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Can Synthroid Intake Cause Frequent Headaches?
Question: Thank you for the opportunity. I have been tested & diagnosed with Hashimotos Diseases. I don't like takinig meds, so I have been seeing a medical doctor who also practices holistic ways. For my thyroid, I have been taking Naturethroid @ a recent increase that brings me up to 2 Grams p/day. The only thing that sorta disgusts me is knowing it is made from pig glands. I don't feel that is healthy. Years ago, with a traditional doctor, I took Synthroid which caused me to get bad headaches, and I don't get headaches. So I stopped and the headaches went away. I was doing well on the Naturthroid, losing weight, energy, positive outlook, etc. then all of a sudden all that got reversed back to my negative symptoms that usually go with having thyroid problems. I also stopped losing weight and actually gained back everything I lost. In addition, something new, almost overnight, it seemed, I started to have really bad joint pains @ the point of where my hip meets my thigh. It really hurts (I grunt) only from a sitting position to standing. I don't know what that's from so I stopped all the supplements he gave me to take except the thyroid. When I saw him, he said I could have developed arthritis - I cannot accept that because it happened suddenly and my gut doesn't tell me that's what I have. Then I read several articles, including Dr. Weil's, which all say that one of the symptoms of not having enough thyroid in the body creates muscle and joint pains. I don't know what to think now. Please guide me. Does Naturthroid have negative long term effects on my body being that it is made from pig?
Does the joint pain I'm experiencing come from the Naturethroid or supplements or is it what the doctor said that I could have Arthritis?
Thank you for taking the time to read my lengthy email and please do get back to me. I'm tired of being overweight, I cannot relate to those who eat bags of chips, drink tons of coke, is looking and waiting for their next meal...I am a smalll eater. My family can attest to that. I don't try to eat small, it is how my body gets full on a small amount.
Looking to hear from you.
XXXXXX
Does the joint pain I'm experiencing come from the Naturethroid or supplements or is it what the doctor said that I could have Arthritis?
Thank you for taking the time to read my lengthy email and please do get back to me. I'm tired of being overweight, I cannot relate to those who eat bags of chips, drink tons of coke, is looking and waiting for their next meal...I am a smalll eater. My family can attest to that. I don't try to eat small, it is how my body gets full on a small amount.
Looking to hear from you.
XXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Thyroid
Detailed Answer:
Sorry to note your challenges with thyroid and its regulation.
As complex as thyroid can be many a times, it can be simplified by the expert.
So the vast majority of Endocrinologists worldwide prescribe only levo thyroxine for correctly diagnosed hypothyroidism (an under active thyroid).
Synthroid is one brand name for levo thyroxine.
Guidelines from authoritative bodies such as the ATA (American Thyroid Association) have repeatedly emphasized this: that XXXXXXX thyroxine alone suffices for the treatment of an under active thyroid.
There is no recommendation to use any of the so called natural thyroid preparations.
Once you are comfortable and confident about this then one needs to go to the next step where a proper dose is arrived at for each individual.
Most women need about 112 mcg of levo thyroxine daily but every body is different. So it is easy to go by the results of two simple blood tests : TSH and free T4. There is no need to fast for these tests and they can be done at anytime of the day.
Just avoid giving the blood sample within couple hours of having taken the thyroid medication, if possible.
Once the TSH and free T4 are in target range, then whatever symptoms resolved were likely attributable to previously inappropriate dosing of thyroid medication. Those that persist are extremely unlikely to be related to the thyroid in any way and you can seek consultations of other specialists for each complaint.
Thyroid
Detailed Answer:
Sorry to note your challenges with thyroid and its regulation.
As complex as thyroid can be many a times, it can be simplified by the expert.
So the vast majority of Endocrinologists worldwide prescribe only levo thyroxine for correctly diagnosed hypothyroidism (an under active thyroid).
Synthroid is one brand name for levo thyroxine.
Guidelines from authoritative bodies such as the ATA (American Thyroid Association) have repeatedly emphasized this: that XXXXXXX thyroxine alone suffices for the treatment of an under active thyroid.
There is no recommendation to use any of the so called natural thyroid preparations.
Once you are comfortable and confident about this then one needs to go to the next step where a proper dose is arrived at for each individual.
Most women need about 112 mcg of levo thyroxine daily but every body is different. So it is easy to go by the results of two simple blood tests : TSH and free T4. There is no need to fast for these tests and they can be done at anytime of the day.
Just avoid giving the blood sample within couple hours of having taken the thyroid medication, if possible.
Once the TSH and free T4 are in target range, then whatever symptoms resolved were likely attributable to previously inappropriate dosing of thyroid medication. Those that persist are extremely unlikely to be related to the thyroid in any way and you can seek consultations of other specialists for each complaint.
Note: For more information on hormonal imbalance symptoms or unmanaged diabetes with other comorbid conditions, get back to us & Consult with an Endocrinologist. Click here to book an appointment.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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