Synthroid and Fatigue: What Users Say

• ccg...
• October 23, 2016

For Underactive Thyroid "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."

• hap...
• October 14, 2011

For Hypothyroidism, After Thyroid Removal "I've had my thyroid removed 10 months ago, and I started taking the lowest dose of Levothyroxine (generic) six weeks after the surgery. I had my blood work done and dosage adjusted every six weeks until I ended up at 137 mcg daily, 5 months after the surgery. Then I switched to Synthroid brand. All this adjusting was done by an endocrinologist. I feel great, definitely much better than before the surgery when I suffered from severe hyperthyroidism. I did gain some weight right after the surgery, but once the dosage was correct, I was able to lose the pounds easily. All of my other symptoms (hair loss, abnormal sweating, fatigue) were gone once the dosage was correct. The right dosage is extremely important."

• 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."

• bby...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 14, 2016

For Underactive Thyroid "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."

• 50y...
• March 29, 2011

For Hypothyroidism, After Thyroid Removal "My surgeon took charge of my Synthroid medicines - big mistake - it was not until I saw an endocrinologist that I found the correct dosage and felt better. It took 18 months to find the correct dosage. I now take 0.2mg Mon-Fri and add 0.05mg on the weekends. This works for me. I had many problems before I got the right dose, and my surgeon said they were not from the Synthroid - he was wrong. I had extreme fatigue, sleeping 10 hours per night and 1 hour in the afternoons. I had trouble remembering things, as well as the inability to concentrate. I was off balance and frequently missed steps and curbs while walking. As well as often feeling like I was going to black out or faint - never did. With the correct dose everything is much better."

• Lov...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 12, 2018

For Underactive Thyroid "Originally, my doctor put me on Levothyroxine when I first had symptoms of hypothyroidism. I continued to have the symptoms and ended up putting on a total of 43 lb! I then asked to see an endocrinologist and begged them to put me on Nature-Throid. Due to my persistence, they put me on 82.75 mcg of Nature-Throid. After 3 weeks of it in my system, I began to have energy again, stomach aches went away, slept better, and was able to work out daily again! My new endocrinologist insisted that Synthroid was better than Nature-Throid, so I will switch to Synthroid. Unfortunately, stomach aches and fatigue came back. Synthroid and Levothyroxine don't help."

• 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."

• Den...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 16, 2017

For Underactive Thyroid "My doctor prescribed Levothyroxine for low thyroid, and I had been feeling so tired and wiped out. Levothyroxine did help improve my numbers (TSH of 7.5 dropped to 4.5), but I felt awful on it. Everything hurt, and I was so exhausted. After 3 months on Levothyroxine, I asked to try the brand name Synthroid. What a difference! It improved my numbers even more (same dose, TSH decreased to 1.75), and not only that, I felt better. I had energy. My experience is night and day. I know generics are supposed to be equivalent, but I can tell you there is a difference. Synthroid brand works so much better than Levothyroxine. Recommended."

• Str...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 1, 2015

For Underactive Thyroid "Since being diagnosed with hypothyroidism in 1999. First, I was given antidepressants for being tired and gaining weight (eyeroll). I have been on 88mcg of Synthroid daily. My blood work has always come back with my TSH at the high end of normal. Former doctor retired years ago, so no continuum of care (walk-in clinic). Recently, a new doctor suggested we adjust meds to bring down the TSH level. Started with 100mcg of Levothyroxine 5 days & Synthroid 88 - 2 days a week. In a few months' time, I suffered some pretty severe side effects - extreme dizziness/weakness, lack of energy, mood extremes, weight is either climbing or stagnant, racing pulse/heart rate. We checked levels, and now TSH reads at the extreme low end of normal. I'm scared, please help."

• miz...
• December 30, 2016

For Hypothyroidism, After Thyroid Removal "I ended up with an emergency complete thyroidectomy after an ultrasound revealed the tumors (2 in each lobe of my thyroid) had grown and were the culprit for me having to turn my head to the left to swallow food or even drink liquid. After years of taking levothyroxine, I was put onto the brand name Synthroid. At worst, my levels were 86.4. Yes, you read that correctly. My hair falls out in clumps, I feel tired, exhausted, have body aches and joint pain, and chronic fatigue, etc. Now my routine is to take my Synthroid at bedtime with vitamin C. I wake up fine, I'm down from 325 to 181, and I feel great! Please remember your thyroid takes weeks/months to change, you won't notice anything three days to a month into taking this."

• Lbj...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 13, 2018

For Hypothyroidism, After Thyroid Removal "I'm taking Synthroid - it's a horrible drug. I'm losing all my hair, headaches, insomnia, depression, fatigue, brain fog, etc. This drug sucks, I have no idea why doctors keep pushing this drug. I have a new insurance and doctor, hopefully, I can start taking Armour. If not, I have no idea what's to come."

• jrb...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 7, 2020

For Underactive Thyroid "I had a partial thyroidectomy in 2007. I've been on generic Levo 88 mcg for about 10 years now. Maybe it would be different had I been started on Synthroid from the get-go, but I've tried Synthroid two times, once at 75 mcg and this week at 88 mcg, and the results were the same. Within three days, I had muscle weakness, muscle spasms, more pain in my neck, and extreme fatigue. Regulation mandates 95-105% of the active ingredient be present. I've taken Unithroid 88 mcg, and I never had the extreme symptoms like with Synthroid. I steer clear of this med because I can't afford to miss another week of pay fiddling around with it. Generic and Unithroid aren't perfect, but at least I can function."

• Anonymous
• August 21, 2012

For Hashimoto's disease "I have been on Synthroid now for 4 years. I wasn't able to take the generic Levothyroxine because it caused me high blood pressure. I was shocked to find out I had thyroid disease. My dosage continues to go up, I'm on 125 mcg now, and just had my TSH checked, and it's again on the low end (which I can tell because of fatigue, weight gain, hair loss). I demand my thyroid to be tested every 4 months. When it's in the middle of the 'normal' range is the only time I feel good!"

• Anonymous
• June 24, 2010

For Hashimoto's disease "I was on this medicine for about 6 months, and in that time, I felt worse than when I wasn't taking it. It took the migraines away, but I still had muscle aches, fatigue, hair loss, dry skin, brittle nails, and more. The huge symptom I had on this medicine that bothered me was the depression. I felt dread and doom every day. I couldn't take it anymore, so I stopped taking it, then I went to a different doctor who prescribed me Armour."

• Hop...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 26, 2023

For Hypothyroidism, After Thyroid Removal "I had my thyroid removed in December 2013 and have not felt like me since it was removed. I have been on Synthroid 100 mcg and am having back and knee pain, terrible chest discomfort, tiredness, fatigue, and shortness of breath, which prevents me from doing daily chores as I would like. Doctors keep saying it has nothing to do with the med, but I beg to differ. Cardiac workup fine; at times cholesterol goes up, glucose and blood pressure go up, and the list goes on. When will the doctors listen to patients and not try to tell them how they feel (because they are not the ones suffering)? Pray that I can find a doctor who has thyroid problems. These drug companies are thinking of their bank accounts and not that of the people who have to take their drugs."

• 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."

• Del...
• August 16, 2016

For Hypothyroidism, After Thyroid Removal "Thyroid was removed 3 years ago due to Hashimoto and nodule hyperplasia. Surgery discovered a substernal thyroid. Prior to surgery and attempts to reduce goiter with Synthroid, felt terrible every day. Multiple diagnoses due to muscle pain, fatigue, insomnia, stomach upset, rapid heartbeat, irrational blood pressure. Take Synthroid every morning 1 hour prior to breakfast. Feel great. No negative side effects. All above symptoms are gone. Age 59!"

• Pat...
• August 28, 2017

For Hashimoto's disease "43-year-old female, 5'7", 76 kg. I used to be 56 kg, and in a matter of 2 years, I reached 80 kg after quitting smoking. I also had a plethora of other problems, among which were lethargy, extreme fatigue, and depression. My doc discovered by accident my TSH was 10, plus huge antibody values. Started me at 50 mcg Synthroid and I went up from there. I am now at 175 mcg, a huge dose, and feel fantastic. My blood values are low, TSH, upper limit T4. I kind of talked my doc into increasing the dose, as his choice was 125 mcg and I felt that was too low. I finally have the energy to go to the gym. I feel like my old self. I LOVE Synthroid and I hope he won't lower it for me."

• Ave...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 27, 2022

For Underactive Thyroid "I've been on this medication for a month. 50 mcg. It makes me so tired I can barely stay awake to work during the day. It makes it very hard to concentrate. I didn't have fatigue or brain fog before starting this medicine. It has improved my joint pains, itching, and the ringing in my ears."

• mol...
• November 24, 2009

For Hashimoto's disease "I have been on 2 different dosages of Synthroid for almost 20 years. In January of 2009, my doctor decided to take me off 1 of my dosages, that was the worst experience of my life. I went into withdrawals, fatigue, and depression all over again. I am now just getting back on my other dosage, keeping my fingers crossed it will all work out for the best again."

• 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."

• vin...
• April 4, 2009

"Synthroid was horrible. I had severe fatigue, hair loss, dry skin, constipation, weight gain, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol while taking it."

• Rob...
• February 28, 2011

For Hypothyroidism, After Thyroid Removal "For the past three months, I experienced weight gain even though I run 5k five days a week. I feel tired and lack energy."

• 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."