Itching at night

[gracegirl78]

does anyone else have this and is it thyroid related? Especially my back and arms. Its driving me nuts!

[vgam]

I itch..my scalp and arms mainly. ..this started when I increased my dose of levothyroxine from 25mcg to 75mcg. .it has calmed down but there are days where it gets bad again..

[gracegirl78]

Mmm, interesting....i started night time dosing about 4 days ago and its definitely worse since...coyld it be related i wonder

[vgam]

I think my itching is def down to the meds...unless its a delayed reaction to having a tsh at 6.93. Have you spoken to your doc?. I had fresh bloods today including t3 so will see next week whether there's an issue.

[lolajone in reply to vgam]

I had intense itching (but no rash) at night, so bad it would wake me up, the itching was on the scalp chest and abdomen. It stopped when I stopped taking mercury pharma levothyroxine.

[gracegirl78]

Im on mercury pharma eltroxin!

[liz1952 in reply to gracegirl78]

Hi, you can still get this eltroxin? If so where from please? Liz

[gracegirl78 in reply to liz1952]

Im in ireland, there doesnt seem to be a shortage here x

[liz1952 in reply to gracegirl78]

I can't get it here, so may contact Mercury Pharma Ireland and see if I can buy it. Thanks so much for replying - so appreciated. Oh my feet and upper back itch by the way! Drives both me and my husband insane! x

[Middleagemadness]

Yes - mainly top of head - really annoying! I have started Erfa NDT 3 months ago - I guess it's to do with that. It is easing off now. Did it with Levo too.

[Rufie]

Oooo, that's interesting! I also get itching! Mainly underarms, breasts & top of head. Have had mammogram as itching can be a sign of breast cancer! I have a good scratch with a towel so I don't make myself sore, before I go 2 sleep!! Lol! I take 125 mcg Levothyroxine. Best wishes, Ruth x

[GRConwy]

I've been having underarm, but my main one is my left foot, just behind the toes, at night, wakes me up, I've even taken sandpaper to it to try and get some relief!

[Guillemette]

Well maybe this is an answer,I have been thinking about the detergents and other products because I get this,mainly chest and arms and always at night.

[nightingale-56]

Have had itching on scalp, back arms and legs since earlier this year when they changed me from Eltroxin to generic Mercury Pharma Levothyroxine. Also a burning nasty tasting mouth. Last night also woke to slight atrial fibrillation. My TSH is rising - was 1.34 in June and is now 2.37 (0.270 - 4.200).. March 2013 my T3 was 5.6 and that had gone down to 4.7 by June (3.1 - 6..8) and still my T4 stubbornly stays at 22.1 (just over range - 12 - 22). Feel I need a small dose of T3, but at our surgery it is like hitting your head against a brick wall, and it is sore enough as it is. Janet.

[stephensmith]

My initial symptoms were itching when I went to docs. Tested Hypo TSH 19. Gradually increased from 50 to 100. Itching still there TSH 9. Hope it will decrease when I get on correct level. Is always worse when increase of Levo for the first couple of weeks. Mainly face and back of neck for me affects my legs and arms when muscles stretched (even slightly)

[debs]

Hi I also get itchy back and underarms, which drives me mad and I'm on mercury pharma levothyroxine. How do I get my medication changed?

[helvella Administrator in reply to debs]

I would always suggest that, in the first place, you develop a relationship with a pharmacy/pharmacist and try to get them to supply whichever formulation works best for you.

You are opening up a potential difficulty if you get a doctor to write a particular "brand" on your prescription. What if it is not available? Or a new form came onto the market?

Rod

[Hidden]

I know there are many causes of itchy skin and mine is due to dry skin which has got worse over recent years. I notice it more at night - because I'm not distracted. My itchy skin is relieved by remembering to put on a good layer of moisturiser after every bath/shower. I hope you find the cause of yours and the solution because when I forget to moisturise the itching is very annoying and keeps me awake.

[paigie]

I was driven mad by itching ---- red, hot, itching back, arms, chest, all on fire & causing insomnia. Couldn't sit on a commuter train, couldn't sleep in a bed, only on the floor through that cold winter.

Didn't know it then but it was the 1st sign of of Graves Dis., right out of the blue. Next,

sudden weight loss. Then swollen ankles, constant diahrroea, pounding pulse, weak

arms legs + feet, shaking hands, breathing difficulties. G.p. couldn't suggest anything so I took one symptom at a time & consulted a renowned homeopathic doctor about the skin .

She gave me a soothing cream which really helped, but when she asked if I had any other symptoms I lied, saying "No". That was stupid of me, but I'd had so many negative experiences with UK nhs doctors I decided to be single -minded, not wishing to confuse her or hear again that word "bizarre". No idea what was in that cream, but it enabled me to sleep in my bed again. And of course, I now regret being dishonest to her. Especially as my other symptoms worsened to the point when I could hardly walk, or climb stairs, or work.

By some miracle, a trainee student was in the (bad) gp's room when I managed a final visit. She spoke to me later, convinced I had Hyperthyroid. She proved correct. Hospital consultant soon sorted it. DON'T DELAY !

[gracegirl78 in reply to paigie]

Thanks, im def not hyper im hypo but thanks for the advice!!

[mistydog]

I often have itching, usually after a shower. I don't have it every time, although the soap/shampoo/bodywash etc are the same, so I don't believe it's that, I was persuaded that it could be the water, but again, that's the same, so no. I suspect when I'm on certain brands of levo it is worse, but I've never made the connection before. I'm going to see if this is the case.