Hypothyroidism Support Group
Hypothyroidism is the disease state caused by insufficient production of thyrohormone by the thyroid gland. There are several distinct causes for chronic hypothyroidism, the most common being Hashimoto's thyroiditis and hypothyroidism following radioiodine therapy for hyperthyroidism. Advanced hypothyroidism may cause severe complications, the most serious one of which is...
Hi
I'm new to your board. I've been hypo for many years, dx'd in 2002. I've been having some issues lately and been having a tough time. I was on levoxyl for many years and when it was recalled I had to switch and was levothyroxine and had some problems with it staying level in my system. Back in July I was having symptoms like coldness, anxeity, muscle aches so I got my labs done and my TSH was 3.49 range of .045 - 3.50, so my doc wanted to up the dose and i asked him if we could go back to the levoxyl because it stayed level in my blood, so he said ok. Well I was on .75 for about 8 weeks and was tested and the TSH was 1.40 and he asked me how I was feeling and I said ok but having some anxiety but I thought it was from stress so we decided to leave the med alone. Well about 3 to 4 weeks go by and the anxiety and panic is getting very bad so I decided to retest labs again and this time the TSH was 4.71 so sent in the results and he upped the dose to .88 well within 2 weeks I couldn't function the anxiety was off the charts. I still thought it was me because I also had a bad vertigo attack in july that sent me over the edge. So I saw the endo and by this time my symptoms where, headaches, neck pain, dizziness, panic attacks, anxiety, muscle aches, trembling, shaking, no memory, very irritated all the time. He order a bunch of test like cortisol, cbc, and so many I can't remember, but they all came back normal and also a brain scan because of the headaches, it was clear, thankfully. But he said its possible the sencond dose I had was bad and it caused this problem or that very possible I just can't take the levoxyl anymore, so he changed my meds to unithroid and he also told me to take my xanax twice a day for a couple of weeks until the old meds get out of my system and the new one start working. My question is, can thyroid cuase anxiety like this, I mean I got to the point of constant worry, all I did was flip out and still do. Can the body reject a med taken for years?
Has anyone been thru this? HOw long does it take levoxyl to get out of the blood steam, I was only on it for 3 months ? I've been off of it for a bout a week now and taking the xanax like he said, whick i usually only take maybe 2 times a month. Now I'm worried about getting off of xanax after being on it for 10 days straight.
I also found i am vit d deficient so am taking 2000 units a day now. I also take 400mgs of magnesium a night. I'm postmenopausal 3 yrs.
If anyone has any advice, I would love to hear from you.
Thanks in advance for listening.
Patty
I'm new to your board. I've been hypo for many years, dx'd in 2002. I've been having some issues lately and been having a tough time. I was on levoxyl for many years and when it was recalled I had to switch and was levothyroxine and had some problems with it staying level in my system. Back in July I was having symptoms like coldness, anxeity, muscle aches so I got my labs done and my TSH was 3.49 range of .045 - 3.50, so my doc wanted to up the dose and i asked him if we could go back to the levoxyl because it stayed level in my blood, so he said ok. Well I was on .75 for about 8 weeks and was tested and the TSH was 1.40 and he asked me how I was feeling and I said ok but having some anxiety but I thought it was from stress so we decided to leave the med alone. Well about 3 to 4 weeks go by and the anxiety and panic is getting very bad so I decided to retest labs again and this time the TSH was 4.71 so sent in the results and he upped the dose to .88 well within 2 weeks I couldn't function the anxiety was off the charts. I still thought it was me because I also had a bad vertigo attack in july that sent me over the edge. So I saw the endo and by this time my symptoms where, headaches, neck pain, dizziness, panic attacks, anxiety, muscle aches, trembling, shaking, no memory, very irritated all the time. He order a bunch of test like cortisol, cbc, and so many I can't remember, but they all came back normal and also a brain scan because of the headaches, it was clear, thankfully. But he said its possible the sencond dose I had was bad and it caused this problem or that very possible I just can't take the levoxyl anymore, so he changed my meds to unithroid and he also told me to take my xanax twice a day for a couple of weeks until the old meds get out of my system and the new one start working. My question is, can thyroid cuase anxiety like this, I mean I got to the point of constant worry, all I did was flip out and still do. Can the body reject a med taken for years?
Has anyone been thru this? HOw long does it take levoxyl to get out of the blood steam, I was only on it for 3 months ? I've been off of it for a bout a week now and taking the xanax like he said, whick i usually only take maybe 2 times a month. Now I'm worried about getting off of xanax after being on it for 10 days straight.
I also found i am vit d deficient so am taking 2000 units a day now. I also take 400mgs of magnesium a night. I'm postmenopausal 3 yrs.
If anyone has any advice, I would love to hear from you.
Thanks in advance for listening.
Patty
More on that: (If you can't see this...just join the Thyroid Resources group, K?"
http://www.dailystrength.org/groups/thyroid-resources/discussions/messages/17785295
The other thing that strikes me about your situation is this:
" TSH was 4.71 so sent in the results and he upped the dose to .88 well within 2 weeks I couldn't function the anxiety was off the charts. "
First, you'd been on levoxyl for a long time and had no problem right? Then he switched you to synthroid/levothyroxine...then back to levoxyl and then back to levothyroxine, right?
I think you're having a bigger issue than just the levoxyl. But, to answer your question: The half-life of levoxyl is 6-7 days in "normal folk" and bit longer for hypothyroid folk. Half-life, in case you don't know, is how long it takes for HALF the med to get out of your system.
Here's an example using tylenol (muuuuch shorter half life):
http://instructor.mstc.edu/instructor/csebasti/Pharmacology/Medication%20Half%20Life.pdf
Conversely, your TSH has a half-life of an hour. ONE hour. So, that's why it's not so reliable once you've been diagnosed with hypothyroidism.
So, a couple weeks should do it for the most part to exit your system (levoxyl/levothyroxine). In the meantime, though, your TSH is going to freak out along with your Free T4 and Free T3 which are SUSPICIOUSLY NOT on your LABS. At least not the one's you listed.
In order to balance your thyroid and have "no" or "minimal" symptoms you really need to base it on Free T4 and Free T3.
Here's more on that:
http://www.dailystrength.org/groups/thyroid-resources/discussions/messages/17754063
http://www.dailystrength.org/groups/thyroid-resources/discussions/messages/19619927
I am new to this group, and new to the dx of hypothyroidism. I am trying to adjust to this diagnosis AND a new dx of fibromyalgia with chronic fatigue.
I have not developed any anxiety (yet), but have had a very close relationship with anxiety and panic attacks for many years. They have been under control for some years now, with only anxiety every once in a while, that is controlled with cognitive exercise.
I noted that you take the benzo Xanax, and has your dosage been consistent, or do you raise and lower the dosage? I ask this because Xanax has a very short half-life, blood levels drop quickly, and overall, benzos efficacy is only about 4 weeks, after that, the dosage has to be increased to get any more positive effects from the medication. Therefore, if a person been taking these more than 4 weeks at the same dosage, one would start to feel the tolerance withdrawal symptoms, rather than any helpful effect from the drug and if one raises and lowers the dosage or does not take it consistently, they would feel interdosing tolerance symptoms-- one of the biggest withdrawal symptoms is anxiety. Xanax was the benzodiazepine that started a difficult season in my life after being put on this by my physician, who did not have enough understanding of this powerful medication and how it should be used, and withdrawn from properly. I have learned so much about these drugs by reading Professor Heather Ashton's work, and with the help of my wonderful, caring and patient psychiatrist. Take a peek at the Ashton Manual which can be found online at: benzo.org.uk. It may just be that severity of your anxiety is not caused by your hypo meds, but related to the benzo, or at the least, it may be contributing.
I was on Xanax for 5 days for insomnia, and my GP C/Ted me, because he did not understand the tolerance properties and that withdrawal needs to be done in steps--yes, even for 5 days!! But, never, never, stop your benzo C/T!! Always consult your physician, and if they are not familiar with the potency, tolerance, and interdosing withdrawal symptoms of benzos, ask them to check out the Ashton Manual, or print it out and take it to your visit.
Blessings and I hope you find the balance you need soon!
Just fyi:
Did you know "dx of fibromyalgia with chronic fatigue" is often undertreated or non-treated hypothyroidism?
more on that:
http://www.prohealth.com/library/showarticle.cfm?libid=18243