Anyone with arrhythmia take thyroid medications?

[Tiffw28]

Hey everyone,

Is there anyone out there who has arrhythmia, also has hypothyroidism and takes Synthroid or similar? I’m curious what your experience has been. Has the medication made things worse or better? Do you experience more (cardiac) symptoms since treatments or less? I’m just trying to get an idea from those who actually experience it and not the doctors who don’t seem to get it.

Thanks!

[bantam12]

There are several of us on here, I've been on Levo for many years, not aware of it causing any more or less Afib problems.

[Tiffw28 in reply to bantam12]

Thank you for your response and that’s good to know. Everyone keeps focusing on it causing palpitations to the point where I’ve been scared to take it.

Do you take the generic or the brand. I’m curious if it makes a difference in general.

[bantam12 in reply to Tiffw28]

Being under, over or not medicated will cause arrhythmia, once on the right dose you shouldn't have any problem. If you have been diagnosed as hypo you really need to start taking the replacement.

I take Actavis/Accord make of Levo and it's always best to stick to the same brand as mixing doesn't usually go well, once you find one that suits you request the same brand each repeat.

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to bantam12]

I stick to the same brand of Actavis as you bantam12 and agree with your advice.

[Jalia]

I've been taking Levo thyroxine for about 18 years and have had AF for almost 28 years. As long as you are taking the correct dose you should be ok. I had problems some years back when I was overmedicated and went into fast AF. Otherwise no probs.

[dwright12]

I was on Synthroid since 2003 and didn't develop AF until 2017. I was told that I needed to reduce the dosage and went on Tirosant 112 mcg and still have problems. It is a never ending battle. I'm getting a second opinion for my thyroid medication.

[Tiffw28 in reply to dwright12]

Thanks for your response.

Why did they want you to switch the dosage? Did it help at all with your thyroid levels? What issues have you had on it?

I guess the biggest issue for me is I don’t understand the medication. If our thyroid doesn’t produce enough hormone leaving us abnormal, we use the medication to bring it back to normal like our bodies should be in the first place why does the medication impact at heart at all? I’m being told it’s only an issue when it works too well and leans us towards hyper but the literature acts like the medication is the risk itself. So which is it? The doctors all seem to say different things. The whole thing has me confused.

[belindalore in reply to Tiffw28]

The thyroid regulates the body's metabolism so I would imagine the heart would be affected. I'm waiting to find out if I have hyperthyroidism. I was recently diagnosed with Afib. Don't know if I have hyperthyroidism or whether it caused the Afib. All confusing.

[dwright12]

I was also told that too much or too little can cause AF. I try to understand what I should be taking, but I get conflicting information. Dr. reduced my meds because my TSH came back too high. I was hyperthyroid

[bantam12 in reply to dwright12]

If your TSH was high as in above the reference range you would need more replacement, if your TSH is low as in below the reference range you would need less replacement BUT this is where the docs get it wrong ! doses should never be adjusted on a TSH result, they need to test T4 and T3 as they are the important ones and show your actual thyroid levels, TSH is a pituitary hormone so doesn't mean anything when on treatment. Besides that if you are hypothyroid it's impossible to become hyperthyroid, you can be overmedicated but not hyperthyroid. So unless your T3 and T4 were over range you weren't overmedicated. Sounds like you need to change docs !

[dwright12]

I had thyroid cancer and was told I was supposed to be suppressed so no return of cancer. My TSH is high. The endo society has changed their view on the range, so they are reducing my meds. I will get a second opinion.

[brit1]

yes I am on levothyroxine. 11yrs ago a stupid dr overdosed my thyroid meds and sent me into hyPERthyroid and afib, ended up in the ER. I changed drs and was started on a low dose of levo and now I am always checked every 6mths and any afib episodes have nothing to do with my meds. Originally I was on Armor thyroid meds but apparently its hard to tell how much T3 that contains so its not safe for me. I was surprised to do so well on the levo and also surprised to find my T3 is adequate level vs holistic dr telling me that levo etc would not be sufficient.

[Easternmost]

Hi,

I am on 50 gm Levothyroxine for an under active thyroid. My levels are good now, but I have just been diagnosed with atrial flutter and told there can be a link.

Hope all goes well for you.