I started on 50 mcg of synthroid about six weeks ago and have been really itchy with patches of bumps like I haven’t seen before. However, I can’t be sure it’s not just the heat or whatever. I saw a couple of references to allergic reaction to the meds (and mom tells me I was allergic to aspirin as a baby) but rash is not listed as a side effect.
Anybody else get this?
Disclaimer: I am under a doctor’s care. As soon as I get the lab results testing the levels with medication I will go in and check with her.
Of course it may not be the best medication for me anyway, since some of the side effects could be anxiety (I’m already on meds for this), increased appetite (I’m already a compulsive overeater), feeling warmer than usual (I already am quite sensitive to the heat). Argh.
Hmmm. Synthroid is the one medication I’m on that doesn’t bother me in one way or another.
If you’re taking Synthroid, you might try the generic version instead–if you’re taking the generic, try real Synthroid. Sometimes the fillers in pills bother people.
I’m on Synthroid and it doesn’t bother me at all. I also never got a rash when I started taking. No anxiety or increased appetite either. I am always warm though - although I was before I started taking it too.
Odd on the increased appetite, though at least you should be better able to deal with the increased caloric intake (one sign of hypothyroid is weight gain because your metabolism has slowed down and obviously synthroid is supposed to address that). On the warmth: Another symptom of hypothyroid is feeling colder (that was one of the things that got me to the doc last year, thinking my dose had become too low).
Re the OP: Never had any problems with rashes myself. I wonder if the “feeling warmer” side effect in your case is encouraging some sort of topical candida or other fungal infection. Obviously you’ll discuss with the doctor.
Check with your doctor (I am not one), but AFAIK when Synthroid or generic levothyroxine causes an allergy it is generally not to the drug itself, but to the dyes used in the pill. Since each dose has a different color (in order for patients to easily distinguish), the solution is often to do something like substituting two 50 mcg pills for one 100 mcg.
I talked to the doc about this today and she said “it’s what your body makes anyway; it shouldn’t cause a reaction”. So I brought up the idea of fillers (thanks, guys!) and she said she would write the prescription as do not substitute so I get the “good” stuff.
The good part is it’s working so far and she wants to bump it up again.