AF and Levothyroxine.....anyone? - Atrial Fibrillati...

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AF and Levothyroxine.....anyone?

nikonBlue profile image
12 Replies

Yesterday I saw my gp as for months now I've had the most awful cough, breathlessness and chest pain, in fact I sometimes worry that I ignore the chest pain too much and wouldn't acknowledge if it were serious! My 'flutters' with the AF are constant lately too. Anyway, my gp has said that maybe the miniscule amount of thyroxine I've been on for more years than I can remember, could be part of the problem and I just wondered if anyone had any experience and/or advice for me. She has told me to reduce the daily dose of 25mg to 3 days a week and see if there's any improvement in my symptoms. I also take Flecainide, Bisoprolol, Perindopril, Omaprazole, and Exemastane (breast cancer in 2015).

I take a vitamin D3 as well to prevent the cancer meds affecting my bones.

I will now stop waffling!

stay well everyone :-)

Blue x

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nikonBlue
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12 Replies
jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50

I believe I've read that having an underactive thyroid can also cause 'palpitations'. Since increasing my dose of Levo from 50-75mg my heart rhythm has been better.

I'll have a search and see if I can find where I saw this.

Jean

10gingercats profile image
10gingercats in reply to jeanjeannie50

'Those that know' believed my own Afib was activated by an untreated thyroid problem.25mg is a very small dose indeed so cannot see it is resposible for your increased heart flutters.I am not a doctor but it sounds as if your GPs thinking is going in the wrong direction.

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50 in reply to 10gingercats

Did you mean this answer to go to me rather than nikonBlue?

bantam12 profile image
bantam12 in reply to 10gingercats

Indeed it's not the Levo causing the issue it's the tiny dose not treating the hypothyroidism, the GP is clearly not very clued up on thyroid disease and treatment.

bantam12 profile image
bantam12

Good grief 25mcg three times a week is more than likely causing your AF it's so tiny a dose it's not even a starter amount and on ThyroidUK forum everyone will say the same, that a small dose will keep you undermedicated and will cause all sorts of symptoms rather than treat them.

I strongly advise you get a copy of your thyroid results and post them on ThyroidUK forum for help.

ACE inhibitors like Perindopril commonly cause cough, which I believe usually develops soon after starting the medication.

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50

Here is the checklist for hypothyroidism:

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

nikonBlue profile image
nikonBlue

Hi all, thanks for all the comments. I'm having bloods done on Wednesday as the doc did say it's such a small dose so she is checking to see if I do in fact have an underactive thyroid and suggests that the 25 dose isn't enough if I do and not needed if I don't....if that makes any sense. I'm having flutters as I type and the 'bag of worms' has just begun. So fed up with it all and on top of that, worrying my cancer might be back. Can I just run away please??

stay well all and thanks again, let's see where this goes!!

Blue x

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50 in reply to nikonBlue

Bless you, sending a big healing hug your way. Please let us know how you get on with your thyroid results.

Jean x

Juliesk profile image
Juliesk

Hi, I also take Flecainide, Bisoprolol and had been suffering from flutters. Someone on another forum recommended taking 200mg magnesium citrate daily and having investigated further I stopped carbonated drinks (I don’t have caffeine and drink very little alcohol).

I started taking the magnesium and amazingly the flutters/ectopic beats stopped! Long may it continue and you never know - it may work for you😊

nikonBlue profile image
nikonBlue in reply to Juliesk

Hi, I drink decaf and never have drunk fizzy drinks. I need to start the magnesium I think. Thank you

Stay well

Blue x

Juliesk profile image
Juliesk in reply to nikonBlue

Good luck and hope you feel better soon x

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