Synthroid and Anxiety: What Users Say

• Doe...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 3, 2020

For Hashimoto's disease "This stuff is just awful! I’ve had my TSH go as high as 52.0 (wasn’t aware it was that out of control) and felt better than I do now on years of treatment on brand name Synthroid! Endocrinologist just doesn’t seem to agree? And now I have a whole new set of symptoms such as itchiness all over, horrible anxiety, headaches, weight gain, the list goes on and on, and nothing new has been added to my daily routine, I know it’s this medication, I hate it. Just throwing this out there for anyone else so that you know you're not crazy! Good luck!"

• Hyp...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• November 23, 2019

For Underactive Thyroid "I am a 57-year-old woman who has hypothyroidism. I've been taking 100mcg of Synthroid for 10 years. I dread taking this pill every morning. I feel like I have an out-of-body experience, blood rushes to my brain, causing anxiety, hair loss, muscle and joint pains, itching all over, brain fog, and insomnia. For the past week, I have been cutting it in half. I will be stopping this crazy cycle. I have lost so much weight just from the anxiety and insomnia. I do not want to have to rely on a synthetic pill and Klonopin, and be told I am depressed. I feel better without it."

• Anonymous
• March 17, 2020

For Hashimoto's disease "Synthroid is terrible, it gave me an exacerbation of mental health symptoms! Nervousness, restlessness, anxiety, fatigue, constant dark thoughts, and depression. My TSH dropped from 0.50 to 0.02, and still no symptoms of hyper, just the same symptoms of hypo: weight gain, tiredness, and depression. I thought I was losing my mind! Trying to adjust my psych meds, thinking that was the issue, didn't work because it was the levo causing the problem. It's difficult to separate symptoms of mental health problems from thyroid problems because they can be similar. I got a referral from my PCP to see an endocrinologist. They switched me to Armour. Significant improvement. Levothyroxine stinks! I'd rather take no thyroid medication and suffer the consequences than take Levothyroxine."

• Anonymous
• March 17, 2020

For Hashimoto's disease "Synthroid is terrible, it gave me an exacerbation of mental health symptoms! Nervousness, restlessness, anxiety, fatigue, constant dark thoughts, and depression. My TSH dropped from 0.50 to 0.02, and still no symptoms of hyper, just the same symptoms of hypo: weight gain, tiredness, and depression. I thought I was losing my mind! Trying to adjust my psych meds, thinking that was the issue, didn't work because it was the levo causing the problem. It's difficult to separate symptoms of mental health problems from thyroid problems because they can be similar. I got a referral from my PCP to see an endocrinologist. They switched me to Armour. Significant improvement. Levothyroxine stinks! I'd rather take no thyroid medication and suffer the consequences than take Levothyroxine."

• Deb...
• January 7, 2014

For Hypothyroidism, After Thyroid Removal "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."

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

For Hypothyroidism, After Thyroid Removal "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."

• Kat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 15, 2016

For Underactive Thyroid "I was taking Levothyroxin 50mcg for the past 3 months. My initial TSH was 13 when I started Levo; within 2 months, my TSH dropped to 2.5. Although my levels were normal, I continued to have some fatigue, sleepiness upon waking, night sweats, facial flushing, anxiety, and horrible brain fog. I decided to try my sample of Synthroid 50mcg and within a week, the brain fog, night sweats, and sleepiness were gone! I wake up with the most energy I have ever had! I am still experiencing some anxiety and facial flushing which we are monitoring, but overall Synthroid is working for me! I am 32 years old and 9 months postpartum. I also take my dose at night, hours after dinner."

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

For Hypothyroidism, After Thyroid Removal "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."

• Hop...
• October 18, 2013

For Hashimoto's disease "I was on this medication for about two weeks or so, and within the first couple of days, it made me feel extremely anxious and depressed. I felt as if I was not in control of my emotions. As if this was not bad enough, I also felt an uncomfortable sensation in my neck and experienced trouble sleeping."

• Hyp...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 7, 2013

For Hashimoto's disease "6+ years on Synthroid, and this is what I have to show for it. Used to be a size 12, now a 28, no periods, pain all over, hypo symptoms still, mental and mood symptoms (anxiety, depression, mood swings). My growth hormone is only 40 and my FSH is 78. I can't have children. Finally switched to Cytomel, it broke me out and still had the same symptoms as above. My level was over 20 last they checked. Just got a prescription for Armour, hoping I finally get my life back."

• Jac...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 7, 2019

For Hypothyroidism, After Thyroid Removal "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."

• Mic...
• April 11, 2015

For Hashimoto's disease "My Hashimoto's with a benign nodule was found after losing my twins to early delivery. Endo believes this was a missed factor in my loss. My TSH was over 4. Started on levothyroxine 100 mcg was great for 2 months, but by the third month, my blood sugars dropped, heart was racing (palpitations), body itching like the burn you feel after a workout, my hair was falling out, severe anxiety, and I was losing 2 lbs every few days (that part I didn't mind). I was insistent to check my TSH and it was 0.27, adjusted down to 88 mcg with an extra half tab once a week. My TSH is now 2.2, but I feel the depression and fatigue. Adjusting back up to 100 since it's been 3 years. At least now I know what to watch for. I no longer experience PCOS or DM 2."

• Anonymous
• January 28, 2023

For Underactive Thyroid "I was on Synthroid for four weeks after I had a prothrombin time (PT) test. I didn't notice much change until week four, and I developed pretty severe heart palpitations that I'm still getting on and off. My anxiety increased, and I had brain fog, bloating, and weight gain. I have been off of it for a week, and my numbers are double what they were prior to starting it."

• up-...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 6, 2021

For Hashimoto's disease "Have been taking this in the morning for years, recently, I started taking it several hours before I fully wake up-I don't have the time every morning to take it and wait to eat or drink. Prior to this, I would have enlarged thyroid, extreme fatigue, overt emotional distress, and body aches and pains. Current TSH is 1.3, at diagnosis, it was 70.5. I do have celiac disease as well. I have noticed a remarkable difference in my mornings since changing the time I take my Synthroid. I wake up with a clear mind, I feel like I actually slept, and my body doesn't hurt just from existing. Neck feels normal throughout the day instead of fluctuating throughout various stages of inflammation, and temperature intolerance is not that bad. Without this, I would be back to barely functioning, and my body would be at full gear developing more unsavory and life-damaging diseases. First and foremost, my goal is to halt the progression of this disease."

• Anonymous
• November 12, 2009

For Hypothyroidism, After Thyroid Removal "I had my thyroid removed six weeks ago. I have been taking this medication, and have experienced weight gain, depression, and anxiety. I have not felt like myself at all."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 26, 2022

For Underactive Thyroid "I have been on 25 mg, and I started out feeling better, more like myself. However, I have had some fog, anxiety, and depression lately. Also, I have had fever and fatigue. I need to switch medicines."