Side effects

[Heaven20]

Hi I'm new to this medication (levothyroxine 25mcgs)i I know it is a very small dose but since taking I've been getting lower abdominal pain, stopped taking and felt better within days. THS was 5. 5. That's the only result I have. I ma 63 and I'd sooner not take this medication. Has anyone else had this side effect?

[Angel_of_the_North]

You might be sensitive to the fillers in the tablet. Many people get stomach pains from mannitol, which is in the Teva brand.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Heaven20

So few brands make 25mcg dose tablets that I expect your tablets are either Teva, Northstar or Wockhardt.

If Teva or Northstar (Teva also make 25mcg for Northstar and they are just reboxed) then they will contain mannitol instead of lactose and many members who take this brand have reported adverse effects.

If your tablets are Teva or Northstar then I would report back to your GP that you have had a bad reaction to them and could you try a different brand, you will need a new prescription so when you pick your tablets up check them before you leave the pharmacy and make sure you don't accept Northstar 25mcg or Teva brand (any dose size).

[Heaven20 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you for your reply,I have just checked and they are Wockhardt so from what you and previous reply have said these should be ok.I will discuss with my gp at next appt. Thank you

[SlowDragon Administrator]

bronchiectasis can be caused by hypothyroidism

thorax.bmj.com/content/58/6...

Do you have any other test results?

You are legally entitled to printed copies of your blood test results and ranges.

The best way to get access to current and historic blood test results is to register for online access to your medical record and blood test results

UK GP practices are supposed to offer everyone online access for blood test results. Ring and ask if this is available and apply to do so if possible, if it is you may need "enhanced access" to see blood results.

Link re access

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

In reality many GP surgeries do not have blood test results online yet

Alternatively ring receptionist and request printed copies of results. Allow couple of days and then go and pick up.

Important to see exactly what has been tested and equally important what hasn’t been tested yet

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose change or brand change in levothyroxine

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested.

Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum

About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease, usually diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies

Autoimmune thyroid disease with goitre is Hashimoto’s

Autoimmune thyroid disease without goitre is Ord’s thyroiditis.

Both are autoimmune and generally called Hashimoto’s.

Low vitamin levels are extremely common when hypothyroid, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s or Ord’s thyroiditis)

20% of autoimmune thyroid patients never have high thyroid antibodies and ultrasound scan of thyroid can get diagnosis

In U.K. medics hardly ever refer to autoimmune thyroid disease as Hashimoto’s (or Ord’s thyroiditis)

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally before 9am

Was result where TSH was 5.5 test done early morning

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options and money off codes

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3

£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off down to £26.10 if go on thyroid uk for code

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

monitormyhealth.org.uk/

NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £29 via

vitamindtest.org.uk

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Link about Hashimoto’s

thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...

Symptoms of hypothyroidism

thyroiduk.org/wp-content/up...

Because of your age, starting on 25mcg …..but blood should be retested 6-8 weeks after each increase in dose ……so increasing dose to 50mcg after next test ….retest 6-8 weeks later etc

And likely at least 2 further increases in levothyroxine over coming months….possibly more

Unless extremely petite likely to be on at least 100mcg levothyroxine per day

Being on too low a dose causes gut symptoms….IBS, bloating, wind, acid reflux, constipation etc

Levothyroxine doesn’t top up failing thyroid, it replaces it

Being hypothyroid frequently causes low stomach acid and leads to poor nutrient absorption and low vitamin levels regardless of how good your diet is

very common to develop Gluten and/or dairy intolerance too

[Heaven20 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi, yes I have an appt with my bronchiectasis consult in a few weeks and will discuss with him, I will have to have repeat thyroid and esr blood tests in September then revaluate the situation I'm guessing. In the meantime Im not taking the medication until proper diagnosis.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Heaven20]

Which brand of levothyroxine were you taking

Many many people find different brands are not interchangeable

Teva brand upsets many people.

Wockhardt often most easily tolerated

Mercury Pharma make 25mcg tablets too

Have you had cholesterol levels tested

High cholesterol strongly linked to being hypothyroid

If GP hasn’t tested thyroid antibodies or vitamins get them to test ….or test yourself privately

Improving low vitamin levels helps tolerate levothyroxine dose better and get dose increase sooner

Forget to say

Once you are back on levothyroxine, possibly different brand ….always test early morning, ideally before 9am and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

Starting on such low dose often causes more symptoms….it’s not until get up to 75mcg or 100mcg that it really starts to improve …..but any dose takes several weeks to get use to. It’s not like taking an Aspirin

As dose is increased the rest of your endocrine system has to catch up, not uncommon to feel worse, before feeling better

Approx how much do you weigh in kilo?

[Heaven20 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you for the links... Interesting

[DippyDame]

How long have you been taking levo?It's possibly just the body's initial reaction as it adapts to the replacement hormone.

Or, an indication that you need an increase

It's not uncommon when starting/ raising the dose to feel worse before noticing improvement.

With a TSH of 5.5 you really need to be medicated so that you avoid future problems.

Hypothyroidism can weaken the respiratory muscles and decrease lung function. Symptoms can include fatigue, shortness of breath with exercise, and decreased ability to exercise

Do you know if you have Hashimoto’s thyroiditis?

This autoimmune disease this can be a risk factor in developing bronchiectasis

healthline.com/health/bronc...

Testing antibodies TPO and TG will confirm....or not.

thyroiduk.org/if-you-are-hy...

Just adding another possibility....

Good luck!

[Heaven20 in reply to DippyDame]

Only taking for about 3 weeks, but I also felt uncomfortable (burning) when going to bathroom, and this also stopped when I stopped taking the tablets.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Heaven20]

UTI more common when hypothyroid and decreased kidney function

Burning sensation when peeing, suggests you might need testing for UTI

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi...

Ask GP for kidney function test too

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

The GFR is reversibly reduced (by about 40%) in more than 55% of adults with hypothyroidism[40] due to several reasons.