Synthroid for Hypothyroidism, After Thyroid Removal User Reviews

• RDano
• 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."

• lost
• 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."

• CB in...
• 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."

• happyJ
• 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."

• Cookie
• 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."

• DeboraL
• 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."

• noname
• 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."

• Jenni...
• 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."

• 50yrO...
• 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."

• Thyroid...
• 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."

• 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."

• rick
• 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 in produced in Europe. TRY TIROSINT. Please….You will not be sorry."

• SaltW...
• 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!"

• mizzg...
• December 30, 2016

"I ended up with an emergency complete thyroidectomy after an ultrasound revealed the tumors ((2 in each lobe of my thyroid) had grown and were the culprit to me having to turn my head to the left to swallow food or to even drink liquid. After years of taking levithyroxine I was put onto the brand name Synthroid. At worst, my levels were 86.4. Yes, you read that correctly. My my hair falls out in clumps, tired, exhausted, body aches and joint pain, chronic fatigue, etc. now my routine is to take my synthroid at bedtime with vitamin c. I wake up fine, I'm down from 325 to 181 and I feel great! Please remember your thyroid takes weeks/months to change, you won't notice anything three days to a month into taking this"

• l2b
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 28, 2015

"Due to thyroidectomy, I am hypothyroid. While on Synthroid, I felt awful. High anxiety, quick to anger. Definitely did not like this drug. I like Levoxyl and Nature-Throid. Doing better. Keep trying other meds if you feel awful."

• Anonymous
• December 22, 2011

"I do not feel too much of a difference from before I had my thyroid removed. I do understand how so many people have such a wide variety of symptoms. I can say though that my weight is lower than ever, even my teenage years. My hair does seem to be thinner and cannot tolerate cold very much but that is pretty much it."

• Alex
• June 14, 2019

"I have been on a roller coaster ride for the last 3 to 4 years. Every time my levels are checked then come back off. I had been on levoxyl 100 for years and don’t recall having any issues. Due to health insurance change I was switched to levothyroxine 100 and problems started happening. On levothyroxine 100 my levels would be out of whack and the doctors switched the dosage to 112 and I thought I was dying. Within a couple of days my joints, back, neck and feet would ache. Started getting palpitations felt like I was having a heart attack. Ended up in ER because of fast heart rate and heaviness and numbness of the left side of my body. Doctors thought I was having a stroke. I was switched to Syntheroid 100. 6 days on it. I have such bad pain through out my body and joints. My legs feel as if they are swelling. I have tried armour and immediately developed double violin and dizziness. I have stomach issues and gluten sensitivity."

• JaclynB
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 7, 2019

"Lately I have been experiencing flu like body pains. Feeling achy weak legs and arms. This medicine is ruining my life. Every time I increase the dosage even by small amounts I feel so nervous and withdrawn."

• Anonymous
• April 12, 2016

"I had my thyroid removed about 2 years ago. I weighed about 190. I was put on 125 mcg Synthroid right after the surgery. I lost about 20 pounds without trying at all. My dosage was increased to 175 mcg. I then started gaining weight. My endocrinologist increased my dosage to 200 mcg. My weight went up to 224 lbs. Never weighed so much before. I've been told by a couple of other doctors that the higher doses of Synthroid should cause weight loss, not gain. I am 72 years old. In general, I have aches and pains, something wrong every day. Don't know if that's Synthroid related or not. But I am very uncomfortable with all this weight, just doing everyday things."

• Lbjaz
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 13, 2018

"I'm taking Synthroid - its a horrible drug. I'm losing all my hair, headaches, insomnia, depression, fatigue, brain fog, etc.. This drug sucks I have no idea why doctors keep pushing this drug. I have a new insurance and Doctor hopefully I can start taking Armour If not I have no idea what's to come."

• Twisted...
• May 29, 2011

"I am a 38 year old female. I had my thyroid removed about 7 months ago because I had thyroid cancer. I have been on Synthroid for about five months. My endocrinologist has a great deal of experience, so we found my correct dose after only two tries. Once I was at my correct replacement dose, I felt great. I feel just well, if not better, than I did before I was diagnosed. I am counting off a point only because Synthroid (though this is the case with all brands of levothyroxine) is a nuisance to take everyday, and it requires some planning if one must (as I do) take calcium and iron supplements every day as well."

• Gizelle
• March 24, 2016

"I have been on Synthroid 15 years now, two years ago my insurance company would not cover Synthroid any more so they sent me the generic. I broke out in a rash and felt awful. My Dr wrote for synthroid only. I am paying 288.00 a year now out of pocket instead of 16.00. I am not sure what happen but my belly has been bloated every since and I have gained 40 pounds! My new Dr of Internal Medicine does not seem to care and says it's my age bla bla bla. I told her I wanted to be tested for hashimoto and she said there was no doubt in her mind that I have it. My thyroid is totally not working and i am taking 125 Mcg a day. I am not sure what else I can do as she does not seem to want to help. Me gaining 40 pounds is not acceptable."