Synthroid, Anybody Itchy?

Hello,

I started Synthroid about 6 weeks ago after RAI. My dose was .150. Now it has been raised to .175. I have noticed that I have become unusually itchy! No hives or rashes or anything, just bouts of itching. Its not severe enough where I would think allergic reaction, but its quite annoying. Am I crazy, or has anyone else had this issue?

 Thanks!

Linda

My story may not have anything to do with your experience, but I thought I'd share it just the same.  I had serious itching problems, including what appeared to be hives at times during the year leading up to my diagnosis of thyroid cancer.  My blood tests were all "normal", but I did have a lot of symptoms of hypothroidism, not just the rash and itching.

After my surgery I was on cytomel for 2 weeks.  The itching cleared up almost completely during those 2 weeks.  I mean like it went from really miserable all-over itching to a kind of like a mild dandruff problem.   

While I was "going hypo" before my RAI, the symptoms seemed to be returning, but pretty slowly.  I have been on synthroid for 2 weeks now, and expected the itching to diminish, like it did on cytomel, but it has continued to get worse, and at this point is getting close to the "miserable" stage again.

So I am not really sure if my itching is because I am not getting enough synthroid (my dose is 150, which seems small for a 240# person) and am still seriously hypo, if I am "allergic" to synthroid, if my body needs a cytomel type drug (T4?) instead of synthroid, or if the itching is not related to my thyroid.

Please post a a follow-up if you figure out what is causing your itching!

Thanks, David

On 7/28/2007 Ken5914 wrote:

My story may not have anything to do with your experience, but I thought I'd share it just the same.  I had serious itching problems, including what appeared to be hives at times during the year leading up to my diagnosis of thyroid cancer.  My blood tests were all "normal", but I did have a lot of symptoms of hypothroidism, not just the rash and itching.

After my surgery I was on cytomel for 2 weeks.  The itching cleared up almost completely during those 2 weeks.  I mean like it went from really miserable all-over itching to a kind of like a mild dandruff problem.   

While I was "going hypo" before my RAI, the symptoms seemed to be returning, but pretty slowly.  I have been on synthroid for 2 weeks now, and expected the itching to diminish, like it did on cytomel, but it has continued to get worse, and at this point is getting close to the "miserable" stage again.

So I am not really sure if my itching is because I am not getting enough synthroid (my dose is 150, which seems small for a 240# person) and am still seriously hypo, if I am "allergic" to synthroid, if my body needs a cytomel type drug (T4?) instead of synthroid, or if the itching is not related to my thyroid.

Please post a a follow-up if you figure out what is causing your itching!

Thanks, David

 

I also had RAI 6 weeks ago, and was put on Levoxyl at 88 mcg.  Two weeks ago, I started getting symptoms of hypothyrodism, falling hair, joint pains, tingly fingers and toes, and itchy all over.  When I scratch the itch, my skin welts (becomes red, thick and raised). 

My endo looked at my bloodwork and he said that everything is in normal range.  But he raised my levoxyl to 100 mcg.  It has been 8 days and I am still itching and welting!

 I wonder if I should suggest to him that he give me Cytomel?

Gigi