Dry mouth? : Hi guys, has anyone suffered with a... - Thyroid UK

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Dry mouth?

Rosie2m profile image
20 Replies

Hi guys, has anyone suffered with a very dry mouth after started their Levothyroxine? I’m into my 3rd week and after being up most of the night last night I realised that my severe dry mouth only occurs in the morning after taking my Levothyroxine. When I wake up before hand it’s not so dry then I take my tablet at 5am and go back to sleep til 7.. when I wake up then my mouth is the driest I’ve ever felt and After reading online it seems that it could of contributed to my suffering of oral thrush that I can’t seem to get rid of (a call to drs tomorrow)

What I’m wondering is if anyone else has suffered with this side effect and if so did it improve? Thanks x

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Rosie2m profile image
Rosie2m
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SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering

What brand of Levo are you taking? It could be a reaction to the excipients. You could try a different brand and see if it makes a difference.

Rosie2m profile image
Rosie2m in reply to SeasideSusie

I’m currently taking wockhart brand(I think that’s how it’s spelt) the only other brand that’s locally stocked that I know of is Teva and based on what I’ve read I’m not sure I fancy trying that 😬 xx

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply to Rosie2m

I don't blame you for not wanting to try Teva, I don't think I would want to but it does suit some people.

Not sure what pharmacies you have nearby but the following are all the same, made by Actavis, just rebranded for other pharmacies

Actavis

Almus (for Boots pharmacy)

Northstar (for Lloyds pharmacy)

ThyroidUK have a list of all brands and their ingredients here:

thyroiduk.org/tuk/treatment...

Previous post about this here: healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Rosie2m profile image
Rosie2m in reply to SeasideSusie

Fab Thankyou, I’ll look into it and see if the dr is for giving me a new prescription to try another brand x

Jeppy profile image
Jeppy in reply to SeasideSusie

...hi on back of this im having a lot of waiting getting this brand and only get 50s

...Appreciate its made in Devon as you explained but seems the fillers are from abroad??

Whatever the problem is or truth of it is, i dont know but this is the third chemist iv used with the same supply difficulty so Im pretty concerned (as the other makes didnt work for me)

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply to Jeppy

Appreciate its made in Devon as you explained but seems the fillers are from abroad??

Sorry, I have no idea where they source their fillers. Maybe a question for the manufacturer.

Whatever the problem is or truth of it is, i dont know but this is the third chemist iv used with the same supply difficulty so Im pretty concerned (as the other makes didnt work for me)

Have you contacted the manufacturer to see if there is a shortage of the 50mcg dose tablets?

As you know, Actavis, Almus and Northstar are all one and the same tablet made by the same manufacturer. Contact details:

Actavis UK Ltd, Whiddon Valley, Barnstaple, Devon EX32 8NS

Main Office: 01271 385200

Medical Info: 01271 385257

What dose of Levo do you take? It's possible to achieve any dose with any tablet (100s or 50s) by either splitting the tablet or alternating dose over a few days to achieve an average equal to what you need on a daily basis. This is perfectly fine for most people.

Jeppy profile image
Jeppy in reply to SeasideSusie

Yes thanks SS. I still split👍🏼 And iv just phoned them in Devon

Yes there is NO shortage

Officially 90k of 200 mg out there on shelf and more of the 50!!!

And their next stock is ready in Jan

She told me that i must complain to Boots and Well for fobbing me off

And if it happens again i give them their tel number or tell them to pass it to their supplier

What amazing customer service!

And on the back of this how bad is it that Boots allowed me to go away without any tablets after giving them a weeks notice with script 🙈😱

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply to Jeppy

Too many porkies being told about tablet shortages by pharmacies, this isn't the first time.

Jeppy profile image
Jeppy in reply to SeasideSusie

.....what beats me is nobody seemed to care

Jeppy profile image
Jeppy in reply to SeasideSusie

Os

That was ‘100mg ‘ not 200

fiftyone profile image
fiftyone

I recently suffered a very dry mouth and suspected oral thrush but it was nothing to do with the levo i have been taking for years, I bought at a pharmacy, a Daktari mouth gel for oral thrush which cleared it very quickly, and my doctor prescribed for a dry mouth, some tiny jellies to help saliva and, at night if I wake up with a very dry mouth, an oral spray, The problem has virtually gone now.

Rosie2m profile image
Rosie2m in reply to fiftyone

Hi fifty one, I had been using daktarin for the last 10days and whilst symptoms seemed like they were improving they then kept returning... last night I had a SEVERE allergic reaction to the daktarin gel and luckily after taking an antihistamine on a whim I managed to in effect save my own life (drs words) bizarrely after taking the antihistamines the dry throat seems to have improved alot already so it must’ve been that all along. I much rather would of done without the scare tbh but at least I now know. Best of luck on getting rid of yours the dr said it can be a troublesome condition for those of us unlucky enough to get it :( xx

Greml1n profile image
Greml1n

Hi Rosie, I had a very sore throat for about 3 weeks after starting Levothyroxine but as my body got used to it the sore throat has disappeared. Could you have more water when you take your tablet?

Rosie2m profile image
Rosie2m in reply to Greml1n

Thankyou for replying, after my awful ordeal last night(previous comment to fiftyone) I have spoken to my dr, she believes that a lot of the dry mouth was caused by my allergic reaction she has however said that part of it could be a side effect of the levo but that it should improve by itself as you have said 😊 I’m keeping my 🤞 xx

mamaenojona profile image
mamaenojona

Same happened to me, I switch NDT and I feel much energized and no more dry mouth or itchy skin

Carole87 profile image
Carole87

Hi I found your post interesting I too get a dry mouth and recurring thrush I've been using daktarin gel which works quickly but it's not long before it returns. I had this problem before I was diagnosed with underactive thyroid and have been using mint imperials on a regular basis which isn't good because of sugar content but as soon as I stop my mouth is dry as a bone I intend to speak to my doctor and hopefully give me an alternative to sweets. As for it been the levo I get different ones every other month but nothing is different. Pharmacies find it difficult to get the same brand every time it depends what is available at the time the pharmacist doesn't have much choice but they do try to keep the same brand in stock if they can. I would be interested if you get any information on this subject meanwhile I'm hoping my doctor will help me. I hope your symptoms improve.

Merry Christmas

Rosie2m profile image
Rosie2m in reply to Carole87

Hi Carole87,

I have found since I stopped using the daktarin gel and have now been given Nystatin liquid for the thrush that the dry mouth has improved a lot and so has the thrush. I have also upped the amount of water I drink when taking my levo and have found that has helped too, my mouth is definitely drier than it was previously however it has improved. When mine was severely dry I chewed on sugar free gum and found that very effective in producing saliva, I’m not sure how much healthier that is tho. I did read online that dry mouth is reported a lot from patients taking levo, however I couldn’t see that it was a common side effect on the leaflet which I find odd. I really hope you manage to get it under control as it’s really not a very nice thing to be suffering with.

Merry Christmas 🎄 xx

Carole87 profile image
Carole87

Hi Rosie thanks for your reply. I wasn't on levo when my mouth started getting dry it was a few months later I was diagnosed with underactive thyroid that's why I don't think it is a side effect of levo I do have a condition called PBC an autoimmune illness and haemochromatosis which making to much iron in my blood so it could be a symptom of any of these as well as the thyroid. I thought I had read somewhere that underactive thyroid can cause dry mouth but not sure now will be looking into all of them and hopefully I find the culprit.

MichelleHarris profile image
MichelleHarris

Also Sjorgrens auto immune causes dry mouth x

Liamking profile image
Liamking

I had a total thyroidectomy 10/23 and started 112 mcg levothyroxine. My mouth is a mess since then, dry and on the inside of my lips almost feels like it’s peeling.

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