Blurred vision from dosaged increased!
I was on 112mcg of Levi thyroxine after a blood test my tsh came back at 6.90 and my doc increased my dose to 125 mcg. That was 9 days ago and for the last 4 days I been experiencing blurred vision and a bit of anxiety not much of anxiety but it’s there what scares me the most is the blurred vision! It comes and it goes it’s like my mind is foggy and I’m seeing blurry! Anyone knows anything about this??
Hi Ralph1985,
I went online to see if I could find anything referring to levo and eye problems, and there isn’t anything. I would not panic right now. It is unclear whether or not your eye problems are related to the levo.
However, you don’t say what your disease is or what you are being treated for. Have you had a TT or RAI? Do you have Graves or Hashimotos? Please post whatever blood work you have so the folks on this forum who are experts at this can help you. You do not have enough information to make any recommendations.
Wishing you all the best and look forward to your posts.
I don’t know what disease I have I know I have hypothyroidism because my tsh was high at 20 in a general blood test my doctor did and from there I went to see an endocrinologist who’s been treating with Levothyroxine for the las year I was taking 112 mcg but last blood work 2 weeks ago my tsh came back at 6.90 and so he upped my dose
Ok - I understand. Your doctor is relying exclusively on TSH - and this is not enough for your hypothyroidism to be properly treated with the right level of medication.
I would recommend checking the posts of SeasideSusie, greygoose, or SlowDragon for the tests you need. At minimum, you need the basic thyroid panel (TSH, T3 and T4) and those for antibodies.
There is just not enough information to advise you right now. I know that one of these good people will respond to your post, so sit tight - in the meantime, try not to worry - I know that is easier said than done- but it will only increase your anxiety. Sending you positive thoughts. All the best.
Thanks for the advice 🙏
Dear Ralph,
I’m so glad all these people responded to you! At least you have some idea and have some information. All the best! And I learned something too...
Wish I could be more help. 🙏🏻 back at you.
Hi Sorry to hear about your eyes. I definitely think there is a link between hormones and sight but try getting a gp to see this, scuse the pun! However get an optician to check your eyes thoroughly,
I have been on thyroxine for 20 years, taking it as I was told fot years. Gradually my vison worsened and it wS hard to see in the dark but I never made a link with thyroxine until I tried NDT, getting it privately, and wow after a few months my vision got better!
I was told on here that thyroxine blocks vitamin A uptake. I take vitamin A in the form of retinol tablets as thyroid people cant convert carotene into vitamin A very well either.. hope this sharing of my experience helps.
It sounds like you’re very sensitive to dose increase, which probably means that your levels are too low, and this is consistent with test results. It will probably gradually disappear as you settle down on this dose.
Ralph1985,
In your previous posts you have experienced anxiety and various symptoms with every Levo dose raise.
This is common and points to adrenal issues which are struggling to support your low thyroid hormone levels and struggle even more when you raise your dose, so increasing metabolism further.
With a TSH of 6.90 you are under medicated so need that dose raise but do you have FT4 & FR3 results? Have you been tested for TPOAb & TGAb (thyroid antibodies)?
Both thyroid hormone and good adrenal function rely on adequate iron and nutrient levels. Have you had folate, Vit B12, ferritin and Vit D levels tested ?
Are you taking any supplements (Vit C, glandulars, etc ) to support adrenal health ?
Sorry to hear about your eyes. I used to have periods of not walking straight and seeing double ! ! .,
If you give more info, members will comment.
"...anxiety and various symptoms with every Levo dose raise.
This is common and points to adrenal issues which are struggling to support your low thyroid hormone levels and struggle even more when you raise your dose, so increasing metabolism further."
I didn't know that, thanks. Something to look out for, though so far I have only felt better after an increase, then the usual slow deterioration after a while.
I had the same thing happen to me the symptoms kept getting worse but endo was happy with the levels my life became miserable and I couldn’t even drive safely because of the blurred vision. Had heart palpitations and the anxiety increased I had never had anxiety previous to all this I am now on 112 mcg synthroid if they want to increase I only allow a half a pill to be added once a week I am now feeling more my self and I am able to function I occasionally feel slow and tired but I prefer that over they insane symptoms of increased medication. God bless you I hope you start feeling better soon. I skipped a dose and I put my self back on the 112
Hello Ralph 1985, listen, this doesn't mean diddly but since you are looking I'm going to send this. But we all have to remember that we are here for each other. So knowing that, take this as just a piece of info. not a diagnosis. I wish you all the best and hope we can all find our level, our happiest level. Cheers! thyroid.org/graves-eye-dise...
Yes, it is definitely related to your hormones. I was hypo due to total thyrodectomy and my vision was blurred until I finally found my right dose. Like every function in your body, your eyesight also depends on hormones, so of course if you are not balanced that will affect your vision among other things. My doctors kept telling me to check my eyesight, which was perfect before the surgery, so I am really surprised that doctors don’t see any connection just because it’s not the most common symptom of thyroid dysfunction. It will get better as soon as you calibrate your medication. Good luck!!
I’ve been having the same problem for the last year in the levo. When I stand I get dizzy, when I look down or up I lose my vision. All sorts of whacky stuff. Currently up with anxiety and shakes. This whole thyroid crap sucks. But def voice ur concerns with ur doc.
It's most probably down to not being on the right amount of medication. Low medication affects muscle tone which can affect us in different ways. It could be bladder leakage, sphincter issues causing leakages or in your case eyes not focussing properly. The lens in your eye changes shape to focus but if the supporting muscles are slack then it's struggling to focus as well as we are used to. Most feel generally. Ettercwhen TSH is near to one or even under so see your doctor about a dose increase if he hasn't already addressed that high TSH.
I am experiencing this too and have mentioned it to my GP who looked rather puzzled. Since increasing my dose, I have a sort of 'under water' look going on. I have to blink several times, then it clears but sometimes it persists for longer. Try keeping a food diary and see if there are certain times when the blurriness gets worse. Mine is worse in a morning, which may be low morning blood sugar????....and also it gets worse within 30 minutes of eating a meal which may be a glucose sensitivity issue since I've always been a bit funny with food. 
Sometimes when we eat, the lens of our eyes may swell a little because of the increased blood sugar and this can cause temporary blurred vision for some people. I am more sensitive to food since being diagnosed and I don't really understand why. I am currently keeping a food diary to see if I can see what is causing mine but it is also important to have a regular eye test too just to rule out anything else. It's hard because I get a lot of anxiety headaches and don't sleep well so it could be any number of things all stacking up against me.
Some people report eye issues with side effects of Levo caused by dry eyes and not having enough fluid and lubrication around the eyes. This can lead to itchy, dry eyes that are further aggravated by rubbing and this can lead to blurred vision for some people. It's a tough one because we are more likely to suffer unwanted side effects of Levo the higher the dose, but if we aren't on enough Levo, the more likely we are to be still holding on to the symptoms of Hypothyroidism. Rock and a hard place, eh?
As a fellow sufferer of anxiety, it is not uncommon for blurred vision to accompany the onset of anxiety. Part of the fight or flight response is to send blood rushing around the body to get everything geared up to flee whatever it is we are anxious about. This includes dilation of the pupils so we can see where we are running! Anyway, this can cause blurred vision as can the hyperventilation associated with panic attacks.
Hope everything settles for you soon.
Thanks for the feedback I also get the underwater vision thing. Maybe it has to do with hyperventilating. I was thinking of alternative doses for now one day 125mcg and the other 112mcg and work my way up there but idk if that’s a good idea
Yes, that's what I'm doing at the minute, 20mcg one day and 50mcg the next. 25mcg every day was too little and 50mcg every day sent my levels really high and I ended up being in the doctors five times in a fortnight over severe heart palpitations and insomnia. They just gave me Propanolol to reduce my heart rate but like I said to them, I'd rather just get the Levo dosage right than be fobbed off with another medicine to counter the effects of the Levo I was taking.
I refused to go on 50mcg a day again after that experience, even though my levels were still low the last time I was tested, so alternating is a compromise and we'll see how that goes on my next blood test. We are the best judge of how we feel, and doctors should listen to us, despite what our blood test says. Hopefully things will get better for you too.
In my experience I never got blurred vision from throxine or anything come to that but I did experience it after taking PPIs for a few months. Are you taking anything for acid reflux? I remember being given a muscle relaxant for a colonscopy once and getting terrible blurred vision so I went back and told the nurse. The doc said it occurs in 1 in 100 people as the nerve is connected to the optic nerve or something. They stopped telling patients beforehand as apparently 98% of them complained of it. I can see out the back of my .... apparently.
Stop taking PPIs if you can, they interfere with thyroxine.
I been taking Zantac this couple of days but I taken it in the past without issues I been having stomach issues since I change my dose I’m gonna try to stop it and see if anything changes tho it’s hard cause it does help my this stomach issues I gotten lately
Hi.
I had blurred vision while under medicated. When I was trying to increase my dose my vision got blurred and even double vision occasionally. What I found that helped me was to split my Levothyroxine dose. I also had adrenal insufficiency. What I did was to take half my dose at 12.30 midday then the next half about 4.30om. This avoided anything with the circadian rhythm of your adrenals which drops for everyone at midday. I found out also that my blood pressure spiked an hour or so after taking Levothyroxine at that point. Remember that your eyes are muscles and the thyroid effects all our muscles including eyes. I was also not converting T4 to T3. Once T3 medication was added and my TSH back in range. Now down to 1 from 29
(0.35-5.50). I feel so so much better. Even my cortisol levels are now better than they’ve been in over a year and my life is back on course.
I’d try taking your Levothyroxine dose in 2 halves if you can. It may not be for you but it was a spike in blood pressure for me after my Levothyroxine dose. Have you checked your blood pressure an hour or so after taking your medication?
I keep my bp under control it’s always around 115/72 I take my full dose at 5 am. Wouldn’t splitting my dose in 2 and taking the other part later on cause more cortisol issues?
For me it didn’t cause cortisol issues splitting my dose it actually improved my cortisol and blood pressure. My blood pressure could be 120/80 but after taking a full dose it would change to 140/104. Then it would go back down again. Our bodies don’t make one days worth of T4 in one hit. It makes it as it needs it, similarly as with T3 converting.
I was on Levothyroxine for 11 years but then last year something went dreadfully wrong. My cortisol sank to 68 (155-607). Every time I took my full Levothyroxine dose I’d be in a terrible state. Collapsing, blurred vision and double vision. I realised later it was my blood pressure going high. Since my introduction of T3, as I wasn’t converting T4 to T3, I am fully recovered after a year of hell. My Dr would not take into consideration my very low T3 bloods 3.9(3.7 - 6.0). I went private as NHS would not pay. I’ve not looked back since starting T3. My cortisol has doubled and I feel great.
Someone posted an article on here a while back (don't know if I can find it). apparently both hypo and hyperthyroidism cause blepharitis (Dry eyes) and other eye problems, but for different reasons.
Together with feeling anxious it seems likely you may be slightly overmedicated. I'm sure there hasn't been time for any eye damage , but it does need to be sorted because it might eventually. See an optician as soon as you are able. I'm not sure if you need to be referred by the doctor or not, but you could ring the surgery first to check. If you don't already qualify, ask if you can get a free eye test.
I have recently developed blepharitis and it made my sight blurry too. I asked if it was anything to do with my thyroid condition but the ophthalmologist said no. She was mistaken, as I found out afterwards, but I doubt if many people know (I didn't) that hypothyroidism can cause it as well as hyper. One reason we need this forum!
I haven't read the whole thread yet so maybe someone else has already confirmed this. If you need eye drops the doctor will normally prescribe it, so ask at the opticians for proof of diagnosis.
I just realised that you have been on the Levo increase for less than 2 weeks, so the eye symptoms could go away by themselves as your body adjusts.
I really hope so idk how is possible for blood concentration to go so high in less then two weeks I was thinking of alternating old and new dose and build it up slowly
It is apparently always higher when you start an increase, that's why we need to wait 6-8 weeks before the next blood test, to give the body time to adjust. Every increase I've had has started with an improvement - usually after a week or so - then a slower decline, showing its time for another increase.
"I was thinking of alternating old and new dose and build it up slowly"
Sounds a good idea. Some people are more sensitive to Levo than others.
Give it time though, nothing happens fast with thyroid!
Independent of your levothyroxine, might you be experiencing a painless migraine which causes visual disturbances?
Idk I have never suffer from migraines
I saw a new endocrinologist on Wednesday and he switch me from Levothyroxin to the brand name synthroid which he said works better and will give me more stable levels he also order a variety of blood test for the next month. Tsh t4 f4 t3 f3 anti bodies and thyroid scan? So I switch from levo 112 mcg to sunthroid 112 mcg . My vision stoped getting blurry of all the sudden!!! Weird but I’m expiriencing like aloy of lightheadedness are there side effect to switching meds like those?
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