Generic Name: Synthroid for Underactive Thyroid (levothyroxine)
Synthroid for Underactive Thyroid Reviews
"I was on Synthroid for 10 years. I was in so much pain in my joints, I couldn't function. This is a known side effect of this medicine. My numbers were where they were supposed to be per the doctors, but I still felt tired and my hair was still falling out. After my husband and I did research, we worked with my doctor and switched to Armour Thyroid. Within 6 weeks my pain was gone, I felt better. I wasn't tired and my hair was falling out. No matter what medicine you use - you know how you should feel. Do the research and work with your doctor. Only you know how you should feel. Don't depend on the doctor to tell you."
"Synthroid saved my life... been taking it for almost four years now. I had all of the worst symptoms in the worst way of a basically dead thyroid. I was feeling better within a week of taking it and continued to feel better and better every day for about the next six months. That's when it leveled off and I've been happy (and grateful) ever since. It took about a year or so to lose all of the weight I gained as a result of crummy thyroid. The weight just came right off after taking Synthroid. I'm on 225mcg per day with very minimal side effects... so minimal that I can't recall what they are at the moment."
"Reading all the posts/comments on here - PEOPLE - if you are still feeling bad and not noticing relief from symptoms of an underactive thyroid, PLEASE TELL YOUR doctor. If your doctor disagrees with you, then find an ENDOCRINOLOGIST to get a second opinion. They specialize in endocrine issues, which the thyroid falls under. You know your own body better than your doctor - research the symptoms of an underactive thyroid and if you are still feeling them, then get a second opinion. Never stop taking this medication on your own, it takes 4 to 6 weeks to notice a difference in your body. Also, ask your doctor to write DISPENSE AS WRITTEN on your prescription to avoid the pharmacy giving generic."
"Only been on this medicine for 4 days and it has already made a huge difference in how I feel. The depression was awful and the intolerance to the cold was bone chilling. I hope things continue to look up. So far so good!"
"I was falling asleep every time I sat down - even at the computer, rocking a baby, in a car ride. I was trying to lose weight, but gaining instead. Someone would touch me and I would start sweating. I am 58. I have been on Synthroid (not generic) for 6 days now. I too am feeling a whole lot better. I was at 202 lbs 10 days ago. Today I am at 187.6 lbs. I did fall asleep at the computer again last night, but my energy level is coming back."
"I have been on Synthroid for approximately 10 years. Here are several points that I have learned: 1. You may initially start feeling better in a couple of weeks, but it takes months to see the full effects. 2. Depending on your TSH levels, your doctor should start you at a low dosage and gradually increase as needed. Starting with too high of a dosage is a shock to your body and will even make you feel more tired as your body is working overtime. 3. See a physician who is very familiar with thyroid issues. If you are not seeing positive results with your family doctor, see an endocrinologist! Many of the negative comments I have read may be a result of your doctor not understanding this disorder. 4. There are alternatives if this medicine is not working."
"To be honest, I'm not a person who has ever taken medications. So when my physician told me I had an underactive thyroid, I didn't really know what to think because I didn't feel as though I had any of the common symptoms. I just thought the symptoms the doctor mentioned were just normal aging since I am 55 years old. I have been taking this medication now for a little over 4 months and have started to see some noticeable changes. 1) My hair stopped falling out. 2) Nails started growing faster and stronger. 3) All around much more energy. 4) Able to focus better. So far, I have been very happy with the results. I cannot give this a total 10 because everything has room for improvement."
"I can almost guarantee that most of these negative reviews are due to either 1. Taking the medication incorrectly (generic works for some not all), too close to food or iron, calcium, some antidepressants interfere. 2. Taking the incorrect dose. 3. Not being consistent (must be close to the same time daily). I had gone through many changes before finally getting it right. Seems to be working well after getting on brand name and taking it seriously."
"I just started this medicine about a month ago. It is making such a big difference in my appetite and my energy. I am a fairly young man at 23 years old. I knew something wasn't right with my body over the last few years, as I had gained about 30 pounds over the course of just a few months and felt so sluggish. It turns out, like many of you reading this, I have an underactive thyroid. I have heard that three drugs help with the thyroid hormones. Synthroid (T4 hormone), Cytomel (T3 hormone), and Armour Thyroid (T4 & T3 Hormones). Synthroid has gotten a bad rap because it's synthetic and it only covers the T4. Well, the T4 is most likely all you need because a T3 deficiency is rare. Synthroid is great. Stomach upset went away in 1-2 weeks."
"I started taking Synthroid about 6 months ago, and I feel really good. I went from feeling like a zombie to feeling like my normal self again. Before starting on Synthroid, I had most of the typical hypothyroid symptoms: tiredness, dry skin, cold intolerance, puffy face, etc. Now the only symptom that still bothers me is water retention. My doctor just increased my dose, so hopefully, that goes away soon."
"Amazing!! I started on 25 mcg of brand Synthroid, then 50 mcg, and now I'm on 75 mcg. I almost feel like the old me. My TSH went from 11 to 1.7. I wake up at 4 am, take my medicine, and go back to sleep till my 6 am alarm. I have a cup of coffee when I get up to start my day."
"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."
"I have been on Synthroid for about 7 years. I am 43 now, but I still feel very tired and have no energy or motivation. My bones feel weak. I have been telling my doctor that maybe I need a higher dosage, but he said no. I suggested changing the medication, but he insisted I am fine. But I know my body. My hair is falling out, it's thin. Maybe a new doctor can help me."
"I was taking Synthroid for three years. I was extremely ill during that time and it worsened. I could not eat, walk without falling, gained 30 pounds, and my numbers did not go down. Finally, my endocrinologist agreed to put me on Armour Thyroid medication. I lost all the weight I had gained in two weeks, could eat, and walk. My whole life changed dramatically. Doctors are giving Armour a bad name, but I can tell you from my experience, it changed my life."
"Although Synthroid keeps my test results 'normal,' I still have all of the hypothyroid symptoms. Severe exhaustion, sensitivity to cold, trouble concentrating, etc... like I haven't experienced since before I found out I had hypothyroidism. I was only put on Synthroid since the medication I am normally prescribed is no longer available."
"Been on this medicine for about 9 months after discovering my thyroid was starting to malfunction. I have had no weight gain or mood changes, and not a problem to speak of. My hair stopped falling out so much, it started growing like crazy along with my nails. I know I metabolize food more quickly, I will spare you the details. My skin isn't as dry, and I have been having an easier time with my mood in combination with other medications."
"I have been taking this medication for almost 22 years. My thyroid is dead, the doctor said due to childbirth. I started out on the lowest dosage. The doctor didn't want to shock my body, so I had to cut them in half for 2 weeks and then slowly go up from there. I am now taking 200 mg, and have been for several years now. The medication works well for me. If I miss a day, I can tell, and I feel really tired."
"I was just diagnosed with hypothyroidism in the last days of October of this year. My doctor prescribed me 50mcg levothyroxine distributed by Mylan. I was only on the medication for 3 days! The medicine made me so fatigued and tired, I could hardly go through my day without wanting to pass out and go to sleep. And not only that, but my chest was feeling really uncomfortable. It felt like someone had put 20 pounds on my chest and overall having difficulty taking a deep breath. My doctor then prescribed me the brand name Synthroid with only 25mcg. I had energy like I haven't had in a year, but on the third day, I was having shortness of breath, my heart was beating so hard and fast, and I felt so lightheaded. Seriously, scariest experience I have had."
"Mine is a long story. I began taking Synthroid in 1993 after a required doctor visit. All I can say is WOW! It was not a sudden boost, but a lifetime of feeling listless and tired was gone. I have been on the medication now for about 22 years. If I miss a dose, generally doesn't feel bad. Miss it for several days and I start getting tired, etc. Can't imagine being without it. Certainly changed my life. Didn't do it overnight but it sure did take away that sleepy feeling. In 1997, the doctor told me it was known to be uncommon for men to have thyroid issues. Well, I think that's because men aren't tested as much. Now in 2019, I believe the treatment rate for men is probably just below that for women. Good deal. Never had a real bad experience. Not sure though where the meds come from and the whole concept of changing brands. I'm sloppy in taking it as I do it in the morning then drink coffee and often can eat breakfast right away as well. Good luck to all."
"I began taking my Synthroid three weeks ago, and I feel great. First, I began breaking my 25 mcg pills into quarters and started out taking only a 1/4 pill. I do this in the morning with a glass of water. I am now taking one 25 mcg pill. My sleeping has improved, I have more energy, my skin looks better, and my face does not look tired. I refused to take this drug initially when I was first diagnosed in 2011 because of a bad scare taking the generic brand, so I let my new meds sit for six months before trying this brand. It works wonders for me, and being a life-long gym and karate guy, I have more energy to do laps in the pool and do weights too. I have taken iodine, and it works okay, but nothing like my Synthroid. Time will tell."
"If you boil up balsom tea every day for one month you will cut your colestral and your thyroid down to where you dont have to take drugs. Its no quick fix but its a lot better than taking drugs. My wife is going off a lot of drugs and feels a lot better."
"I do not notice any difference with the medicine. I’m still suffering from depression, and I have extreme hair loss and weight gain even if I don’t eat more than 1500 calories a day: high protein, low carbs."
"I took Synthroid for 10 years. I had severe insomnia, so I also took sleeping pills every day. I was depressed, so I took antidepressants every day. I had high blood pressure, so I took drugs for that. I couldn't focus at work, and just getting up in the morning felt like a chore. In 2013, I switched to natural desiccated thyroid drugs (NDT). It felt like waking up from a bad dream. I'm no longer depressed, my sleep hasn't been this good in my entire adult life. It's like night and day. I wish more doctors gave their patients the opportunity to try solutions other than Synthroid, because clearly, it doesn't work for everyone."
"For the first few years, I had my OB/GYN monitoring my thyroid and adjusting my Levothyroxine… What a mistake! I never felt good, and come to find out, he was doing it wrong. Not doing the right test to monitor my levels and decreasing my dose when he should've been increasing. I started to see an endocrinologist, and WOW! What a difference. He switched me to name-brand Synthroid only (which made a difference) and checks my levels twice a year to make sure I'm on the correct dose. I feel amazing for the first time in years!"
"I've been taking Synthroid since October 2010 for my underactive thyroid and am also a type 2 diabetic. It is now February 2011 and things are wonderful. After about two weeks, my mood improved. After 6 weeks, I was able to get a haircut (prior to this my hair kept breaking off at the ends) and my hair shines again. I've also lost a total of 15.5 pounds and counting. My doctor says it's because the Synthroid has corrected my metabolism. No bad side effects to date (fingers crossed for the future too). I am on a low dose...25mg. Monday through to Friday only...Weekends off."
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