Levothyroxine side effects

[Mag999]

I have just started 25 mg levo trial and after 6 days feel much worse with a lot of gastrointestinal discomfort, diarrhoea, more fatigue and muscle pain on top of the original! My difficulty is I pushed a bit for this on the basis of them not finding any explanation for severe fatigue parasthaesias weakness etc, lots of which tick hypothyroid box, also my free t3 was bottom end of range. I noticed I am on Teva North Star 25mg, could that be an issue? I feel I ought to sit it out at least till blood test in 3 weeks but feels a long way off when I feel so rubbish. I should add I also have b12 deficiency and stomach issues are part of that too.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Mag999

Teva is the brand many people experience adverse effects from. Consider explaining to your GP the side effects you are experiencing and that you have contacted ThyroidUK (the NHS recommends ThyroidUK as a source of information about thyroid conditions) who have told you how common side effects are with this brand, it seems to be due to the Mannitol they use instead of lactose. Ask if you can be prescribed a different brand.

[Mag999 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you, I will contact them. Nice to have a whole organisation to back me up!

[Jazzw]

Poor you, really not having much luck are you?

It could simply be that it’s Teva. Some people really don’t get on with it. Then again, it could be the titchy dose but I see from reading earlier posts you’ve really had to fight for this, so titchy is just how it’ll have to be for now, I guess.

I also saw that you have (or have had) low B12 and low Vit D to go with it. What are folate and ferritin like?

Just thinking out loud here—given all of your levels are low, TSH is slowly rising through range but still in range (untreated)—have you ever had a coeliac test? And even if you did, have you tried going strictly gluten free?

There’s something a bit off about your ability to absorb nutrients, it seems. That could be consistent low level hypothyroidism—it certainly can do a number on your gut.

But it could also be chronic gut inflammation, perhaps from Coeliac Disease—or Helicobacter pylori?

[Mag999 in reply to Jazzw]

Hi, I thought the same but negative for coeliac and h. Pylori, but I do think I am not absorbing nutrients in my gut, I had mumps last year which can affect your pancreas apparently but I’ve had so many tests I’m a bit embarrassed to say to my gp o here’s another thing I think is wrong with me! Gluten free is my next step to try, I don’t really react to carbs but I’ve noticed more mild intolerance like nausea with dairy and fatty foods like avocados which I used to love, again maybe pancreas below par. I still need to work on my vits and mins, they are slow to come up but my ferritin and folate have improved and d is ok as long as I take it daily all the time and inject b12 regularly. Thanks for your thoughts, appreciated.