Recently I have felt extremely itchy again. Today was especially bad. I felt this itching sensation all over my body, even on my scalp. I moisturised three times today as I thought it must be dry skin (usually I moisturise once a day) but it has been a particularly itchy and annoying sensation, it's hard to describe. I don't know whether it's ever been this bad before... my memory isn't good.
Is this a sign of being under- medicated and hypo? Or is it a Hashis flare up of some kind?
The only thing that I've changed recently is that I started taking vitamin supplements (Thorne Basic B Complex) recommended to me last week, the itching did not start with taking the supplement so I can't imagine that its related...
Does anyone else have this?
Written by
thyroidqueen12
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Thanks. Just wondering how I should then be supplementing the folate you suggested? Maybe some of the other vitamins in the complex are too much?
But again, I'm unsure this is related- wouldn't the symptoms have started with the supplement? This has only been a problem the past few days and I started the complex last week?
I've had itching and prickling sensation since last year. Sometimes high B6 levels can cause tingling and pins and needles. Try stopping your B complex and see if it clears up. I've also found oral antihistamines help.
Could be the vitamins need time to build up, if you were sensitive to a colour or filler used in the tablet I'd expect the reaction to be quicker, but not always . The immune system is funny that way. I had a severe anaphylactic reaction to a painkiller I'd taken safely for years one morning, out of the blue.
The amount of B vitamins in some these supplements can be extremely high, many times above the RDA. B vitamins are water soluble so are flushed out in your wee but high amounts can build up. If I get unexpected itching I always check if I've eaten, taken or used something new.
Good point! Sorry to hear about the anaphylactic reaction, hope everything is ok now
Nothing new that I'm aware of. SlowDragon did warn me that my pee will turn a bright yellow color- and that it did! That was the only change I noticed from taking the supplements until this itching sensation started recently. I'm going to stop taking the supplement today because the itching is just driving me nuts, let's see what happens!
Do you know how long one would have needed to take the supplement to know whether it improves thyroid symptoms? I was taking it to see if it helped with my energy, brain fog, memory loss. But unsure if the two weeks would be long enough to rule out that this wasn't the right solution...
It is possible that your body is sensitive to something in the tablet you take for thyroid hormones,
You could trial taking one antihistamine tablet to see if it helps.
I would also take one antihistamine one hour before your next dose and if your body doesn't react you would have to ask the doctor for another prescription and pharmacist to give you an alternative to the one you have at present.
Thanks for your advice. I really doubt it's from the Levothyroxine - I've been taking the same brand for several months, and the itching has only come on in the past few days... I just thought it might be symptoms flaring up
Many years ago I was taking B6 and it definitely had some odd side effects. Itching but also a sensation as if I had been sunburned. It did pass within a few days but as we put up with so many myriad symptoms I think Slowdragon advice is good. My own ethos is keep everything as simple as possible so side effects and improvements are as clear as can be; considering our complicated range of symptoms. For me this means minimum medication. At least vitamins and minerals are entirely under our own jurisdiction and it’s easier to choose how to deal with the will i?/wont I? Good Luck.
For the last few weeks I too have experienced a very itchy rash with raised bumps which then come to a head and burst , I had stared to wonder if it was my mercury pharma levo. I have been on this brand for a least 10 years, ( diagnosed over25 years ago) Have they changed it in any way ? Wondered if it was my supplements so stopped them 3 days ago , no improvements so far.
Sorry to hear that others are suffering but pleased that I am not alone. If anyone has any more ideas as to what might help would be pleased to hear .
Sorry to hear about this, hope it gets better soon! Mine isn't a rash- I can see a little bit of dry skin (but I am moisturising a lot and it doesn't seem to help the itching sensation) So I would be surprised if it as an allergic reaction as I looked it up and it says that usually results in hives or a rash. I'd be interested in hearing if stopping your supplements helps you. I think I should probably stop taking the B complex too. Good luck!!
Hi Suziemary. That's interesting. I've had an itchy rash on hands and ankles lately but you can hardly see the little pin prick bumps but they are intensely itchy. I had disyhdrotic excema some years ago and this seemed similar. It can be a reaction to products and I also take MP levo.
Hi, I would say it can take a few days for a reaction to show so it could be the new supplement, either one of the fillers or the Bs themselves. Niacin makes some people itch for example. I doubt it is a neuro reaction from B6 as it isn't a large dose and is the active form which generally is less likely to cause a reaction. It is also a bit fast for that. But it is possible that what you are sensing is feeling returning to nerve endings due to getting the folate and B12 that you need. That said, it is a very small dose of B12, and taking folate on its own (which you seem to be thinking about, to replace the Thorne, if I understand you) would/could mask signs in the blood of a B12 deficiency without correcting the neurological damage. I'd be thinking about stopping the supplement for a couple of weeks and not replacing it, seeing how the itching is (perhaps with an antihistamine if you think you need it), then looking for separate supplements so you can be more sure about what you might be reacting to (and get your B12 up for a week or two before adding the folate). I use Metabolics methylcobalamin liquid and methytetrahydrofolate liquid but I am sure others will have some suggestions. Some people do find that the methyl doesn't agree with them, so take it slowly as you start anything new. There are 4 types of B12 to go at, so one may be better for you than another. I use two different ones. But it could equally be thyroid, oestrogen, some other chemical/food/environmental, seasonal, or have you had covid or vaccine/booster either of which might have increased your sensitivity (hopefully temporarily). Best wishes
Interesting, thanks bookish ! The general consensus here seems to be that it might be from the supplements- so I'll stop taking them now and see what happens. I was testing taking them to see if it improved my remaining symptoms of tiredness, brain fog, memory loss but in the 2 weeks I've taken it so far, it hasn't done anything yet. (Not sure how long until you're supposed to feel results)
I might take another advanced medichecks thyroid panel soon to see what's going on. Do you know how long I need to wait to take this to now get accurate results on my vitamins? Maybe SlowDragon might have advice on this too?
Thanks for your advice re- supplementing. I will stop taking it and look if the itching sensation resolves itself. Then i'll take another blood test to see where my vitamin levels and thyroid is at to inform my next move. I'm also about to change Endo- so hopefully the new one I go with is more helpful than the last and can help me figure out what's going on and why I'm still not better!
Interesting about other factors, no vaccine/covid recently, no environmental changes. But maybe thyroid- that was my thought. I used to suffer from bad dry skin when I was very hypo (but because of my bad memory, I can't remember if the sensation was the same as this- as it's currently a very intense itching sensation) But this improved with taking levothyroxine. However, I've been told that I'm probably undermedicated or not converting my levo properly and been recommended to try T3 or NDT. As I said, my endo wasn't willing to help me with this- so I'm searching elsewhere now. Wish me luck! & Thanks again
Not sure I'm afraid, about how long to be off vitamins. B12 supplementation can affect results for quite a while, I thought, and folate can improve things like homocysteine which might be used as secondary tests if you have 'normal' B12 or folate but are symptomatic, so it can all make the blood picture quite confused (on things which are already hard to diagnose). My brain fog and memory improved quite a bit but I changed all sorts, including adding methyl B12 (had been on cyanocobalamin and folic acid in small amounts for years) and methylfolate made a big difference for me. But so did going gluten free and adding magnesium. Lots to think about and always something else to try. Datis Kharrazian's book 'Why do I still have thyroid symptoms?' is a good read, if you are so inclined. Best wishes!
Hi thyroid queen. I had intense itching before being diagnosed, mostly over my torso. It wasn't related to a rash or dry skin. Since starting levo I still get some itching at times but not as bad. I was slightly overmedicated last month and had had a terribly itchy scalp which has much improved since slightly lowering my dose of levo. It could be coincidental but I'm wondering if it was a reaction to a bit too much levo.
Hi Lulu2607 thanks for sharing. Interesting that this happened to you when you were overmedicated. In my case, it's more likely to be under-medicated as my results have consistently shown that I'm not converting the T4 that well... (Or so i've been advised by the lovely knowledgeable people on here!) I tried to take the supplement to rule out that my persistent symptoms were from low folate or b12. I guess i’ll have to try something else and see whether stopping supplementing will stop the sensation !!
Yes it's hard to know what's causing a reaction. I also read that Suziemary has had what she thinks is a reaction to Mercury Pharma levo, which I take too. You don't take MP levo by any chance?
OK. Could be the B vits then or some filler that's in them. I try to get my vits from food as I'm wary of supplements. I'm very sensitive to tablets of any form and seem worse since becoming hypo. Even the non drowsy antihistamines send me to sleep.
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.
An update on my husbands thyroid problem
Do doctors still think thyroid problems are mainly related to older women?
Is this thyroid related?
Are my symptoms thyroid related
Is this thyroid related?
