Eye bag spasms / twitching

[ZackF]

I’ve started on levothyroxine and having random eye spasms at random times. Im not sure if it’s related or something else? It’s the bag under my eye that’s twitching. Anyone else had this?

[PurpleNails Administrator]

Welcome to forum

How much levo have you been started on? How long?

Do you have any results to post? Eg TSH, FT4 & FT3. Antibodies, nutrients. It’s always a very good idea to keep a copy of results to track your progress. Doctors do not always complete a full test.

In answer to your question, I have history of hyper but I previously suffered from eye twitching. Both eyes would be affected but one lower eyelid was excessive.

I started taking magnesium as I have a number of other conditions also suggesting low magnesium a common factor.

The twitching resolved, almost entirely & I really believe taking magnesium supplement resolved it.

I initially used Bisglycinate magnesium which was good but now use powdered citrate magnesium in a drink before sleep.

(Magnesium along with K2 are also important cofactors for vitamin D.)

[ZackF in reply to PurpleNails]

Thank you for your reply.

I started on 125 and dropped down to 100 as noticed I was having loose strands of hair coming out and after having a follow-up blood test. Since dropping down to 100 I haven't had a follow-up blood test again just yet.

I've also been taking Vitamin d 2000IU daily but not magnesium.

My initial blood test results were as follows:

Thyroid count:

TSH - 8.23 mU/L

Free T4 - 16.8 pmol/L

TPO - Positive (greater than 35)

Free T3 - 5.6 pmol/L

75 iu/mL

Thanks!

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Get GP to test vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin levels

Low vitamin D and low magnesium often go together

What were your Thyroid results BEFORE starting on levothyroxine

How much levothyroxine are you now taking

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 tested

Also both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once

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

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 that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

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

[ZackF in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you for your reply.

I started on 125 and dropped down to 100 as noticed I was having loose strands of hair coming out and after having a follow-up blood test. Since dropping down to 100 I haven't had a follow-up blood test again just yet.

I've also been taking Vitamin d 2000IU daily but not magnesium.

My initial blood test results were as follows:

Thyroid count:

TSH - 8.23 mU/L

Free T4 - 16.8 pmol/L

TPO - Positive (greater than 35)

Free T3 - 5.6 pmol/L

75 iu/mL

Thanks!

[waveylines]

Hello Zack. I had eye twitching as you describe. Mine was due to low B12. However Hypothyroidism is known as the master of disguise and can present with all sorts of symptoms. As Slowdragon says get the vits/, minerals tested.

[ZackF in reply to waveylines]

What other symtoms please?

[waveylines in reply to ZackF]

Look on B12d. org they have a symptom checker on there for B12 deficiency.

[butterflynett]

Yes! My eyes twitched incessantly on Levo and I had to stop taking it. I was on the lowest dosage. A pharmacist told me that it was due to the animal hormone not mixing well with my chemistry. The type of animal used to make my brand of Levo was a Pig. I never searched for a different animal's version. Instead, I became more involved with my bloodwork and discovered that I was actually mostly lacking T3 (Cytomel). So that has worked far better, although hard to get it prescribed in the states.

[ZackF]

Thank you. Do you take Magnesium too?