SYNTHROID Reviews (LEVOTHYROXINE SODIUM)

Average Rating: 2.6 (900 Ratings)

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 THYROID ANTITHYROID

 Type: Rx Drug

  

SYNTHROID  (LEVOTHYROXINE SODIUM):  Levothyroxine is used to treat an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism). It replaces or provides more thyroid hormone, which is normally produced by the thyroid gland. Low thyroid hormone levels can occur naturally or when the thyroid gland is injured by radiation/medications or removed by surgery. Having enough thyroid hormone is important for maintaining normal mental and physical activity. In children, having enough thyroid hormone is important for normal mental and physical development. This medication is also used to treat other types of thyroid disorders (such as certain types of goiters, thyroid cancer). This medication should not be used to treat infertility unless it is caused by low thyroid hormone levels.   FDA Approval Date: 2002-07-24 (Sources: U.S. Centers for Medicare Services, FDA)

  

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Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.)
5=HIGH (this medicine cured me or helped me a great deal.)

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More on SYNTHROID: Reviews Summary  |  Drug Safety Information

RATING  REASONSIDE EFFECTS FOR SYNTHROIDCOMMENTSSEXAGEDURATION/
DOSAGE
DATE ADDED
 
 5  hypothyroidism None at all I feel like a new person after starting the medication. 50mg daily--dose has been increased over the years. F 29 4 years
7/16/2009
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 1  Hypothyroidism and infertility Too many to name but I will say I felt like I was dying when I was on the generic brand Levo. I gained so much weight in 4 months and felt absolutely horrible. I went to a special infertility hospital in Pittsburgh and they didn't help me at all. All they cared about was putting me on stupid Levo. I took myself off of this medicine and I felt so much better getting this poison drug out of my body after 1 day. I wasn't mean and crazy anymore as my husband said I was while taking the Levo. I have been on Armour and don't have any side affects. I am starting on Cytomel tomorrow because I am not getting pregnant yet and have been trying for 4 years. My medical dr. who is a real MD but doens't believe in drugs has just learned from a conference that women who are taking some Cytomel with Armour are getting better results and losing weight more and are getting pregnant. I am looking forward to trying this and seeing if I can get pregnant now. I have struggled with so many dr's who NEVER, NEVER TAKE THIS DRUG. YOU WILL REGRET IT!! MY MD SAID IT WILL MESS UP YOUR THYROID EVEN MORE. F 37 4 months
7/15/2009
 5  Hashimotos Emotional swings, increased libido, mostly it has helped. I have been on synthroid for 13 years. It has helped me a lot! I stops my hair loss and fatique. I do however have trouble losing weight, high cholesterol even when diet is perfect, and recently they upped my level and now I am very irritable and you will all laugh, but my sex drive is off the charts! Husband does not complain about that! I will have to report it I guess. F 43 13 years
7/13/2009
 3  total thryroidectomy in 2005 I had joint pain, muscle aches, burning sensation under skin, brain fog, tingling in hands, arms and legs, skin flushing, abdominal pain, hot flashes, back pain and no energy. I yo-yoed between 112 mcg and 125 mcgs for 4 years. I was seen by numerous MDs for Lyme Disease, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis - none of which I had. It turns out that I am sensitive to the dyes used in Synthroid. My Endo agreed to prescribe 50 mcg (dye free) tablets in such a way that gives me the appropriate dosage. My symptoms went away in less than a week! I hope this info is helpful. F 54 4 years
7/8/2009
 2  Hashimotos Extreme hair loss, fatigue, muscle aches and pains, chest discomfort,loss of libido, stiffness, weight gain F 55 3 years
6/26/2009
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 1  Hypothyroid Excessive weight gain on hips, buttocks and abdomen, swollen breasts, bloating, joint pain/swelling, acne breakouts on forehead and neck, constipation, loss of hair I was considered subclinical hypothyroid and an Endocrinologist prescribed this drug (25mcg). I have gained an excessive amount of weight on it while continuing to exercise 6 days a week and eat healthy. My stomach makes me look pregnant, it has gotten so big and bloated. I used to weigh 133 lbs and am well over 150 now. The joint pain is awful (I am barely able to make it through a workout). I used to have clear skin and now have acne breakouts and have just started to lose my hair in significant amounts. All after just six weeks on this stuff. Do your research before starting this drug. I learned I could not tolerate this stuff the hard way. I was willing to believe everything the Endocrinologist said about this medicine making me feel better. I refuse to take it any longer and am off it for good. Will try a naturopathic doctor who is willing to prescribe Armour or Nature-throid. F 40 6 weeks
6/24/2009
 5  removal of thyroid tumor NONE I have been on Synthroid now for over 30 years (since 1978) without any problems whatsoever. Just recently my doctor talked me into trying the generic version. What a mistake. After only a week on it I had horrible symptoms - mostly extreme heat at night while sleeping - sweating like you would not believe. I stopped taking the generic for about 4 days and went back on the Brand 3 days ago. All is back to normal. Those who say brand and generic are the same are all wet - They are NOT the same... M 64 30 years
6/20/2009
 5  hypothyroid - hashimotos Jittery feeling. The key to this drug is to slowly introduce it into your system. It has taken me a year to work up to 75mcg a day. I felt too jittery so started with 13.5mcg! After a month or so, worked up to 25mcg and then every other day 50mcg....By noon that feeling usually wears off but it made me short tempered. Also, this is one of those drugs where generic makes a huge difference, is not at all the same. I started with generic levothyroxine and felt as if I was in a fog most of the time. Switched to brand synthroid and that completely disappeared. This drug is absolutely necessary if your thyroid has quit functioning properly. I am no longer tired all the time, some minor hair loss stopped, skin feels better, less dry. I don't feel like I'm dragging around anymore even when I don't get enough sleep. The key is to give it time, do the dosage slowly. F 47 1 years
6/20/2009
 2  Total Thyroidectomy Massive hair loss, irregular periods, and enhanced PMS symptoms. Experienced rapid and significant hair loss since taking synthroid. Literally lost about 1/2 of my hair density in six short months and the problem continues to escalate which has been devastating to me. While I have never experienced any of these problems pre-Synthroid, doctors seem unwilling to believe it is the medication even when the package itself notes that hair loss can be a problem. Very frustrating experience. F 43 6 months
6/19/2009
 4  Thyroidectomy Overheating at night, unable to sleep, thinning of hair, irritability, fatigue, over-emotional, night terrors When my levels are accurate, Synthroid works wonders. If I miss a few doses or if my levels are off, or if I take the generic brands, the side effects kick in. F 27 13 years
6/16/2009
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 1  Hypothyroid Tired all the time, felt toxic, ruined my life, headaches all day every day, felt like a zombie. SYNTHROID IS NOT VEGETARIAN. IF YOU ARE A VEGETARIAN THINK ABOUT SWITCHING MEDICATIONS BECAUSE THE MAGNESIUM STEARATE IN SYNTHROID IS FROM A BOVINE SOURCE. THIS IS THE WORST THYROID MEDICINE YOU COULD BE ON. THE LONGER YOU ARE ON IT THE MORE IT RUINS YOU BODY. M 21 7 years
6/10/2009
 5  I was born without a thryroid gland I am overweight and have difficulty losing weight. Most of the side effects are from not taking it like I should. If I get behind on taking my pills I get severe headaches and want to sleep all of the time. I have been on synthroid since several days after I was born when they realized that I did not have a thyroid gland. I always appreciated was the taste, because it tastes like candy. I also appreciate that with my insurance it is not extremely pricey since I have been warned by several doctors that the generics can be unstable. F 27 27 years
6/2/2009
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 1  hypothyroidism disorientation, joint pain, uncontrollable and unpredictable mood swings, swelling of hands and ankles, headaches, tiredness ALL the time. Another reviewer called this a suicide drug and I agree completely. I am having terrible bouts of anger and crying for no reason and I can't seem to get it under control. It is affecting my job performance as I can't concentrate and at times I have become irate with my coworkers. There is no warning for when this is about to happen. Without this drug I am a very laid back person, on it I have become a lunatic. I seriously was afraid I was going insane until I read the side effects. I am going to demand my doctor find another solution to my thyroid problem. I can't go on like this. F 54 90 days
5/31/2009
 3  hypothyroid F 29 5 years
5/12/2009
 1  Hypothyroidism Took this for approx. 4 weeks. The first week I felt no different. By the second week I had a bit more energy. By the third week I was having WILD mood swings, crying fits, my face was breaking out more that it ever did when I was a teenager, I was hungry all the time, missed period, extreme stomach bloating, painful trapped gas. By the 4th week I was on this it was pretty clear I was either going to have to stop taking it because of the a fore mentioned side effects, or be put in the looney bin. Within three days of coming off of the meds, I didn't have anymore breakouts, I was MUCH more even tempered, no more crying fits. I still get EXTREMELY fatigued, especially in the afternoon, so I guess if my labs still aren't up to par, I'll be going back on a thyroid medication, BUT NOT THIS ONE. F 31 28 days
5/9/2009
 2  Hypothyroid Heart palpitations, feeling of someone with their hand over my throat and pushing on my chest. Brain fog and an overwhelming sense that something is wrong. Aching muscles and daily headaches and neck pain. Thinking seriously about asking my doctor to try something different but didn't gain any weight taking synthroid, actually lost a few pounds and worried about weight gain on a different mediciation. F 40 7 months
5/4/2009
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 5  hypothyroidism None Synthroid is a godsend. It cured me. It takes a few weeks to rebalance your biochemistry, so be patient. And it's very affordable. F 45 9 years
4/30/2009
 1  Hypothyroidism Shortness of breath, tired, depression, chills, crying for no reason, neck soarness, waking up during the night and can't go back to sleep, weight gain, swollen hands in the morning, throat feels like something caught in it. This is a suicide drug. Can't stand it any longer. Have on been on it for two months. I would rather die then be on this drug... F 54 2 months
4/21/2009
 2  Hypothyroidism Weight gain, hair loss, continuing fatigue, memory loss Sythroid did not provide relief of my hypothyroidism. My doctor is a well-known endocrinologist who mainly prescribes Synthroid, but he said sometimes Armour is needed for difficult cases. He reassured me that Armour is not an inferior product like many believe, it is standardised and regulated like any other prescription drug. Taking Sythroid was as effective for me as taking half an aspirin, that is, not much! I took it for a year to little effect, my TSH went down a couple of numbers but my FT3 didn't change at all. My endo said you can add some Cytomel or try Armour in that case. There are some websites that are very anti-Synthroid, but if it works for you then keep it up, but there are some of us who recover fully only with Armour (or Cytomel). F 33 365 days
4/18/2009
 5   None. Unless you consider that it took care of hair loss and gave me energy again. I finally stopped feeling fatigued when I woke up in the mornings - the very first dosage I noticed the difference. I've found that you really do need to take it on an empty stomach - it makes a difference. I almost always wake up about 75 minutes before I really want to get up, so I take it then. I recently upped my dosage from 50 mcg to 75 mcg. I had noticed that my hair was again coming out more, and I had my yearly physical and blood test. Sure enough, my TSH was over the high end of 4.5 at 4.92. They recently changed the range and now anything over 4.5 means you need more. F 48 4 years
4/17/2009

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