Can you become depressed tired agitated just plain out not feeling good
Levothyroxine - What are the effects if you stop taking your thyroid medicine for 2-3 weeks?
Question posted by Bluerosemoon on 3 Nov 2014
Last updated on 10 April 2022
The information on this page reflects personal experiences shared by our community members. It is not reviewed for medical accuracy and should not replace professional medical advice.
35 Answers Page 3
LBengough
19 Aug 2016
I have to be off this medicine for one month in order to have one month in order to have
tests for an ultrasound with dye.I have a mass in left side of thyroid.
Brujame
5 Nov 2016
I didn't go off mine when they found a mass on left side of thyroid. They did an ultrasound, then a biopsy. It ended up being Non Hodgkin's no Lymphoma, the very aggressive type. Make sure you keep close eye on it, and don't drag your feet. I didn't take it as seriously as I should have, it spread to my face, neck, and head. Pray that you will get this taken care of.
SmoreMaker
7 Nov 2014
Several years ago my internist stopped my thyroid medicine completely for 6 weeks due to his concern for my heart palpitations and what he thought were unstable ups and downs in my tests. I felt I shouldn't completely stop based on symptoms that led me to being on the meds in the first place. However, I stopped per his request. I grew a benign tumor on my thyroid (which they felt would grow) that had to be removed surgically. I'm back on a lower dose.
Inactive
12 April 2017
So not taking the med will cause cancer to show up or grow a tumor?
joaniehs
29 April 2017
he had medicine for about 1 year. He thought he was totoally cured that's why he stopped taking medication. In addition, the entitlement is real here in SF. In LA, you just keep hustling till you fin d a way to survive. Hope I answered your questons. Thanks.
Cynsmi09
28 Aug 2017
I've been taking levothyroxine for 10 years now and now I'm starting to experience knee pain and cramps in my legs but I noticed every time I stop taking them the pain subsides and then after that I feel anxiety and depressed
kaismama
3 Nov 2014
If you are hypothyroid you cannot stop taking your medication. Our bodies need to have it just like a diabetic needs insulin.
Kshee75
29 April 2017
How dangerous can it become though ? I'm 15 and due to loss of insurance and money had to stop taking my medication, I've been off of it for about a year now .. nothing necessarily feels different .. I started the medication when I was 11-12 I believe
abzolut
2 May 2017
Honey, I don't know where you are or what you were taking, but Walmart has Levothyroxine in almost every dosage for $4/mo or $10/90 day supply.
Sworn
4 May 2017
Where do you get it at Walmart? I've recently moved and have none of Levo and my body is torturing me, it's bad.
abzolut
4 May 2017
At the pharmacy. It's still a prescription medication.
nicolegotsch
25 July 2017
When I fill my script for 137.5 synthroid with my insurance I pay $40 at Walmart for only 30 pills... when I go through express scripts like my insurance basically forces me to do I pay $10 for 90 pills. The problem with them is they're incompetent. I've waited 8 days for my refill. I call last Monday to request it. They notified my doc to get authorization. Friday I still hadn't had my meds. I called, they said he approved one 90 day refill and they'd overnight them. I did not receive Saturday Sunday nor Monday. I called yesterday only to be told on Tuesday of last week the day AFTER I requested the refill my doc denied it due to a duplicate request but this was never told to me until yesterday a full week after calling them AND I had to force the reason for denial out of them! I have had a migraine 4 days last week an another today. I'm considering using Sams or Costco from now on... these other companies are ridiculous with price or don't know what they're doing!
Zamekabynum
28 July 2017
I have no thyroid & i am taking levelthyroxine but im gaining too much weight & i want to stop taking the meds. What will happen if i do? Has anyone tried this?
Suzeq27
26 Aug 2017
Hmm, I too feel better without the meds and I can afford the drug but a doctor has to keep signing a RX and I cannot afford the doctor.
RenaJean1003
21 Sep 2017
walmart has Levothyroxine for 4 dollars ? I need to transfer my perscription .
stevenaus
2 Dec 2017
Yes you can. Why would any sane person continue taking a drug that is hurting them? I had a severe rash. I mean severe chest, abdomen, and groin. Took myself off and rash is now gone. I am not an idiot.
56 Tweed
20 April 2018
I already have a prescription for levo but no longer have health insurance.
My refills ran out and I can't refill without seeing a doctor. No insurance, I can't afford a doctor, so no levothyroxine .
ngla
30 May 2018
I kept complaining to my GP that I felt awful taking Synthroid, that (after some time) I noticed some abnormal 'fat' distribution to my left leg and swelling. My blood pressure was elevated. She placed me on HCTZ for that. I was certain it was Levothyroxine that was causing itching from head-to-toe, especially my scalp. I stayed with diarrhea. I put on weight, very often short of breath. All this was related to her over time. She attributed it to me needing t follow a better diet and to exercise more. I then got a job that was part-time (2 days a week) that was taxing enough for me and I spent the better part of the week recovering from all the joint/muscle pains so I could go back for another two days. Needless to say, they provided no insurance coverage.
I told my GP I could not afford her $80 visits (2- one to get my lab slip to check my levels, one to get my results, then the lab work that they did in-house to get my $4/mo Rx renewed for 3 months before having to repeat this all over again). Oh, well, that was regrettable. She would have loved to stay my doctor but it will cost me $80 up-front for every visit, plus the lab work costs up front. I was unable to do that so she wished me luck. Working two days a week placed me just outside of receiving Medicaid so I had no insurance and no one to go to to get my lousy $4 Rx. I gave it up to God and I remained off of that medication for over over six months and have felt so much better off of it. My vision was not nearly as blurred, my dry mouth remains, but I have had much less brain fog, the constant diarrhea a thing of the past, and the itching went. Then I sprained my ankle, damaged a ligament, and lost my 2 day a week job because I could not stand and run around on my foot for 12 hours. I became eligible for Medicaid, went back to my old doctor and they gave me an 'emergency supply' of Synthroid and HCTZ and a T4 and TSH blood test was taken. I started taking the Synthroid to confirm what I thought was true, and sure enough, all that has returned. I got told off on that visit that they would not continue seeing me if I would not be compliant when I had made it clear I had no means to pay them $80 and tests every 3 months and try to eek a basic living on 2 days a week work. It is not like I just decided to stop. But because I was forced to, I was able to discover just how useless this medication has been to me, if not harmful. They had steadfastly refused to try giving me T3 to see if I would feel better because my TSH was 'good'. I go back today for my test results. will be switching doctor. Their office notified my emergency contact via text twice to remind me of my visit today but never called my house phone with caller ID and voicemail to remind me directly. Extremely poor practice and disregard for me as a person. The bottom line is change your doctor if you are not being listened to about the side effects of this medicine. All I did was put on weight with this medication and feel lousy.
sparxprincess
29 July 2018
I don't know what state you live in but I need to move there I pay $60 for 3 month supply with no insurance very expensive
RxKnowledge
3 Nov 2014
Yes. Those are all signs of hypothyroidism which is what levothyroxine is used to treat. Other signs are feeling tired, cold, dry skin, weight gain, slow heart, puffy face, and constipation.
Not taking the medication or the dose being too low can cause hypothyroidism. If your thyroid levels become too low you can get myxedema. This is characticized by low blood pressure, decreased breathing, decreased body temperature, coma, and death. Its only in extremely low cases, but can occur. If your thyroid is not working at all (thyroidectomy), it will eventually lead to these. It is best to not stop any medication without talking to your doctor before stopping.
Jan Lavik
6 March 2017
My reaction has been the opposite. I have more energy off the med and feel more upbeat. Increased dosage made me listless, hardly able to function.
simley22
4 May 2017
I have had more energy and better sleep. I sleep like a log now!!
Zamekabynum
28 July 2017
Have any of you had your thyroids removed?
Ygwilson
8 Aug 2017
I've been on levothyroxine for about a year now an I can't stand it. I have the Jitters all the time along with I'm tired all the time. I have stop taking the medicine for three weeks an I feel awesome.
sadi72
9 Sep 2017
This is one of the worst medicine s one could be on. I have been on all dosages of this medication and the longer you are on it, the worse you feel. Anxiety, brain fog, fatigue of varying degrees, cold feet cold hands,
Chest pains, unexplained cold and sinus, hair loss, dry skin, memory issues, edema. The list goes on. Most doctors do not understand this disease. Especially Endo. You can't blame them. They are being taught the same standard if response to the patient. Save yourself and find a doctor who is a DO or naturepath. Natural thyroid does take time to build into your system than Synthetic man made meds but you will love this life more productively.
sadi72
9 Sep 2017
This is one of the worst medicine s one could be on. I have been on all dosages of this medication and the longer you are on it, the worse you feel. Anxiety, brain fog, fatigue of varying degrees, cold feet cold hands,
Chest pains, unexplained cold and sinus, hair loss, dry skin, memory issues, edema. The list goes on. Most doctors do not understand this disease. Especially Endo. You can't blame them. They are being taught the same standard if response to the patient. Save yourself and find a doctor who is a DO or naturepath. Natural thyroid does take time to build into your system than Synthetic man made meds but you will love this life more productively.
Faetura
27 Feb 2018
This is to Jan Lavik. I feel the same way about my thyroid meds. When I took levothyroxine of any brand it sent me straight to my own personal hell. Armour makes me grouchy, tired and lazy, weight gain like crazy. I'm normally 145-150 and I'm nearly 200 lbs right now. I just ran out of the thyroid and feel amazing. I'm cheerful again, never tired or nauseous. I had a partial thyroidectomy 2 years ago.
Do you still feel good? Do you still have your thyroid? Any updates?
Ccm012
27 Aug 2018
Yes! Updates please, from anyone.. I stopped levo after 20 years on it... Do many symptoms lifted! But now I'm becoming frightened on myxedema coma... I've been off for about a month. Will see any Dr in a week.
sue quegan
4 Oct 2018
I stopped taking my thyroxine for two months and have felt the best I have felt in 30 years. Now after having had a blood test I was told that my levels were off the scale and that I was heading for a coma or/and a stroke. I am gutted.
balbanese
3 Nov 2014
Sure, and probably more. Never good to just stop any medication.
Related topics
depression, levothyroxine, medicine, thyroid
Further information
- Levothyroxine uses and safety info
- Levothyroxine prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Levothyroxine (detailed)
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