Dont do well on Levothyroxine ?

[Jackyblackpool]

what does it mean dont do well on levothyroxine?

could my symptoms be a result of the Levothyroxine , aching joints (knees)

weariness, low mood, lack of interest in life.

what is the alternative, how can i feel better?

[Clutter]

JackyBlackpool, If you weren't doing well on Levothyroxine I think you would have been symptomatic for the three years you have been hypothyroid. I think your problem is undermedication and possibly low vitamin and minerals, and have replied in detail on your previous thread.

[Clutter]

DesireDe, most people feel well on Levothyroxine when they are optimally medicated.

[shaws Administrator]

I've just read a past post and see you have only recently been raised to 75mcg after 3 years.

If you've had a recent blood test please get a copy from the surgery and make sure the ranges are shown. Post them on a new question for comments. You should look at your TSH and we usually feel best if it's around 1. Maybe your GP doesn't know how best to treat you.

[Clutter]

I saw the comment though, DesireDe and I really don't care to be called honey or any other patronising endearment.

[wiserlady6]

I had these symptoms of thyroixide now and then, theywent when I switched to the natural thyroid. But with the natural, because it contains T3 and T4 youmight get emotional, your emotions are heightened, so when you feel lonely you feelmore likely,and when happy you feel ecstatic etc. I found this hard to get to grips with at first. There are also some selling natural thyroid very expensive and others much cheaper when it is the same thing.

[Hidden in reply to wiserlady6]

Wiserlady6

I have experienced heightened emotions too after adding T3 to my T4.

There is no anger ..... Just extreme happiness or sadness.

It is hard to get to grips with. Has yours improved any?

Flower

[wiserlady6 in reply to Hidden]

Hi thanks for this. I found what seems to work for me best is to take the fakes fromdoctor for a few days and then when a headache starts I switch to the natural ones for a bit and alternate. To begin with I had very heightened emotions. In fact I was sitting watching a thriller on tv when I suddenly got petrified that my windows were not shut properly and I was worried I had to make sure they were. Something which does not bother me otherwise. I then found it hard to sleep because I was jumpy at every little noise. Another time I had a slight disagreement with someone and it upset me and made me cry nearlyall day, a total over reaction.

[tamhen]

I feel a lot better on Levothyroxine as so many I have spoken with. It can take time to get the levels right.

Many people take it and will not be posting on here. I don't think it's helpful to say that to people who are already worried and anxious.

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to tamhen]

An American friend started on NDT and is now happily taking levo because she wasn't doing at all well on NDT.

No two bodies are the same and what suits one person doesn't necessarily suit someone else. That doesn't mean to say there is anything wrong with either medication. Just the same as some brands suit some people better than others.

I think what tamhen says is quite true, the people who come on here are looking for answers, there must be stacks of people out there who are taking levo and are quite well and happy.

I know since I started treatment I've been amazed to discover that a number of people I know have been taking levo for years with no problems.

Some people unfortunately are not that lucky and need something else.

[bamy]

i never felt beter for years even after adding Armour. this year i replaced Armour with Nature-throid and added levo and feel great

[LouiseRoberts]

Hi

We recently ran an extensive survey of thyroid patients which actually confirms that levothyroxine works for the vast majority of people.

This does not change the fact that there are SOME people who need alternative treatments.

All we ask is that people are respectful of other peoples' opinions and always remember that everyone is different.

I now consider this subject closed as we are moving away from the original poster's question (apologies Jackyblackpool) and any further comments which are not directly related to her question will be removed.

Thank you.

Louise Warvill

PA to Lyn Mynott

Thyroid UK

On behalf of the Admin Team

[Hidden in reply to LouiseRoberts]

Good point.

I also think that some people don't do well on levothyroxine purely because most Drs don't seem to understand much about dosing and aim to get a patient's TSH in range. There may be a lot more patients on the "happy and well" list if doctors would take more care and time to get a patient on an optimal dose of levo specific to them.

[bamy]

right