Levothyroxine and sore throat : I was recently... - Thyroid UK

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Levothyroxine and sore throat

Brookesy profile image
9 Replies

I was recently diagnosed with Hashimotos, my GP prescribes me 50mg of levothyroxine, I have been taking it for 3 weeks now but my throat on the right side within first week was so sore even swallowing was painful, it has calmed down a little but now it has travelled to the left side and tonight after yoga I feel like the right side is starting.

Is this a side effect from levothyroxine?

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Brookesy profile image
Brookesy
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9 Replies
shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator

Do you take levo with one full glass of water? If not that may be the reason.

Brookesy profile image
Brookesy in reply to shaws

I take it with Tea in the morning. Should I take it morning or night?

shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator in reply to Brookesy

In order to get the full dose of levothyroxine, it has to be swallowed with one full glass of water and wait about an hour before eating.

This is a list of things that can interfere with the uptake.

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

You also have the option of bedtime dosing, as long as stomach is completely empty so, as we are hypo and food takes longer to digest than is normal, I'd allow 3 hours between last meal if it contains protein and 2.5 hours otherwise. If you decide on bedtime dosing you should miss night dose if getting a blood test next morning (the earliest possible) and you can take it next morning and at night as usual.

It we don't swallow correctly, levo can get stuck in our throat and swell.

Clutter profile image
Clutter

Bookesy,

Sore throat isn't a typical Levothyroxine side effect. You've probably had a virus which is spreading to the other side of your throat.

Brookesy profile image
Brookesy in reply to Clutter

I've had it for a week so was wondering if it was a side effect now they have kicked in. It I think I should of had antibiotics last week as my tonsil on the right was swollen so maybe I have a virus and I never went to get antibiotics. Thank you for the reply

Clutter profile image
Clutter in reply to Brookesy

Brookesy,

If it is a virus antibiotics will be useless. Drink plenty of fluids and take paracetamol for pain and for high temperature.

Brookesy profile image
Brookesy in reply to Clutter

Ok I think I should of had antibiotics because the pain and swelling in my tonsil was horrendous. Maybe I'm just getting over that. Thank you

Michellew46 profile image
Michellew46 in reply to Brookesy

Did your sore throat go away? I am having same problem on Levo.

MichelleHarris profile image
MichelleHarris

I was diagnosed last year. I have had problems with Levo for months. I think the fillers and binders. My throat is very swollen and lymph glands up for months it got so bad. 1st GP was dismissivd. 2nd sent me for urgent scan on Friday ( urgent has taken 7 weeks). However I took the plunge and started NDT and they are going down!

Thyroid nodules and all that is common with Hashimotos. I hope you find the answer and recover x

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