Levothyroxine - could this cause a chesty cough with phlegm?

I have cancer and had an operation for it where I coughed for a brief time. This cough disappeared after a very brief time. I started cancer therapy chemo and immune therapy. The immune therapy canceled out proper production from my thyroid, was put on thyroid medicine. Soon after started coughing especially at night, mucus cough. At first I said it was the immune therapy causing it. I have been off Immune therapy now several months, but still have the cough mainly at night. I tend to cough up lot of stuff till I more or less have cleaned it out but off and on still cough a bit through the night and into early morning when waking up. After reading posts here have come to realise I am not the only one. Being a cancer patient I received plenty of scans that never showed anything wrong in my chest. I just cough. Also noticed that if I bend over too long will cough up huge bunch of mucus, nasty mucus. This really has shed a lot of light. Cancer Doctor never could give me a reason for this coughing.

I have also noticed that I develop coughing with a foam-like phlegm about 20 minutes after taking 200 of my levothyroxine (Euthyrox). I initially thought it was my Glucophage diabetic medication, but I have made certain that I don’t take that until an hour or two after I take my thyroid medication. It’s definitely this medication that’s causing the effect. Occasionally, I will get a bit of shortness of breath with the coughing. My adult son says I sound like I have COPD. I am a non-smoker.

I’ve been on levothyroxine for two weeks and I developed this cough almost immediately coughing up phlegm that get worst at night. It get so bad that I can feel it rattling in my chest. I went last week and had X-rays and lab done thinking that it maybe pneumonia or my asthma but had good results. I’ve been on cough syrup for about a week now with no change. I was also on antibiotics for a week after surgery. I was diagnosed with GERD and a sliding Hiatal Hernia years ago that maybe a contributing cause. I was just curious to know if anyone else was experiencing these symptoms after taking this medication.

In July I took a cough and was choking on phlegm. Was given, steroids, antibiotics, inhalers and an x-ray ,which was clear. I then realised in December that my levothyroxine tablet was change from Accord brand to Teva
Brand which has 2 extra ingredients in it. 2 weeks after going back to Accord Brand my cough was very slight. I think I now have an allergy to levothyroxine, I have taken 75mg of it for 20+ years.
I decided to reduce it to 50mg and it has made quite a difference. My doctor is aware I have done this. I am having blood checked next week. I feel no different on lower dose.
I was on blood pressure drugs for years. Doctor stopped them 3 months ago to see if that was the problem . I have never gone back on them. Didn’t need them, which makes you question if thyroid medication is necessary. I will know next week.

Hi i have exactly the same symptoms, I am taking the same medication 75mg per day, I have been taking this medication for 3 years now but these symptoms started around 4 months ago and is getting worse!

Ask your doctor to try you on Nature-Throid instead. It is a natural desiccated thyroid hormone pill which is devoid of any fillers, making it hypoallergenic. It has worked successfully for me for hypothyroidism for years!

Yes! I am having this same issue. Coughing, lots of phlegm and breathing issues that go away when I stop the Levothyroxine! The problem is that I need to take something as I am very hypothyroid. I’m going to look into an alternative for this drug.

Yes- this happened to me. Chronic cough, fatigue, neck, ear and jaw pain, knee pain. Am stopping and switching to Armoir. I have been on two rounds of antibiotics for this “cold” and have never had this problem before. I am a healthy, active person that exercises daily, practices good sleep hygiene and nutrition

I have had the same issues. Have been on the medication for 2 - 3 months. I have been sick for 2 months. Never have I ever had a cold this long. Excess phlegm, coughing , breathing issues. Had to visit the doctor twice and all the medication I received did not take care of the issue. Of course the doctor does not think that it's the medication so I took myself off and within a few days I started feeling better. I could not take it anymore . I may be one of a few that this medicine does this to , but for me I'm done. Good luck to you

I have the very same issue. Began levothyroxine and after 2-3 weeks developed the cough. It will not for away. Especially at night. Tickle in throat, then cough up phlegm. Will continue for approximately 10-15 minutes.

Is your cough coming from your chest or your throat? I have had some awful problems with phlegm too - it's frothy and clear. I have other medical problems but over the past few months my levothyroxine has had to be reduced to check whether it is that which is causing breathlessness and bad cough. It's a dry cough and is not in chest (I have had x-rays and scans to check). I also had realy dry itchy skin on the trunk of my body. Not saying it is the levothyroxine but in my case it does seem to be the case. As the dose has been reduced the cough has become much better. There was a time when I was coughing almost 24/7.

Hello. Kaismama is correct. You are describing Pneumonia. Please see someone right away. left untreated can be very dangerous. I am not a doctor, but I have had a number of various types of pneumonias.

Thyroid medication is a hormone your body needs to function. As she said, without it you will have severe response that can be fatal. Since this has been a short time on thyroid medication, you may not have fully adapted to it. But it does not cause this type of illness. In fact it helps maintain the health of your body.

Please see a doctor right away. If you have a fever over 101 degrees Fahrenheit, you may have to seek an ER. Let us know what the doctor finds, if you get a chance. Wishing you wellness and fast recovery. Karen

Its not the med doing it. There are things that can cause sinus or lung infections that would not respond to antibiotics, because they aren't bacteria. Your dr needs to culture the mucous you're coughing up and find out what's going on. Has he done a chest x-ray? The thyroid replacement is needed. Your body needs the thyroid hormone to function.