Levothyroxine for Hypothyroidism, After Thyroid Removal User Reviews

• RDa...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 10, 2019

"I'm so sorry to read all of the terrible experiences some people have had. I can only speak to my situation. I had my thyroid ablated about 5 years ago. It was absolutely the right & necessary thing for me. I am currently taking 88mcg Synthroid, daily. It works great for me. I'm extremely sensitive to meds, so my dr opted to start me on a low dose & check my levels every month until I got a 'normal' result. It took a few months. I now am tested every year, but also go by how I'm feeling. My dr is very understanding. FIND A GOOD DR. This med has worked great for me. I'm able to maintain a healthy weight, my hair stopped coming out, my nails are stronger, I have plenty of energy. My other lab numbers are great. I hope this helps someone."

• los...
• November 20, 2013

"My thyroid disease was caught by my determination to find the real cause of my sudden physical & mental change. Long story short, I had thyroid cancer twice (2010 & 2012). April 2013 saw a thyroidectomy, followed by radiation 3 months later. It has taken all my strength not to give up. I am finally on 175mcg & my endocrinologist is brushing off my complaints of being depressed over nothing, tired, weak, cold, forgetful, waking up with aching feet. She said 2.1 is in range & Synthroid is the solution. It isn't enough! Either it or my dose isn't agreeing with my body. I'm so tired of being tired. Some days it feels like I have cinder blocks tied to my feet."

• Bos...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 31, 2019

"Been on Tirosint for 7 years after switching from other forms of levothyroxine. Been doing great on it, with small dose changes when needed. 4 months ago, was feeling unwell, endo tested me & my TSH was highest it's been since before I started Tirosint. We increased my dose, I'm now worse with full hypo symptoms that are affecting all areas of my life & functioning (intense pain, fatigue, brain fog, menstrual issues, etc.). Just had my thyroid panel & my TSH has climbed HIGHER on a Tirosint dose increase - opposite of what should be happening. Hasn't been this high since my thyroid was removed. I contacted the Tirosint manufacturer to see if the formulation has changed - NO RESPONSE. Will contact all the necessary channels to find out what's going on. It seems obvious that it must be the meds, since my issues coincide with their packaging & capsule sizes changing. I'm livid that they haven't responded. People's lives are at stake. Those without thyroids NEED effective hormone replacement to LIVE."

• Joy...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 1, 2020

"Walmart switched me to this brand back in April. They assured me it was the exact same thing as the levothyroxine brand I was taking. I had just had labs done in March. Things were good. By early May my TSH had jumped to a 14 from a 0.40. I had fatigue to the point that I was bed-bound. Headaches, sleeplessness, rapid heart rate, sweats, memory issues. This medicine is a dangerous medication. My doctor had several other thyroid patients complain of the same medication after Walmart switched them. It is absolutely not the same as what I was taking. This medication will crash your labs and make you feel like the walking dead. It shouldn't be on the market."

• CB ...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 25, 2012

"I had my thyroid removed in 1990 and have been on Synthroid ever since. The dosage has changed over the years. Right now I'm on a dose that requires two pills each morning - the 200mcg plus the 50 mcg. I have to wonder if a lot of the symptoms many of us experience aren't due to the Synthroid, but rather the lack of a thyroid and having to get the hormone from a pill? Maybe it just doesn't ever feel quite the same no matter what brand it is. I am usually tired. I can't get enough sleep. Often am achy too. I have always been prone to anxiety and depression and have been on Effexor for years. That helps with a lot of symptoms I had (night sweats, mood issues, etc.) but still so tired."

• DCG...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 28, 2020

"I went on Tirosint when Levoxyl stopped working after they changed the formulary. It worked great until March or so of this year. Now my hair is falling out, I’ve gained 8 lbs., my temp is 96, I’m exhausted, etc. Because of the pandemic, I didn’t figure it out right away. Obviously hypothyroidism and I’m so bummed. Awaiting test results and a consult with my doctor. What did they do to Tirosint? Synthroid or Levoxyl don’t work for me. What do I do next? What a nightmare."

• hap...
• October 14, 2011

"I've had my thyroid removed 10 months ago, and I started taking the lowest dose of Levothyroxine (generic) six weeks after the surgery. I had my blood work done and dosage adjusted every six weeks until I ended up at 137 mcg daily, 5 months after the surgery. Then I switched to Synthroid brand. All this adjusting was done by an endocrinologist. I feel great, definitely much better than before the surgery when I suffered from severe hyperthyroidism. I did gain some weight right after the surgery, but once the dosage was correct, I was able to lose the pounds easily. All of my other symptoms (hair loss, abnormal sweating, fatigue) were gone once the dosage was correct. The right dosage is extremely important."

• Coo...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 28, 2019

"I had a total thyroidectomy in 2016 after being on thyroid pills for ten years for hyperthyroidism and graves. I also had huge nodules and tumors. After surgery, I started on a low dose of Levothyroxine and without even reading my blood work after surgery, my Endocrinology doctor changed my meds. I felt fine and wasn’t gaining weight. Then he kept changing it, and I started gaining. I went from 90 lbs to 155 lbs in three years and I barely even eat. My current thyroid doctor won’t do a full thyroid panel nor change my dosage and is ignoring my symptoms. I felt better at 125 mcg of Levothyroxine because I was able to lose, but he put me back on 100. I barely eat and get exercise, yet I still can’t lose and keep gaining, it’s very frustrating."

• non...
• October 11, 2013

"I have been on Synthroid for 20 years. My dosage is 100. To the person whose thyroid was removed and dosage is 250, sounds a bit high. My TSH level was also 2.54 the last time I went to the doctor, and I feel better than I have in a long time. Anytime I feel a little psycho and mean, I know my levels are off."

• Anonymous
• January 18, 2011

"I was put on Synthroid after having my thyroid removed due to cancer 6 years ago. I think I've been put on every dosage there is. I have not felt the same since. I'm always tired, I wake up wanting to rip someone's head off, armpits sweat horribly, cry over nothing, depressed, hair loss, always colder or hotter than people around me, no energy, etc. But when I talk to my doctor and explain my issues, I'm told that I'm fine. (I beg to differ, needless to say I'm going to see a new doctor next visit.) Though I'm sure Synthroid is a wonderful medication, it just doesn't seem to be working for me in my opinion... my doctor seems to think differently."

• KAa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 19, 2019

"Thyroid removed in 2014 due to cancer. Have been on every medicine out there. I was happy on Nature-Throid until a change in 2018, and it quit working. Not happy with NP or Synthroid. Just tried Tirosint 6 weeks ago. Noticed a lot of aches and pains have disappeared. Although this med is absorbed much easier for me, and I had to start skipping a day every 5th day on 125. If I didn't - I experienced pains in lower legs and other signs of overtreatment. I just got my blood work, and TSH was 1.19. So it's working very well. Could probably go on 100, but Dr. is happy with what I am doing. I had a small amount of Hashimoto in my removed thyroid. This med is stronger than levo, so be careful when switching. I was on 135 levo before the switch and started on 125 of this med, and I could tell it was still too much. I even eat breakfast with mine. It doesn't even bother it. So those with gastro issues, try eating with your dose. I'm happy and hope it stays this way for a while. I'm tired of switching meds."

• Lov...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 23, 2016

"I was on levothyroxine for a year after my cancer surgery/thyroid removal. It was the worst year of my life. I was seriously hating life because I hurt every single day. Muscle aches, swelling, every symptom you can imagine. Weight gain was the worst. I fired my endo and waited two months to see the new one. If I wasn't married, I'd propose to the man. In three weeks, my life has changed. I can go to the gym and not feel like I have been hit by a truck. No muscle aches. I have lost 9 lbs. Brain fog is lifting. I sleep better, and I don't feel like a 47-year-old stuck in a 90-year-old body. I will pay ANY amount of money, and I will NEVER go back."

• Deb...
• January 7, 2014

"I had my thyroid irradiated in 2005 due to Graves' disease caused by Hep C treatment (Ribavirin & Interferon). At first, I saw an endocrinologist that prescribed Armour Thyroid, but loss of job and insurance forced me to go to a free clinic, where I received Synthroid. The clinic doesn't seem to understand the difference between experiencing low thyroid levels from naturally occurring hypothyroidism and complete loss of thyroid. My NP says to me, incredulously, 'You take an awful lot of thyroid!', and at that time, I was only taking 75mcg a day. Finally, after three years of 75 to 100mcg, when I felt absolutely crazy (tired, confused, hair loss, cranky, paranoid, angry, enormous weight gain), she now has me on 150mcg which seems not perfect but better."

• 50y...
• March 29, 2011

"My surgeon took charge of my Synthroid medicines - big mistake - it was not until I saw an endocrinologist that I found the correct dosage and felt better. It took 18 months to find the correct dosage. I now take 0.2mg Mon-Fri and add 0.05mg on the weekends. This works for me. I had many problems before I got the right dose, and my surgeon said they were not from the Synthroid - he was wrong. I had extreme fatigue, sleeping 10 hours per night and 1 hour in the afternoons. I had trouble remembering things, as well as the inability to concentrate. I was off balance and frequently missed steps and curbs while walking. As well as often feeling like I was going to black out or faint - never did. With the correct dose everything is much better."

• Jen...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 3, 2012

"After being diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, I had radioactive iodine treatment in 2004. I was put on Synthroid because the radioactive iodine caused hypothyroidism. When this first happened, I had my levels checked every 3 months, and Synthroid levels were adjusted accordingly to fit my needs. We moved the panels to every 6 months for testing, and then yearly. At this point, we are at 150 mcg and I feel great. It has been a journey but Synthroid works better for me than the generic, which we tried for a short time. It depends on what works for you and your body. Don't be afraid to let your endocrinologist know if something isn't working for you, you know yourself best. Good luck."

• Thy...
• August 10, 2018

"It was discovered that I had a nodule/goiter on one of my thyroids, and the other wasn't functioning at all. After all the tests, I was put on Levothyroxine generic. I had all the symptoms named in all the other comments. But to come to find out, I couldn't take the generic. I was switched to Synthroid and have been on it for over 30 years. I had to get it adjusted correctly, over the years, and finally got it settled. All the symptoms gradually went away, and I have been doing great since. This one has done the job for me. The only thing I have to say is that once on this medication, the weight maintenance has been constant with good diet and exercise. I have always separated vitamins and thyroid meds, vitamins in the morning and meds at night. It has worked so far, and I'm feeling great. I will continue on this medication. To all, do not give up. There is something that will work with your body, and it will be like a miracle. This was my miracle."

• Anonymous
• March 5, 2010

"I had my thyroid removed almost a year ago, and I can agree that while I have not lost any weight using this drug, I have not gained any either. I have had horrible mood swings and lost a great deal of my hair. My doctor refuses to change the dosage because she says 'I'm within normal range' - whatever that means. I do feel like I'm experiencing memory loss or having problems concentrating."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 27, 2012

"I had half my thyroid out almost three months ago. Started taking medication about five weeks post-op. I have become depressed and stressed. Everything bothers me and I cannot let it go. I go days without sleeping and live on black coffee. I have the shakes and hate everybody and everything. I cannot rid myself of the stress. I do not know if this is the medicine but that is the only new medicine I have been taking."

• thy...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 7, 2024

"Tirosint is the lesser of all the evils for me. When my levels are good (below a 2), then I feel wonderful and am functioning well. If they dip, I feel like everything goes haywire. If I'm too suppressed, my period goes crazy. Serious anxiety in the form of obsessive worrying. If my dose is too low, my period just stops, my face puffs up. I can't sleep. Neurological issues. Acne. I do better having my levels checked every 3 months. I skip my dose on lab day and take it immediately afterwards. This has kept me pretty close to the 2 range. I'm a woman, so healthcare professionals disregard me and my symptoms, so I'm just writing this hoping it will help another woman."

• B2L...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 6, 2019

"Brand name only! Levoxyl brought me back to life after being on Synthroid for the past 6 years. I was on Levoxyl since my thyroidectomy, then was forced to switch to Synthroid when it was recalled. On Synthroid, I was barely functioning, horribly depressed, very tired, moody, painful heavy periods, horrible thoughts, migraines, and motion sickness all the time! Miserable! I finally told my Dr I want to get back on Levoxyl. Thank GOD I did, almost immediately all the bad symptoms stopped and I feel amazing! I’m back to the land of the living! If you are feeling like I did on Synthroid, do not hesitate and switch to BRAND NAME Levoxyl!"

• Kat...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 12, 2019

"I have been on Tirosint for 21 months along with a T3 only med. But for the past month, I have been exhibiting hypo symptoms when nothing else has changed. This is for the 100 mcg dosage. I called the number on the box and reported my symptoms. The woman said she has been getting other complaints recently, too. What's important to note is that in December 2018, Tirosint changed distributors. I think there is a batch consistency issue. I am sleeping 12 hours a night, having depression (nothing changed in my life), increased joint pain, and severe fatigue. The only reason I rated it an 8 is because for the first year and a half, with the old distributor, I had no issues. I REALLY don't want to change thyroid meds again. That would be devastating."

• I...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 19, 2012

"My wife has been taking this medication for about 5 years now. She has terrible paranoia, is always in a bad mood, has sleep problems, hair loss, and irritation. Her doctor tests her levels all the time and tells her she is fine. However, I do not agree! She goes out drinking when she gets upset."

• Sal...
• March 26, 2015

"In a nutshell, I had my thyroid removed ten years ago. I had a lot of horrible symptoms that I can only describe as feeling like a 100-year-old severely arthritic woman. My lab results always came out within range no matter what dosage I was on. I even called the Synthroid company to discuss the various doses and learned the only difference between the doses I was trying, besides the amount of thyroid hormone, was the food coloring. In a quick internet search, I learned my symptoms might be related to the food dyes. My endo rewrote my prescription using no-dye tablets. Within one week, I had no pain. I take two 50mcg tablets daily, and on Monday and Thursday, I add a half tablet. Life is good!"

• 24a...
• August 19, 2013

"I started Tirosint after Levoxyl was taken from the market. It is the best. I take this in combination with Liothyronine. Aside from insomnia, which I have experienced with every other medicine as well, and I've taken them all, this is the best I've felt in years."

• ric...
• August 6, 2020

"Many doctors have begun to realize that many people are allergic to the ten or more additives in Synthroid. I had papillary thyroid cancer over 30 years ago. I had surgery, and I have been sick for over 30 years. The brain fog was terrible. I have fired more than 20 doctors over this time. They always said, 'Your lab report says your levels are fine.' On my second visit to a holistic doctor, she changed me to Tirosint, which has no additives. Tirosint is relatively new and is produced in Europe. TRY TIROSINT. Please…. You will not be sorry."