Stomach Cramps - Levothyroxine

[scuba2dan]

When I first started taking Levothyroxine 25mcg I got the worst stomach cramps I had ever experienced.

This passed after a few weeks and did not come back when my dose increase to, 50, 75 and then 100mcg.

Anyone experienced anything similar at all?

or could it just be another factor like stress?

[Jackie]

Hi It is possible but if your Hypo is autoimmune it is quite likely to have other auto immune diseases such as Gastro problems and especially gall bladder so, see how you go.Thyroxine effects the bowel so that is the most likely explanation.

Jackie

[Jonesey]

Hi i didn't suffer anything immediately but did about a year later. My diet had been changed drastically no gluten, dairy etc all ok now. Do a search on here for stomach cramps to see other previous posts.

Glad you're doing well - I was undiagnosed for over twenty years and had all your symptoms and some

Good luck and stay with this organisation as you'll learn heaps and receive much support.

[carorueil]

Just a wild guess but did the version you had contain any lactose? Just an idea. I had IBS before being treated with levothryox and when I was overmedicated the IBS symptoms worsened...... Glad to hear that at least the symptoms calmed down....another reason to start off on a low dose!

[Heloise]

Hi scuba, as I wrote in another post that I had severe muscle issues when I became hypothyroid. I read that smooth muscle is really effected when thyroid is deficient and most internal organs are covered in smooth muscle. I had quite a reaction with muscle spasms while recovering with T4, but now I take Armour. It may just be a healing reaction.

[KatzeB]

My GP just started me on Levothyroxine sodium 25mcg. This is my 6th day on it and I've been having lower abdominal which feels like menstrual cramps. It's worse when I walk. Is it normal? I'm also diagnosed with Hashimos thyroditis and my GP said mine is a subclinical hypothyroidism case.. any idea anyone?

[Hidden in reply to KatzeB]

Hi there, I know you posted this a while ago but I was wondering whether you worked out the cause of your pains. I'm in the exact same position as you now (albeit I was started on 50mcg) but I am freshly diagnosed Hashimoto's also.

Thank you!!!!

[KatzeB in reply to Hidden]

hiya... after a while my body adjusted to it and the cramps have gone... it takes time to get to the right dosage but most importantly is to convey how you feel exactly to ur GP so tht she/he can make right adjustment to it. i did call my GP when i felt sick. she advised me to go back to her if i continued feeling unwell after another week. by then I felt better so i went back to her only after i did the 5th week blood test.

Due to my hashimoto's, my TSH and T4 went up and down, so GP adjusted to 50 mcg after 6 weeks on 25 mcg. 8 weeks on 50 mcg, i seemed well and blood test came back normal, but another 8 weeks later on 50 mcg, my blood test showed i was hyper so GP adjusted to an alternate 25 mcg/50mcg uptake. now after 4 weeks, i've gone back for blood test. going to see my GP again next week and see if my TSH and T4 have improved. got her to include my anti-TPO level too so we'll see how is my hashi doing.

[LorinK in reply to KatzeB]

And here I am, 6 years later and in the US with the same scenario! Glad to see your response below. My gut says that’s what’s going on. I guess there are a lot of hormones and systems that need to readjust with the meds.

[morcan54]

hi i am having bad stomach isues right now recently i started lt4 leno and when i raised from 50mg to 75mg i have bad pains in stomach and intestines hope it setles down soon as i am dizzy and feel bad also other symptoms like night cough breathless and feeling hungry all the time