Problems With Thyroid Medication

[Di-gfree]

I haven't taken any medications in years; but have had to start on Thyroid medication because I recently was diagnosed with Hashimoto's Disease. First I took the dessicated thyroid from porcine because I wanted to take the natural route (I'm in Canada, so it isn't Armour, it's just called 'Thyroid'). Anyway, I had an instant reaction to it - heartburn, throat and mouth burning; painful and constant belching. I stopped after two days.

I switched to Synthroid - same reaction. I switched to Synthyroid 50mcgs (which has no artificial colouring), and broke the tablet into quarters - same reaction. So, I'm reacting to some ingredient in the medication.

Has anyone else had a similar reaction? I checked, and double-checked with the pharmacists to make sure they were gluten-free; but I'm really wondering. I'm worried about how I'm ever going to get my thyroid in check. I'm thinking of seeing a naturopath now. Has anyone had success with a naturopathic thyroid replacement (if there is such a thing)?

[hollyres]

I haven't taken any medications in years; but have had to start on Thyroid medication because I recently was diagnosed with Hashimoto's Disease. First I took the dessicated thyroid from porcine because I wanted to take the natural route (I'm in Canada, so it isn't Armour, it's just called 'Thyroid'). Anyway, I had an instant reaction to it - heartburn, throat and mouth burning; painful and constant belching. I stopped after two days.

I switched to Synthroid - same reaction. I switched to Synthyroid 50mcgs (which has no artificial colouring), and broke the tablet into quarters - same reaction. So, I'm reacting to some ingredient in the medication.

Has anyone else had a similar reaction? I checked, and double-checked with the pharmacists to make sure they were gluten-free; but I'm really wondering. I'm worried about how I'm ever going to get my thyroid in check. I'm thinking of seeing a naturopath now. Has anyone had success with a naturopathic thyroid replacement (if there is such a thing)?

I have been using Armour for 8 years and tolerate it fine. I had to stick with it, work through the tweaks, but it has been great for many years. I am VERY sensitive to gluten, so I feel comfortable that there is none.

[ShayFL]

Armour website says it is gluten-free. It is what I use. Some react to meds because their adrenal glands cannot handle the thyroid. Those have to be addressed first. Get those checked.

Also, I take my armour sublingualy which means most of it gets directly into my blood stream via my mucus membranes. I put it under my tongue and let it dissolve.

Hope this helps!

[Di-gfree]

Thanks for your replies. That's the thing that puzzles me; I hear you guys say how certain thyroid medications have changed your lives, but for me, it's just another thing I seem to be having problems with. I did put the 1/4 of the synthroid tablet under my tongue this morning, as an experiment; but I'm still having the burning issues because I'm sure I swallowed some of it.

I take it from what some of you guys have said already, that it's best to get your adrenals checked through a naturopathic doctor? I'll make an appointment on Monday.

[loraleena]

Have your doc try cytomel. It is gluten free and works better than synthroid.

[Di-gfree]

Have your doc try cytomel. It is gluten free and works better than synthroid.

OK, thanks. Now, cytomel is just T3, right? So, does the body convert it to T4? Or that's the other way around? So, the T4 wouldn't need to be converted to T3 because the cytomel is T3... My ability to retain info at the moment is not very good. Oh, I remember my doctor mentioning cytomel now, but he seems to think it will cause me heartburn... Hmm, the synthroid is causing me heartburn, so maybe the cytomel won't. Anyway, it is definitely worth a shot.

I actually read something interesting on the stopthethyroidmadness site. It said that people with low iron can have problems with the thyroid medication. That's because they don't produce enough hydrochloric acid. I kind of thought I had the opposite problem (too much acid), actually. I have the low iron, by the way. The thing is my iron doesn't want to get much above 20. The other discussion, on this page, about the iron injections has peaked my interest, though. Wow, this celiac/thyroid/intolerance stuff is one big mystery after another.

Just a note - I made an appointment for a naturopath. It's almost a 3-month wait, though; for the end of August. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, I'm not on any medication at the moment. I figured I went probably my whole life w/o medication (since I suspect I've had thyroid problems, unbeknownst to me, for almost all of my life), so what's 3 more months, I guess. That is, unless the cytomel works. Thanks again for your suggestion.