Comments on: The intrusion of reality about levothyroxine and depression

By: Teresa

Teresa — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 22:02:57 +0000

I’m so glad I found this website. I have been taking levoxyl for about 2 years and have suffered from horrible mood swings and depression since. My muscles and joints ache and I can’t sleep. I have episodes of fogginess and forgetfulness. I don’t like the person I’ve become since being on the medication– I feel like I’m crazy. I’d love to know of other options. My doctor keeps treating my symptoms instead of the cause. Ugh!

From Janie: http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/options-for-thyroid-treatment

And where you can get feedback: http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/talk-to-others

By: tiffany

tiffany — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 00:17:09 +0000

I m so glad I found this site.. I am recently put on Levothyroxine for my hypothyroid issues. I am on Levo for 8 days now. Right off the bat, I get these headaches that last all day. In the beginning I didn’t think it was the Levo (I m only taking 37 mcg a day)…but now after 5 days of headaches, I think it is the med. Also, I am so moody.. I can break down and cry so easily. I even have some suicidal thoughts….Even right now, I am a mess.. I feel so depressed! I am going to call my doctor tomorrow and see what she says… but thanks to everyone who has posted for us all to share…

By: jane

jane — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 10:33:05 +0000

I take 250mg of levothyroxine a day, I’m constantly ill lately . Since Nov 2010 I who was once a really happy person have depression and panic attacks. The other day I wanted to jump out of our moving car. I’m very happily married and have a stress free life , great son , 2 little dogs and a lovely part time job in a church. I’m seeing my doctor on Tuesday and I’m going to ask for differnt medication. Hope this works as I can’t go on like this, losing my mind and feeling so week, sleepy yet can’t always sleep and have really bad tummy pains and bloating. Tingles in my lips tongue and feet , bad headaches lasting several days. Feeling sick and being sick sometimes. I’m on iron tablets too but I take them hours after the thyroxine.
How many people are suffering like this.

(From Janie: teach your doc: http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/things-we-have-learned And be firm. Do NOT give your power away in that office! If you have problems, join NTH Europe: http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/talk-to-others In NTH Europe, you can also find a link to a good UK group. Hang in there. You WILL get past this. )

By: Kayleen Peavy

Kayleen Peavy — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 04:38:26 +0000

I know this site is pretty old, however I have just started levothyroxine, I have been on it for about a week, and I feel MUCH better than I did a week ago…the only diff is that I’m having an EXTREMELY hard time sleeping and staying asleep when I DO fall asleep..waking up every hour on the hour all night long. Is everyone saying I should expect to get worse? Im hypo.

(From Janie: Old??? Not really. It’s a site which has been continually built upon since it’s creation over 5 years. i.e. it’s always updated to reflect current information. And yes, you will get worse in some areas, whether sooner or later, according to the experience of patients: http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/t4-only-meds-dont-work )

By: Connie Frank

Connie Frank — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 09:23:06 +0000

Synthroid and Levothyroxine should be taken off of the market! The FDA must begin an investigation on these drugs and include a black box warning for side effects such as severe depression, suicidal thoughts, severe fatigue. Here is my story: About 1 year ago, a Physician prescribed me Armour Thyroid. Just like this Doctor told me would happen with Armour Thyroid did happen. My headaches begin to lessen, my hair loss stopped and my body was not cold all of the time. My thyroid levels were in the normal range, but he felt that these complaints would go away and they did with Armour Thyroid. Well, another Doctor said that Armour Thyroid was a “natural” drug and switched me to Synthroid 75 mcg. After 3 months of Synthroid, I became severely depressed, severely fatigued, sleeping my life away and became nervous and anxious. I never thought that it was the Synthroid. A couple of months, I took Levothyroid because it was cheaper and felt the same way. After about 2 more months of Synthroid 75 mcg samples from the Doctor’s office, my hair started falling out. I started freaking out. I had to drag myself out of bed. I still never blamed it on the Synthroid or Levothyroxine. I thought it was my 3 herniated disc that causes me to be inoperable because my disc are so bad. I am in constant pain. I also thought it was my hormones or that it was the Vivelle Dot Estrogen patch that I am on. Then for some strange reason, I googled Synthroid and Hair loss and found out that it was a side effect of Synthroid. Then I googled Synthroid and depression and found this sight. I quit taking the Synthroid and on day 4, my depression, fatigue and hair loss magically started to disappear. I am just hoping that the hair loss is reversible. I am very angry at the side effects I experienced with both of these medications. What scares me the most is the real suicidal thoughts that I had. I even started googling things like: “if I commit suicide, will I go to Hell?”. Synthroid & Levothyroxine are very dangerous drugs. Thank God I found these helpful websites or I may not be writing these words of caution to you all. God works in mysterious ways. I feel like my life has been saved.

By: Donna Boyd

Donna Boyd — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 20:47:04 +0000

Forgot to mention, have adrenal insufficency and get treated only when I crash! No maintenace. Told Have Lupus, on Methotrexate 5 moths then told oops, guess its not that! I could go on and on. My husband and family would like to have me back. Hell, Id like to have me back, I was and the key word is was, a person I enjoyed and so did others. I dont know who I am anymore exceoppt these pitiful image of the person I used to be. Not getting any younger, dont have another fourteen years to go from doc to doc, not do I wnat to anymore. Tiered, emoptionally, psyically and mentally. If anyone can help me, Id be eternally grateful. My family would as wel! Donna

By: Donna Boyd

Donna Boyd — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 20:40:57 +0000

I have literally been thru hell. i know that 14 years ago, all of these happened to me after RAI. Docs think Im crazy! I just get so bad, i dont even want to live anymore. Cant find anyone that listens to me. No Docs around me even consider the 14 years of hell are related to levethyoxine. I have even considered going off it on my own. Is it safe> I just cant live this way anymore! Been house bound a year now. On so many different harmful meds, buecause I keep getting on e diagnosis after the other, or told Im depressed and anxious. Well, yeah, who wouldnt be forced to live this way? I lve in Lecanto Florida, and Stop the madness has no one in Florida as far as Docs go. So what to do? Thaks for listening! Donna

By: Darcy Gray

Darcy Gray — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 18:05:54 +0000

I have been on Levothyrozine for one week and on Pristiq for two weeks. I feel like I am losing my mind. I spent two hours yesterday researching suicide by over-the-counter meds. I just feel like I can’t do this anymore, can’t feel this crappy forever, but also won’t take the coward’s way out and subject my husband and kids to the horror of taking myself out. I am addicted to shopping and can’t seem to control myself. I can hardly make it to work and when there don’t get anything accomplished. I’ve missed 2.5 days in the past week. I keep thinking the Levo needs time to start working so I keep expecting to wake up and feel better, then don’t. I am miserable and irrational and just not nice to be around. My husband mentioned he hasn’t seen me smile in days. I hate to call my doctor since it has barely been a week. Still giving it time and hoping to wake up and feel normal for once.

(From Janie: http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/t4-only-meds-dont-work And here’s the good news: http://www,.stopthethyroidmadness.com/natural-thyroid-101 Join patient groups for support: http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/talk-to-others )

By: Amy

Amy — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 23:45:21 +0000

Up until about 2 weeks ago I was on Armour for almost 2 years. I felt well. Recently a fertility doctor switched me Levothyroxine because she says it is more stable and is convinced that it is easier to regulate my T3 and T4 blood. She started me on a very low dose of Levothyroxine of 50mcg. I feel like total garbage – depressed. I don’t want to get up off the couch. I’m just not myself.

By: r smith

r smith — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 18:24:35 +0000

I was misdiagnosed for thyroid problems since 1983 and just was diagnosed back last year! I know what ya’all mean about docs saying we need antidepressants and giving us wrong meds. Well, I’m on the wrong meds again! Had the rad-iodine already and then started levothyroxine. Junk. Finally put me on synthroid – it is dangerous for me. Then I try to call my doc who just happens to be closed on Friday pm. Well, I know I’m not taking any antidepressants and I’m not taking any more of this junk for the thyroid. If it means being sick without this junk, well I’m certainly just as lethally sick with it.