reply:
My Dr also said to take name brand due to the possiblility of variation between different makers; apparently even small variations can affect proper dosage. Since name brand is inexpensive, no real reason not to.
53 year old Female
Posted: 2008-04-22 04:28:53
Question/Comment:
I am a 33 yr old female and take .05 mcg of levothyroxine per day, I notice rapid weight gain and loss, could this be due to the levothroxine dose being too low?
35 year old Female
Posted: 2008-03-27 22:19:58
Answer/Reply:
Do you still have your thyroids? Because if not then in my opinion yes your dose is too low. I had both of my thyroids removed at age 27 and I've been on 200 mcg ever since, but on the other hand if you still have your thyroids then you could be experiencing occasions where your thyroid is functioning more at times than others which would contribute to the rapid weight lose and gain.
Your doctor should be monitoring your levels every 4 to 6 weeks, but if you still continue to have problems you may ask to be referred to a specialist (Endocrinologist). My endocrinology doctor was the only one that was able to get my levels in line for my bodies needs.
I hope this helps you.
36 year old Female
Posted: 2008-04-29 08:31:50
Question/Comment:
Does synthroid have the same possible drug interactions with Dilantin as levothyroxine has
61 year old Female
Posted: 2008-03-15 02:37:25
Question/Comment:
I have been on synthroid for several years, and I gain weight instead of lose it. Will diet and exercise help me loose the weight, or is it just something that happens when you take this medication? Thank you
47 year old Female
Posted: 2008-03-03 17:30:15
Answer/Reply:
have u had your T3/T4/TSH (i dunno which) checked recently or regularly. perhaps it's time to re-evaluate your dose. also, do you take it in the morning on an empty stomach, perhaps a half hour before breakfast? that helps you absorb it better; also things like vitamins can reduce its availability when taken at the same time
23 year old Female
Posted: 2008-04-01 15:05:14
Question/Comment:
I take synthroid and have been taking 100mcg for a couple of years now, but previously .75 mcg after a subtotal thyroidectomy due to Hashimoto's disease, I was pleased to see the comment that less is more, since I have been putting on weight and having trouble taking it off, maybe the lower dose will help. Since my TSH level was high my doctor changed the dose back to .75. He also said that a too high dose can contribute to osteoporosis.
54 year old Female
Posted: 2008-02-29 09:46:22
Answer/Reply:
I take levothyroxine which my Doctor has just raised to 50 mg, from 35 mg, now it has been found that I have a nodule on my thyroid, has anyone else had this happen to them- on these meds?I have also lost a lot of hair and have been diagnosed with Osteoporosis of the spine and hips!I am a 67 year old female.
69 year old Female
Posted: 2008-03-17 17:33:10
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
The higher dose would make you lose weight more than the lower dose. So, if you have been reduced, you won't lose any better.
I just wonder if an artificial hormone is as effective as our own hormones were and that is why we have lots of problems with the meds. And, yes, the reason they like to keep it a little low is that it worsens osteoporosis if you have it.
Posted: 2009-03-05 22:43:04
Question/Comment:
I am a 72 female and have had two thyroid surgeries. The first was because of a growth on my thyroid and the second was because I was taken off Synthroid and put on Levoxyl and the it grew back because it was not the correct medicine. I am on 112 synthroid now and have NO adverse effects. I have my thyroid checked every 4 months.
74 year old Female
Posted: 2008-02-23 20:16:44
Answer/Reply:
i've had a thyroidectectomy in 1990 and was started on synthroid to begin with and more recently have been taking levoxyl for the last couple of year's. taking any thyroid medication to lose weight has been discovered by the medical community to be very dangerous. my wt. has fluctuated over the yr.'s but i don't feel like levoxyl has increased my appetite. i do however have medical conditions that cause fluid retention and weight gain but thus far cannot contribute any of my weight gain to the levoxyl. it's my understanding though that thyroid disease in of itself may cause weight loss and or weight gain.
60 year old Female
Posted: 2008-03-06 02:21:56
Question/Comment:
I have been on a thyroid supplement for 53 years. I now take 125 mcgs. I do not take it for weight control, however, if it would help me lose weight, I would be pleased. Do you think cutting it to 88 would help me lose weight? I just read above that less is more and I never knew that. I am thrilled to hear that because it's usually easier to get a physician to cut down on meds rather than increasing them. Thank you.
76 year old Female
Posted: 2008-02-01 00:07:13
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
It is important that you and your doctor match your thyroxine dose to your thyroid hormone levels, rather than just cutting down or increasing your medications.
Posted: 2008-02-01 09:37:52
Answer/Reply:
I have been on 25mcg of, first synthroid, then levothyroxine (I requested the generic because of cost) for 10 years. Started 30 years ago on 50mcg, then as I got older, tests showed I needed less. My weight has stayed constant. Up with too much ice cream, down when I cut it out. I can't imagine how I'd feel on 125mcgs - probably jumping out of my skin. I'm 5'6, 140 lbs. Gaining weight when the thyroxine output is too low is commonplace. I've never heard of weight gain on a high dose, only jumpiness.
73 year old Female
Posted: 2008-06-27 13:28:55
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
I have been on 25mcg of, first synthroid, then levothyroxine (I requested the generic because of cost) for 10 years. Started 30 years ago on 50mcg, then as I got older, tests showed I needed less. My weight has stayed constant. Up with too much ice cream, down when I cut it out. I can't imagine how I'd feel on 125mcgs - probably jumping out of my skin. I'm 5'6, 140 lbs. Gaining weight when the thyroid output is too low is commonplace. I've never heard of weight gain on a high dose of replacement hormone, only jumpiness.
Posted: 2008-06-27 16:43:25
Question/Comment:
I have been taking Levoxyl which is a Generic for the Name brand Synthroid for over 20 years and have started taking finasteride for an enlarged prostate. I would like to know what the risks are for taking these two are for me My age is 79 years.
82 year old Male
Posted: 2008-01-25 13:09:42
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
There are no interactions identified between synthroid and finasteride in the iGuard database.
Posted: 2008-01-29 10:02:02
Question/Comment:
i may sound ignorant about this medication-i have been on synthroid for about 3 or 4 years now, but my doseage is 88 mcgs and i cannot seem to lose any weight at all! ist his a high dose of synthryoid or not? before i lost the use of my thyroid gland, i was dieting and exercising regularly and lost about 40 pounds in 6 months. i knew something was wrong with me when i had severe tiredness and could not lose any weight. i went to my doctor and it was then that i was diagnosed with hypo-thyroidism. at first he put me on 125 mcgs but then put me on 88mcgs. he said less was more. please,help me understand this.
54 year old Female
Posted: 2008-01-20 10:39:12
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
Your thyroid medication dose should be adjusted based upon your thyroid blood test results. Check with your doctor regarding your most recent blood test results. Please note, however, this product actually has a black box warning relating to its ineffectiveness and dangers as a weight loss treatment.
Posted: 2008-01-20 23:24:50
Question/Comment:
Does anyone have hand tremors from this drug?
71 year old Female
Posted: 2008-01-18 04:00:43
Answer/Reply:
Only when I takea double dose (by mistake) of my meds.
52 year old Female
Posted: 2008-01-26 01:50:44
Answer/Reply:
When I took the Levoxyl I got the shakes real bad all over, and my stomach quiveres, felt like I was starving, dizzy, and like I was going to pass out but when I take the brand name, Synthroid, I have no problems and I take 250mcg, still working on getting adjusted on the right amount though. Hope that helps.
34 year old Female
Posted: 2008-02-21 09:38:33
Answer/Reply:
Hand tremors and heart palpitations usually indicate the dose you are on is too high.
60 year old Female
Posted: 2008-05-08 14:53:28
Question/Comment:
i am 72 yrs old, sounds old when i see it in print but i don't look it. my medical problem is my thyroid. i had the radiation therapy in my 40's and have had a difficult time taking the thyroid meds i have an essential tremor of the head and thyroid seems to worsen it. doctor tells me i'm between a rock and a hard place.
74 year old Female
Posted: 2008-01-17 10:32:29
Question/Comment:
My arthiritis has been worse since I have been on synthroid. I was on .125 synthroid and asked my doctor to cut the dosage down to .88. Since then, with cutting back on portions, I have lost 35 lbs.
80 year old Female
Posted: 2008-01-08 10:44:44
Question/Comment:
I have been on Synthroid for 6 years now. I had to have radiation therapy due to Grave's disease, so my thyroid no longer functions. I have the same problems with my medication not working like it should. I am only at .88mg dosage and can't get my doc to raise it any higher because blood tests are saying that the med. is working, but I know its not, because of the extreme symptoms that I have been having. I have been looking for a diet supplement to aid me in my quest for weight loss and have come up with two meds. ThyroZene and Thyromine. Thyromine is a natural herb supplement and ThyroZene is not very clear as to how it can help someone without a working thyroid and I can't seem to find a list of side effects for it. I plan on trying them both eventually. I know there are many women out there with the same weight loss problems due to thyroid medicine and I hope this information may help find a solution for them. If you have a doctor like mine, the words " you can't take diet pills with thyroid medicine, except the $80 one that I can write for you", are very frustrating. If anyone has tried any of these medications please let me know if they are relevent.
29 year old Female
Posted: 2008-01-04 14:15:39
Question/Comment:
Please let me know what are the side effects caused by Levothyroxine 0.15mg?
The person taking this medication is female 71 years old. She has arthritis and diabetes. She has been taking it for three months for hyperthyrodism.
73 year old Female
Posted: 2008-01-03 00:20:21
Answer/Reply:
I am a female of 41 years old, I take LEVOTHYROXIN ON A DAILY BASIS OF 175 mcg and have no side effects, but have been having problems also losing weight. My doctor put me on 200 then 150, now 175 and neither have the benefits of losing weight.
43 year old Female
Posted: 2008-02-19 12:12:04
Question/Comment:
I have been taking levoxyl for many years due to Hashimoto's disease with apparently no side effects. The dosage is extremely low 75 mcg daily. I have taken a closer look at the bottle and it is levothyroxine which I assume is the same as levoxyl. ??????
Why is this a 4 on my profile of medications?
75 year old Female
Posted: 2007-12-26 22:52:58
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
Thyroid medications have an elevated risk rating ("have a risk mangement plan with your doctor") primarily due to their need for tight dose control. If you and your doctor don't regularly monitor your thyroid levels and adjust your dose accordingly, the risk of long term side effects goes up quite considerably.
Posted: 2007-12-27 07:48:46
Question/Comment:
I have been on synthyroid since i was ten years old. and i have never had nose bleeds from this medicine. i currently take a high dose of this medicine a strentgh of 400mcg a day and i have been on this strentgh for almost 2 years. and still can lose any weight. it gets quite tiresome having levels adjusted every 6 wks
44 year old Female
Posted: 2007-12-26 09:33:42
Question/Comment:
Despite Taking a Maximum Dose of Thyroxine; (Both Armour Thyroid and Levothyroxine) are taken to increase the Bioavailability of T3) My T4 Levels are Above Normal Ranges and the T3 below or at the bottom end of Normal! I Lost My Thyroid and one Adrenal to a Rare Cancer and a "PHEO"! My Body Temperature Runs 1.5 to 2.5 Below Normal! I am Tired, Sick and Cannot Drop any Weight, and DO NOT OVEREAT or Live on "JUNKFOOD" I'm sick of Being Sick all the Time... My "Endo" MD/Specialist is Stumped!
70 year old Male
Posted: 2007-12-21 16:27:57
Answer/Reply:
Do you ever get nose bleeds with this medicine?
51 year old Male
Posted: 2007-12-25 12:12:55
Answer/Reply:
I had Graves disease when I was 28 yrs. old along with a huge goiter. It came to light after the birth of my third child. My son was born Jan 1, 1973, I had a hysterectomy in May of 63, spent 18 days in the hospital instead of the 5 days I was supposed to stay, and a total thyroidectomy in Sept of 73. I was put on the strongest thyroid pill available, took that for 30 years. A new doctor decided I shouldn't be taking it and changed me to the lowest dose in 93. I was also diagnosed with MS in 94. A new doctor raised my dosage to 150MCG. Of course, when the dose was lowered I gained weight and haven't lost it. Is there another thyroid test available to take to show the true picture of whether the dosage is correct? I just feel as if I am on the wrong dosage. When my dose was lowered my colestorol skyrocked from 220 to 410 in about a month. I know the 220 was too high but it was nothing compared to the 410.
65 year old Female
Posted: 2009-05-21 17:32:48
You may post comments for the benefit of other patients or post questions other patients might be able to answer. Comments are submitted for possible publication on the condition that they may be edited. Only your age and gender will be published with your comment, although your other user details will be securely recorded for verification purposes.
Comments may be either questions or answers to previously posted questions. Any iGuard.org user may post questions and reply.