My Opinion of Synthroid's Purported Side Effects

For many patients suffering with thyroid conditions, Synthroid is a lifesaver. One tiny pill can take away the fatigue, depression, constipation, cold intolerance and the host of other symptoms associated with hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's hypothyroidism. But what symptoms should a patient be aware of when starting to take Synthroid?

If you have been prescribed Synthroid, your thyroid is failing to produce the proper amount of thyroid hormone required by your body, and the Synthroid replaces the missing hormone. Many patients will notice only improvement in their hypothyroid symptoms and no Synthroid side effects. In fact, the dramatic improvement in symptoms may cause a patient to overlook the side effects.

What are the possible side effects of Synthroid? According to the drug prescribing information from synthroid.com, common side effects include anxiety, diarrhea, flushing, mood swings, muscle weakness, partial temporary hair loss, sleeplessness, stomach cramps, tiredness, and vomiting. Personally, the worst Synthroid side effect I've dealt with in the last year and a half is the partial temporary hair loss. Every time my dose is adjusted, I go through a bout of hair loss. I still have plenty of hair left, but finding strands of hair everywhere gets a little annoying after awhile!

However, I question whether Synthroid truly has side effects or if the majority of the "common side effects" are really symptoms of hyperthyroidism - when your body has too much thyroid hormone in it. What are the symptoms of hyperthyroidism? Heart palpitations, heat intolerance, nervousness, insomnia, breathlessness, increased bowel movements, light or absent menstrual periods, fatigue, fast heart beat, trembling hands, weight loss, muscle weakness, warm moist skin, hair loss and staring gaze. Do you see the parallels between the Synthroid side effects and the symptoms of hyperthyroidism?