In July/August 2007 GSK changed the formulation of the standard Thyroid medication Eltroxin. Some patients were informed - and told it was exactly the same so no need to be concerned. Sadly, the majority of users were not informed!
It took many months for people to understand that their worsening symptoms were caused by the changed medication!
Eltroxin Side Effects as reported by patients from July/August 2007
Headaches / migraines - blurred vision - throat soreness - giddy head - feeling shaky - nausea on an empty stomach - numbness in parts of the body. - needing to sleep more (and in the day time as well) - insomnia - not able to deal with stress as well as they used to - anxious - heart palpitations - kidney spasm - dizziness - sore tail bone - body aches - back pain - chest pain - excessive weight gain - urinary pain - lack of energy - depression - fatigue - itching skin and serious acne - dry skin - general feeling of being unwell - and many more
Eltroxin Side Effects as listed on GSK & Medsafe data sheets
The following effects are indicative of excessive dosage and usually disappear on reduction of dosage or withdrawal of treatment for a few days. Anginal pain, cardiac arrhythmias, palpitation, and cramps in skeletal muscle; tachycardia, diarrhoea, vomiting, tremors, restlessness, excitability, insomnia, headache, flushing, sweating, excessive loss of weight and muscular weakness.
Rarely hypersensitivity reactions such as skin rash and pruritus have been reported.
Rare cases of pseudotumour cerebri (benign intracranial hypertension) have been reported, especially in children.
Hypothyroid Symptoms suffered if undermedicated
Less stamina than others - Less energy than others - Long recovery period after any activity - Inability to hold children for very long - Arms feeling like dead weights after activity - Chronic Low Grade Depression - Suicidal Thoughts - Often feeling cold - Cold hands and feet - High or rising cholesterol - Constipation - Hard stools - Hair Loss - No eyebrows or thinning outer eyebrows - Dry Hair - Dry cracking skin - Nodding off easily - Requires naps in the afternoon - Sleep Apnea (which can also be associated with low cortisol) - Forgetfulness - Foggy thinking - Air Hunger (feeling like you can’t get enough air) - Inability to concentrate or read long periods of time - Bizarre and Debilitating reaction to exercise - Inability to lose weight - Always gaining weight - Inability to function in a relationship with anyone - NO sex drive - Moody periods - PMS - Excruciating pain during period - Nausea - Swelling/edema/puffiness - Aching bones/muscles - Osteoporosis - Bumps on legs - Acne on face and in hair - Breakout on chest and arms - Hives - Exhaustion in every dimension: physical, mental, spiritual, emotional - Major anxiety/worry - Handwriting nearly illegible - Complete lack of motivation - Slowing to a snail's pace when walking up slight grade - Extremely crabby, irritable, intolerant of others - Inability to stand on feet for long periods - Inability to work full-time - Internal itching of ears - Broken/peeling fingernails - Dry skin or snake skin - Ringing in ears -Lactose Intolerance - Inability to eat in the mornings - No hair growth, breaks faster than it grows - Joint pain - Carpal tunnel symptoms - No Appetite - Fluid retention to the point of Congestive Heart Failure - Swollen legs that prevented walking - Blood Pressure problems - Varicose Veins - Dizziness from fluid on the inner ear - Low body temperature - Raised temperature - Tightness in throat; sore throat - Swollen lymph glands - Allergies (which can also be a result of low cortisol - common with hypothyroid patients) - Headaches and Migraines - Sore feet (plantar fascitis)- painful soles of feet - a cold bum
It took many months for people to understand that their worsening symptoms were caused by the changed medication!
Eltroxin Side Effects as reported by patients from July/August 2007
Headaches / migraines - blurred vision - throat soreness - giddy head - feeling shaky - nausea on an empty stomach - numbness in parts of the body. - needing to sleep more (and in the day time as well) - insomnia - not able to deal with stress as well as they used to - anxious - heart palpitations - kidney spasm - dizziness - sore tail bone - body aches - back pain - chest pain - excessive weight gain - urinary pain - lack of energy - depression - fatigue - itching skin and serious acne - dry skin - general feeling of being unwell - and many more
Eltroxin Side Effects as listed on GSK & Medsafe data sheets
The following effects are indicative of excessive dosage and usually disappear on reduction of dosage or withdrawal of treatment for a few days. Anginal pain, cardiac arrhythmias, palpitation, and cramps in skeletal muscle; tachycardia, diarrhoea, vomiting, tremors, restlessness, excitability, insomnia, headache, flushing, sweating, excessive loss of weight and muscular weakness.
Rarely hypersensitivity reactions such as skin rash and pruritus have been reported.
Rare cases of pseudotumour cerebri (benign intracranial hypertension) have been reported, especially in children.
Hypothyroid Symptoms suffered if undermedicated
Less stamina than others - Less energy than others - Long recovery period after any activity - Inability to hold children for very long - Arms feeling like dead weights after activity - Chronic Low Grade Depression - Suicidal Thoughts - Often feeling cold - Cold hands and feet - High or rising cholesterol - Constipation - Hard stools - Hair Loss - No eyebrows or thinning outer eyebrows - Dry Hair - Dry cracking skin - Nodding off easily - Requires naps in the afternoon - Sleep Apnea (which can also be associated with low cortisol) - Forgetfulness - Foggy thinking - Air Hunger (feeling like you can’t get enough air) - Inability to concentrate or read long periods of time - Bizarre and Debilitating reaction to exercise - Inability to lose weight - Always gaining weight - Inability to function in a relationship with anyone - NO sex drive - Moody periods - PMS - Excruciating pain during period - Nausea - Swelling/edema/puffiness - Aching bones/muscles - Osteoporosis - Bumps on legs - Acne on face and in hair - Breakout on chest and arms - Hives - Exhaustion in every dimension: physical, mental, spiritual, emotional - Major anxiety/worry - Handwriting nearly illegible - Complete lack of motivation - Slowing to a snail's pace when walking up slight grade - Extremely crabby, irritable, intolerant of others - Inability to stand on feet for long periods - Inability to work full-time - Internal itching of ears - Broken/peeling fingernails - Dry skin or snake skin - Ringing in ears -Lactose Intolerance - Inability to eat in the mornings - No hair growth, breaks faster than it grows - Joint pain - Carpal tunnel symptoms - No Appetite - Fluid retention to the point of Congestive Heart Failure - Swollen legs that prevented walking - Blood Pressure problems - Varicose Veins - Dizziness from fluid on the inner ear - Low body temperature - Raised temperature - Tightness in throat; sore throat - Swollen lymph glands - Allergies (which can also be a result of low cortisol - common with hypothyroid patients) - Headaches and Migraines - Sore feet (plantar fascitis)- painful soles of feet - a cold bum