Levothyroxine & Acne & Hangovers / Alcohol - Thyroid UK

Thyroid UK

141,243 members166,489 posts

Levothyroxine & Acne & Hangovers / Alcohol

hollieerin profile image
11 Replies

I am 23 and have been on 112mcg Levo since August 2017. I am experiencing acne for the first time in my life all over my chin, jaw line, neck and back. My doctor is not taking the acne seriously or really doing anything about it. Has anyone experienced this? What helped? What did you tell your doctor to get them to prescribe or help?

Also..

I get HORRIBLE hangovers. At 23 the hangovers are so bad that I avoid social situations and drinking all together because the consequences are just not worth it. No one seems to understand at all. They just think its a normal hangover and I'm being dramatic. I know this is all related and connected to my hashimotos and hypothyroid. Any advice / help / do you relate??

Written by
hollieerin profile image
hollieerin
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
11 Replies
silverfox7 profile image
silverfox7

Can say something about alcohol. I'm not a great drinker but will join a friend in a small glass but some time ago now some days I could feel really drunk on next to nothing and other times no problem on the same amount! So never have a alcoholic drink when I had the car! Eventually found my bloods weren't good and since that's been rectified no problems but still never drink when I'm driving just in case!

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Can you add your most recent blood test results for TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Do you have Hashimoto's also called autoimmune thyroid disease diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies?

Do you take any vitamin supplements?

Acne has been linked to B12.

hollieerin profile image
hollieerin in reply toSlowDragon

These result were drawn of Feb 23rd, Since august I was told I had hypothyrodism and they never ran test for antibodies or explained why I had hypo, or anything other than here take this levo and I felt better from it! Now I don't feel that I am functioning optimally especially with the acne so I have been requesting more testing for weeks. Yesterday when they read me my results I was told I have Hashimotos and also that my 112mcg of Levo needs to be brought back down to 100mcg.

THYROGLOBULIN ANTIBODIES5 H

THYROID PEROXIDASE ANTIBODIES130 H

T4, FREE1.9 H

TSH0.12 L

T3, TOTAL106

T3 REVERSE, 5 L

Scazzoh profile image
Scazzoh

Unfortunately, people with thyroid disease can develop an intolerance to alcohol, which can block the production of TSH among other things. Here is an article about it:

theinvisiblehypothyroidism....

Beer and grain spirits would be worse because they contain gluten, which you should also avoid if you have an autoimmune disease.

hollieerin profile image
hollieerin in reply toScazzoh

hmm interesting. I never really feel it too much when I am drinking but wow the next day is unbearable.

Am I correct in saying that because my thyroid does not produce the hormones to metabolize that the Poison / Alcohol sits in my body much longer making the hangover last for days?

hollieerin profile image
hollieerin in reply toScazzoh

Also, is it common to get alcohol testing done when youre hypo? Do they test all alch? Do people get tested for gluten intolerance as well?

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply toScazzoh

Whilst I agree that beer (at least, most beer) most definitely contains gluten, I do not believe that any distilled spirits do - unless somehow they are added post-distillation. It is possible this happens with some products.

hollieerin profile image
hollieerin in reply tohelvella

But is it the sensitivity to gluten that causes the horrible hangovers or is it the alcohol allergy? I get the horrible hangover from just 2 beers or just 1 glass or wine, or a few cocktails. The only constant seems to be the alcohol and not the gluten. And if this was the case would I need feel horrible after eating a whole pizza? I do not consume a lot of gluten but I am certainly not gluten free and do eat pizza as a treat once in a while. or a roll with my soup. and don't feel sick / hungover.

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply tohollieerin

I do not know - but if you suffer bad hangovers when all you drank was, say, vodka, I'd suspect it was the alcohol and/or the limited range of other substances that would pass over a still.

hollieerin profile image
hollieerin

These result were drawn of Feb 23rd, Since august I was told I had hypothyrodism and they never ran test for antibodies or explained why I had hypo, or anything other than here take this levo and I felt better from it! Now I don't feel that I am functioning optimally especially with the acne so I have been requesting more testing for weeks. Yesterday when they read me my results I was told I have Hashimotos and also that my 112mcg of Levo needs to be brought back down to 100mcg.

THYROGLOBULIN ANTIBODIES5 H

THYROID PEROXIDASE ANTIBODIES130 H

T4, FREE1.9 H

TSH0.12 L

T3, TOTAL106

T3 REVERSE, 5 L

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

So your antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).

About 90% of all primary hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's

Essential to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12. Always get actual results and ranges. Post results when you have them, members can advise

Hashimoto's affects the gut and leads to low stomach acid and then low vitamin levels

Low vitamin levels can affect Thyroid hormone working

Paradoxically you may have high B12 if other B vitamins are deficient. Perhaps ask a question on PAS healthunlocked

healthunlocked.com/pasoc

Poor gut function can lead leaky gut (literally holes in gut wall) this can cause food intolerances. Most common by far is gluten

According to Izabella Wentz the Thyroid Pharmacist approx 5% with Hashimoto's are coeliac, but over 80% find gluten free diet helps significantly.

Either due to direct gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)

But don't be surprised that GP or endo never mention gut, gluten or low vitamins. Hashimoto's is very poorly understood

Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and slowly lower TPO antibodies

Ideally ask GP for coeliac blood test first alongside vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

amymyersmd.com/2017/02/3-im...

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

scdlifestyle.com/2014/08/th...

drknews.com/changing-your-d...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

Why does Levothyroxine cause acne for some people?

I could only stay on Levothyroxine for 5 weeks because it gave me bad acne. As soon as I stopped...
Neeta-K profile image

Cystic Acne develops 3 months after starting levothyroxine

I just wanted to check if anybody has had acne develop not long after starting Levothyroxine? I...
3mmarose profile image

Acne resulting from Levothyroxine

I definitely know the acne i'm suffering from are the results of Levothyroxine i'm taking...

Can levothyroxine cause acne?

I was diagnosed with subclinical hypothyroidism in December and have been on 25mcg of levothyroxine...

Acne type spots

Hi everyone... I started loading dose of b12 injections about about 6 weeks ago. After a few...

Moderation team

See all
SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator
Jaydee1507 profile image
Jaydee1507Administrator
RedApple profile image
RedAppleAdministrator

Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.

Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.