hi guys! i thought i had Multiple sclerosis as i had a mild shaking, internal tremor and foot numbness for months. i have been on levothroxine for 7 years, and, after a routine blood test had my dose increased from 150mg to 175mg. WOW! i started having panic attacks, feeling anxious, claustrophobia, vision like a drunk person, slow eyes, spaced out, drugged up feeling. i actually thought i was going mad.
through the tears i googled and found out that it could be the levothyroxine, not multiple sclerosis! is 175 mg considered a high dose? anyone else heard of these psychotic symptoms? i stopped all meds 2 days ago. thanks x
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iamnotdrunk
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Hi, welcome to the group, I'm sorry you are suffering so much though. Someone with more experience than me will be along soon to offer advice I'm sure but what I would say is not to stop all meds. If you think the dose increase is making you feel ill then lower it but dropping it altogether can be dangerous too. Do you have your blood test results? If not then request them from your GP and post results on herex
It does sound like you could be overmedicated but like I said, I'm not an expert, just a fellow sufferer. Blood test results really need to be priority so we can see how best to help x
I going thru the same exact things on Levo. It usually takes me 3 months to adjust to a new dose...and then I feel better (and its feels like a looong 3 months). Im going thru it now with Levo adjustments....bc of blood tests. I just went thru it really bad when they changed my dose the last time 3 months ago and it eventually got a bit better..then I took a new blood test and now they switched me again..and all those symptoms are back. Im on levothyroxine tirosint....that seems to help me with all those symptoms.
Agree with Marz check out the Pernicious Anemia sister site on health unlocked. All three problems often connected or implicated ...M.S, Thyroid, insufficient B12 . My brother has M.S and PA. untreated PA can lead to the serious Subaccute Combined Degeneration of the Spinal cord.
Hi there sounds like you are on too much medication - when the neck goes stiff that is a very good indicator - also if you are shaky of course - anyone who isn't sure if they are shaky - put a piece of paper on their hand and you will see the shake if at first you find it difficult to see.
That describes quite well how I felt when the impaired levothyroxine conversion was producing too much reverse T3. The plasma levels of FT3 and FT4 looked adequate, but I felt drunk and thought I was dying, with those other symptoms. Had you gone to a fibromyalgia specialist they would probably diagnose you with the disease. Dr. John Lowe would treat you with T3. Did your blood tests include rT3? They rarely do. My endocrinologist included it once, to humor me, and then said the results were "interesting" and left it at that. He and my GP thought I needed to visit a tertiary care center for more specialized diagnosis. I continued checking rT3 privately until his dose increase pushed the rT3 into the red zone. The levothyroxine has a long half life and one would not feel the effects of complete cessation for 30 days. I only reduced my intake to 25 mcg and increased the liothyronine, to see if that would help. I felt significantly better within a few days. But I had a supply of liothyronine on hand and could take 15 mcg each day, eventually increasing it to 35 mcg briefly. I felt like a new person.
You definitely need to learn what your lab results are, and not rely on someone who lives in a separate body to evaluate what may be incomplete information, and make decisions for you.
Post your results on here if you live in the UK you are legally allowed to have copies of your results. My doctors surgery are very good at printing copies for me. Normally get them within half a hour after asking. Just gives me time to get to the surgery and pick them up. A lot of knowledgeable people on this site who will be able to help you. Best of luck
yes i had mild internal earthquake feelings and spaced out vision from June 2018, but this latest levothyroxine increase to 175mcg made them more obvious, which is how i found you lovely lot!seeing my GP on tuesday to ask for all the tests and vitamin tests you have suggested, fingers crossed they will say yes.
blood test booked for thurs. i am reluctantly back to taking full 175mcg or the blood results will be weird. and hope i dont get sectioned!
Make sure you request copies of all your results with ranges - results you are legally entitled to have This will enable you to monitor your progress and to check what has been missed ! FT3 rarely tested in the NHS ...
What country are you in? Don't cross your fingers: you legally own those blood tests: they are yours to take. I am in the USA and I get them myself, free, off the blood testing unit's own website. Do not empower these doctors as if they are not human and speak to them as a human being but strengthen yourself, pray, if you are religious, speak to someone you are close to but empower yourself and treat the doctor with courtesy and politeness and then tell them (not ask) that you demand your blood tests ... period. If they decline find out the name of the phlebotomist and get them from her, him. Peace be with you.
Strength and Prayers for you . Yes it can a high dose for you specifically if you don't need it . It may be just fine for others who do need it even higher doses . What where your FT4 and FT3 prior to raising your levels ????? And what where your symptoms ? Are you on any T3/NDT ? It might just be that you would be a good candidate to lower your T4 and perhaps and adding a low dose T3/NDT . It's possible if the Dr felt that you needed an increase he might have tried alternating 150 with 175 mcg T4 first and retest 4-6 weeks later . Meantime I would suggest journaling your symptoms . Testing Adrenals/Cortisol's via saliva could be very helpful . DHEA-S via BW . Are you on any nutrients ? Vitamin "D"/K2 , B-Complex , B-12/Folate , Iron if you test low , magnesium , Vitamin "C" , fish oil , Celtic Sea Salt for electrolytes/adrenals .
I can't speak to your meds because I treat without them right now, but I know I had the feeling of being drunk when I ate things I was sensitive to. Here in the US GMO isn't banned and many are looking into it causing Autoimmune diseases. I am sensitive to gluten and dairy among some other things, but gluten and dairy are what make me feel this way so I cut them out for almost a year now. I only feel drunk when I try to reintroduce them. Sorry I can't be of more help.
Hi there. What you’re describing is quite similar to my symptoms. Which brand are you taking?
After a rough summer with predominant fatigue, I tested my TSH (~2.5) and then decided to increase Levothyrox dosis from 75 to 100mcg. 3 weeks later, I started feeling numbness and burning sensation in my hands and feet. However, my energy has been almost perfect (except for a few low days). The burning sensation persisted. Then a month ago, I started feeling shaky, internal tremor and somewhat stiff neck. Other symptoms: mild lower back pain, slight pain in the pelvic area and eye twitching.
My blood tests are close to optimal: TSH of 0.3, FT3 and FT4 at 90% of the range. Folate, Ferritin, B12 all high end.
I decided to reduce the dose to 88mcg about two weeks ago. No effects so far.
Otherwise the endocrinologist and the neurologist have been testing for different diseases. No findings so far. Lyme, GBS and Rheuma factor (a good indicator for many autoimmune indications such as RA, Lupus, Sjörgen’s) all negative. I did a MRI for spine two days ago. Let’s see what comes out.
At the beginning, I panicked and experienced many episodes of strong anxiety as I thought I might have MS or another neurodegenerative disorder. However, I currently think that all the symptoms are driven by the thyroid dysfunction. I don’t know whether I will feel well again on Levothyrox. So considering adding T3 substitution.
when i first moved to germany doc put me on levo - a disaster. found lab that put me back onto ndt but got dose wrong - way too high. same symptoms as you - woke up one morning and could barely see. it was my daughter who worked it out (thyroid cancer at 21). yours is a small bump but she is affected by small bumps - me notsomuch
I had similar problems so I stopped my meds for a couple of weeks then went back on them taking only 100mg. I felt so much better and although after a year it has increased to 125 I would never take a dosage as high as that again.
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This will enable you to monitor your progress and to check what has been missed ! FT3 rarely tested in the NHS ... 
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