what are the symptoms of levothyroxine overdose

Levothyroxine overdose symptoms usually consist of the following:

• Difficulty breathing
• Seizure
• Collapse
• Inability to wake

Full Answer

What are the signs of a levothyroxine overdose?

What are the symptoms of levothyroxine overdose?

• Elevated pulse and blood pressure.
• Anxiety, nervous energy, tremors.
• Feeling irritable, overemotional, erratic, or depressed.
• Difficulty concentrating.
• Difficulty sleeping.
• Fatigue.
• Feeling overheated, even when others are cold.
• Diarrhea.

Is levothyroxine really that bad?

Why Levothyroxine Alone Might Not Be Adequate. Many people with hypothyroidism (estimates range from 12 to 15% of patients or higher) complain of symptoms when they are treated with standard levothyroxine. Even when blood tests (TSH & TH) suggest that thyroid function is normalized, these individuals feel like crap.

What are the symptoms of too much thyroxine?

These are the most common symptoms:

• fatigue and tiredness
• increased awareness of the cold
• dry and coarse skin
• dry and thinning hair
• hoarse or croaky voice
• constipation
• muscle weakness, cramps and aches
• pins and needles in the fingers and hands (carpal tunnel syndrome)
• heavier and longer periods
• fertility problems

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What happens when you stop taking levothyroxine?

Symptoms of levothyroxine withdrawal can range from mild to severe, and may include:

• Panic attacks
• Nausea
• Fatigue
• Altered hormone levels
• A worsening of other hypothyroid symptoms, including pale or dry skin, weakness, decreased heart rate, and brittle nails

Too Much Synthroid (Levothyroxine) Symptoms

Below is a list of possible symptoms that you may experience if you took too much synthroid (levothyroxine). Understand that the number and severit...

Taking Too Much Synthroid: Interindivdiual Variation in Dosing

Individuals undergoing treatment for hypothyroidism with synthroid are prescribed dosages aimed to optimize TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) level...

Reasons Patients May Take Too Much Synthroid

There are several hypothetical reasons as why a patient may end up taking too much synthroid. While taking too much is certainly not the “norm,” it...

What Should You Do If You Took Too Much Synthroid?

If you know (or suspect) that you may have ingested too much synthroid, seeking emergency medical attention is necessary. Complications arising fro...

What does it mean when you overdose on levothyroxine?

A levothyroxine overdose is signified by trouble breathing, collapse, and seizures. If you witness an overdose, call 911 immediately.

How to help someone with an overdose?

Concrete Ways to Help. Calling 911 is the best first step to help someone with an overdose. MedlinePlus has additional recommendations. Locate the nearest emergency room. Notify the person’s regular doctor about this emergency. Search a person’s neck or wrist for any medical identification tags.

Why does my metabolism slow down when I take thyroid medication?

Hypothyroid and other thyroid complications often cause a person’s metabolism to slow down. When a person takes medication, they might lose weight as their metabolism normalizes. I am ready to be sober. (844) 326-4514. I would prefer to chat online.

What is a mistake in prescriptions?

A mistake in the prescription dose. Difficulties getting a person’s dosage needs just right. Switching from one form of the medication to another (tablet to liquid, for example) This could cause the body to absorb the different format faster, causing overmedication.

Can levothyroxine cause thyroid problems?

As stated by the University of Michigan, levothyroxine is also taken for the treatment of an enlarged thyroid, a condition that can occur because of cancer, surgery, radiation therapy, or hormone imbalance. Even when taken as directed, it is possible to overdose on this medication. This could accidentally occur because it takes some time ...

Can athletes take levothyroxine?

Athletes who have thyroid issues can use levothyroxine to combat normal feelings of fatigue. Doping agencies in the U.S. and United Kingdom felt that healthy athletes might misuse thyroid hormone replacement medications to improve their stamina.

Does levothyroxine help you lose weight?

The medication may not actually help a person lose weight.

What are the side effects of a syringe?

rapidly changing moods. redness of the face, neck, arms, and occasionally, upper chest. restlessness. trouble getting pregnant. trouble sitting still. unusual tiredness or weakness. vomiting. weight gain or loss. Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients.

Can medicine cause side effects?

Side Effects. Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention. Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

What does it mean when you have too much levothyroxine?

Synthroid (Levothyroxine) is a synthetic form of T4 (thyroxine), a hormone secreted by the follicular cells of the thyroid gland. Individuals with insufficient levels of thyroxine (T4) exhibit symptoms of hypothyroidism such as: depression, lethargy, malaise, and sleepiness.

What to do if you overdose on synthroid?

If you know that you overdosed and/or intentionally took too much, call emergency medical services and/or get yourself to a hospital.

What does it mean when you have high TSH?

Individuals undergoing treatment for hypothyroidism with synthroid are prescribed dosages aimed to optimize TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) levels. Excessively high TSH levels signifies that an individual is likely not getting enough synthroid. Since the severity of hypothyroidism is subject to individual variation and synthroid dosages necessitate patient-specific optimization, “too much synthroid” for one user may be a normal dose for another.

Why does synthroid make you feel warm?

This is because excess levothyroxine increases blood flow to the skin, making you feel warmer than usual. It also generates more body heat than necessary as a result of changes in metabolism.

What happens if you take too much synthroid?

If you took too much synthroid and are experiencing heartbeat irregularities, immediate medical attention is essential. Shortness of breath: If you took too high of a synthroid dosage, you may feel as if you’re constantly gasping for air or having a tough time breathing.

Can synthroid cause muscle weakness?

Muscle weakness: It’s no surprise that individuals who take too much synthroid could end up with serious muscle weakness. High concentrations of levothyroxine can accelerate bone density loss and possibly even muscle loss via increases in BMR.

Can synthroid cause menstrual irregularities?

Menstrual irregularities: Female users that take too much synthroid are likely to experience menstrual irregularities.

What are the side effects of a syringe?

Side effects requiring immediate medical attention 1 Chest pain or discomfort 2 decreased urine output 3 difficult or labored breathing 4 difficulty with swallowing 5 dilated neck veins 6 extreme fatigue 7 fainting 8 fast, slow, irregular, pounding, or racing heartbeat or pulse 9 fever 10 heat intolerance 11 hives or welts, skin itching, rash, or redness 12 irregular breathing 13 irritability 14 menstrual changes 15 nausea 16 pain or discomfort in the arms, jaw, back, or neck 17 sweating 18 swelling of the eyes, face, lips, throat, or tongue 19 tightness in the chest 20 tremors

Can euthyroidism cause weight loss?

In euthyroid patients, doses within the range of daily hormonal requirements are ineffective for weight reduction. Larger doses may produce serious or even life-threatening manifestations of toxicity, particularly when given in association with sympathomimetic amines such as those used for their anorectic effects.

Does levothyroxine go away?

Some side effects of levothyroxine may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Does overtreatment with a syringe increase heart rate?

The clinical significance of these changes remains to be determined. Overtreatment with this drug may cause an increase in heart rate, cardiac wall thickness, and cardiac contractility and may precipitate angina or arrhythmias, particularly in patients with cardiovascular disease and in elderly patients.

Does levothyroxine cause side effects?

Side effects requiring immediate medical attention. Along with its needed effects, levothyroxine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention. Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking levothyroxine:

What is the purpose of levothyroxine?

Due to a variety of reasons, the thyroid may stop producing thyroxine or not be able to produce an adequate amount of the hormone. This condition is known as hypothyroidism. Levothyroxine is able to effectively mimic the action of thyroxine and thereby treat hypothyroidism. Synthroid is also often used in order to prevent the recurrence of thyroid cancer. It is also used in the treatment of goiters due to its ability to lower thyroid stimulating hormone. As it is a hormone, Synthroid is active at sub milligram dosages. Taking too much Synthroid medication can result in an overdose. The symptoms of an overdose of Synthroid can vary from mild to life threatening.

How do you know if you overdosed on a syringe?

One of the first symptoms experienced when one overdoses on Synthroid may be the development of a headache. Overdose symptoms may take a few hours before they develop depending upon the severity of the overdose and other factors. Anxiety may also begin to develop when an overdose is experienced. Smaller overdoses may go unnoticed and will produce effects such as an elevated heart rate and difficulty sleeping. If you are taking Synthroid and experience any of these symptoms, you should see a doctor immediately as you may be overmedicated and experiencing slight overdose symptoms.

What is levothyroxine?

Levothyroxine is a thyroid medication made up of synthetic thyroid hormone. It is the primary treatment for hypothyroidism ( underactive thyroid ), especially for anyone with a goiter or after thyroid cancer or thyroid resection.

Levothyroxine Side Effects

Levothyroxine can cause a long list of side effects — some are common, others severe.

Levothyroxine Interactions

Several drugs, activities, and conditions do not mix well with levothyroxine.

Special Considerations for Taking Levothyroxine

Avoid eating within an hour of taking levothyroxine. Schedule your hypothyroidism diet meals and levothyroxine dosage hours apart. A consistent schedule is easier to keep to. Many people tend to take their medication immediately upon waking for convenience, then eat an hour later.

Dosage for Hypothyroidism

Depending on your diagnosis and doctor recommendation, typical dosages of levothyroxine for hypothyroidism include:

Warnings & Outlook

Do not over-treat or under-treat with levothyroxine. Adverse effects can drastically impact your quality of life if you veer from the prescribed dosage.

How long after thyroxine ingestion can you see symptoms?

One-time ingestion of up to 3 mg thyroxine rarely causes symptoms in adult or children. As already mentioned serious complications are not common, but they can appear days after ingestion, and therefore the patients should be closely monitored. TABLE 1: . SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS AFTER INGESTION OF LT4.

How long does it take for thyroxine to rise?

Both thyroxine and triiodothyronine levels in serum rise within 1-2 hours of in gestion.

What is the best medication to reduce LT4 to T3?

Glucocorticoids (Dexamethasone 4 mg orally) decrease the conversion of LT4 to T3, the active hormone. Sodium Ipodate (oral cholecystographic agent) has also been used for blocking the conversion of LT4 to T3, but it is no longer generally available.

What is the best treatment for thyroid problems?

Seizures may be treated with phenytoin and phenobarbital.

Where can I buy thyroxine without a prescription?

In some localities thyroxine may be obtained at drugstores without prescription (mostly in the generic form). In some reports thyroxine preparations by a pharmacist had an erroneous LT4 dosage.

How to confirm LT-4?

One way to confirm the presence of LT-4 tablets in the gastric cavity is endoscopy, easily conducted in many hospitals and emergency rooms. LT-4 tablets are dissolved by the gastric juice, but there are no data about the rate of dissolution of a large number of tablets of LT-4.

Can T4 be poisoned?

Thyroxine Poisoning - Endotext - NCBI Bookshelf. A massive L-Thyroxine (T4) overdose may be accidentally and unintentionally ingested, most commonly by children and adolescents. It may occur intentionally in young and older adults in an attempt to lose weight, with suicidal intentions, or for undeclared purposes.

Thyroid Gland Basics

Working with the adrenal gland and pituitary gland, the thyroid gland releases thyroid hormones into the bloodstream. These hormones regulate bodily functions, including:

Dangers of Too Much Thyroid Medication

If you are hypothyroid, a thyroid hormone replacement medication like levothyroxine (Synthroid, Tirosint, or Levoxyl) can help to restore proper thyroid function .

Thyroid Hormone Testing

If you suspect that your thyroid medication dose is off, it’s essential to request a follow-up blood test to check TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) and free T4 (thyroxine) levels.

Bottom Line

Thyroid medication is an effective treatment for hypothyroidism. However, it’s crucial for patients to understand that overmedication, overprescribing T3, improved thyroid medication absorption, and overdose are dangers of too much thyroid medication that need to be monitored. For some thyroid patients, medication is only part of the solution.

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Dr. Ruscio is Doctor of Natural Medicine, Doctor of Chiropractic, clinical researcher and author (1,2). His work has been published in peer-reviewed medical journals and he is a committee member of the Naturopathic Board of Gastroenterology research division.

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• Applies to levothyroxine: oral capsule liquid filled, oral solution, oral tablet Other dosage forms: 1. injection powder for solution

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