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Levothyroxine and Metformin

LoveBulldogs99LoveBulldogs99 member
edited October 2015 in Infertility
My RE does not want to move on with my IVF until I get my thyroid level down from 4.7 to at least 2. I started taking 50 mcg of Levo every morning and it has been 3 weeks. Then a few days later, I started taking Metformin (up to 1500 mg/day at this point). I have to say that the Levo is taking a toll on me! I feel fatigued, crabby, hot flashes, depressed and irritable. As for the metformin, I've been told to cut back drastically on carbs or otherwise I'll be spending a lot of time in the bathroom doing number 2. So there goes sweets and bread! So depressing! And the fact that my IVF 
is now on hold due to my thyroid level being out of whack is not helping the cause either. It feels like my patience is running out and I am absolutely afraid that I might give up.

Anyone else taking Levo and has/had the same side effects? Any advice? Thank you in advance!
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Re: Levothyroxine and Metformin

  • riveridgionalriveridgional member
    edited October 2015
    I've had hypothyroidism for over 3 years and been on levothyroxine since then. I've never had any of those symptoms. Levothyroxine has only made me feel better (much better). Are you sure those aren't side effects of the Metformin?
    Married to DH 10/6/12
    TTC since 5/14
    Unexplained with (controlled) hypothyroidism and suspected ovulatory dysfunction (but, I do ovulate on my own)
    Clomid 50 mg 3/15 (unmonitored) - BFN
    Clomid 50 mg + metformin 4/15 (unmonitored) - BFN 
    First RE appt. 5/15; Natural cycle 5/15 monitored with 2 mature follicles and Pregnyl Trigger (full dose) + prometrium - BFN
    6/15 HSG - clear tubes & normal uterus; great PCT test results
    TI - 100 mg Clomid + prometrium (AM & PM) + vaginal estrace (AM & PM) 6-7/15 (monitored) --> no additional response and thinned lining - BFN
    TI - Injectables (follistim + Gonal-F, Ganirelix, & 1/2 dose Pregnyl) + prometrium (AM & PM) 9/15 --> 3-7 mature follicles (3 definites and 4+ that could have matured due to trigger) @ O -->BFN + 5 large cysts
    BC for 2 weeks due to cysts
    TI - Injectables (Gonal-F, Ganirelix & full dose Pregnyl) + prometrium (AM & PM) 10/15 --> 1 mature follicle --> BFN 
    TI - Last attempt at injectables (Gonal-F, Ganirelix & 1/2 dose Pregnyl) + crinone (AM only) + vaginal estrace (AM & PM) 11/15 --> 3-4 mature follicles --> BFP!! 11/27/15 @ 13dpo (shockingly, actually waited until then to test)

    Beta #1 @ 16dpo (11/30/15) = 1,075
    Beta #2 @ 19dpo (12/3/15) = 3,150
    One baby: Saw heartbeat @ 5w5d (114 bpm; baby measuring 2.3mm)

    "Great Things are Happening"
    Report Reply
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  • LoveBulldogs99LoveBulldogs99 member
    No I don't think it's from the Metformin because I've actually been on it for a year but a lower dosage. Stopped for about 3 weeks after meeting my new RE (to do a glucose tolerance challenge) and started back up. I've read about Other people complaining of the same side effects but no one that is going thru IVF.
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  • Whiggrrl65Whiggrrl65 member
    I have been on Synthroid for 20 years and have never had any of those side effect. I can tell you that both my PCP and RE insist on Synthroid instead of Levothyroxine because of purity issues.
      • TTC #1 since August 2014
      • currently on 5th medicated IUI cycle
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  • LoveBulldogs99LoveBulldogs99 member
    I neglected to mention that I work night shift and takes the Levo in the AM before going to bed which I thought shouldn't matter since I've read ppl taking it at night before bed and they feel great in the morning. Not me! I struggle to get out of bed cuz I just feel so run down like I'm getting sick!
    As for synthoid, a coworker told me that she switched from Levo to synthoid due to the same side effects I am now experiencing. She told me that she has to pay pretty much out of pocket for the synthoid because most insurance won't pay for it. I'm just hoping that once my IVF gets going that any other pending meds won't add to side effects I'm already feeling.
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  • riveridgionalriveridgional member
    You really need to take levothyroxine on an empty stomach to ensure it is absorbed properly. I would ensure your doctor is okay with you taking it as you are. I would think you'd still need to take it upon waking, but I understand that could be difficult on days you aren't working nightshift. Definitely explain your work/sleep schedule with your doctor and get advice frim him/her on when to take it. I'm on the generic and have had no issues, but I have heard people discuss that generics may not provide a consistent level of hormone.

    I can't imagine only 50mcg would have turned you into hyper this fast, but some of your symptoms sound like symptoms of hyperthyroidism. I would also report these to your doctor to be sure. But, also the fact you stopped metformin for 3 weeks and restarted doesn't convince me that your side effects aren't from stopping and starting metformin. I would imagine your system was wondering wtf was going on with that. You should probably have followup testing for your TSH soon to check where your levels are (I'm assuming your doctor already has this scheduled).
    Married to DH 10/6/12
    TTC since 5/14
    Unexplained with (controlled) hypothyroidism and suspected ovulatory dysfunction (but, I do ovulate on my own)
    Clomid 50 mg 3/15 (unmonitored) - BFN
    Clomid 50 mg + metformin 4/15 (unmonitored) - BFN 
    First RE appt. 5/15; Natural cycle 5/15 monitored with 2 mature follicles and Pregnyl Trigger (full dose) + prometrium - BFN
    6/15 HSG - clear tubes & normal uterus; great PCT test results
    TI - 100 mg Clomid + prometrium (AM & PM) + vaginal estrace (AM & PM) 6-7/15 (monitored) --> no additional response and thinned lining - BFN
    TI - Injectables (follistim + Gonal-F, Ganirelix, & 1/2 dose Pregnyl) + prometrium (AM & PM) 9/15 --> 3-7 mature follicles (3 definites and 4+ that could have matured due to trigger) @ O -->BFN + 5 large cysts
    BC for 2 weeks due to cysts
    TI - Injectables (Gonal-F, Ganirelix & full dose Pregnyl) + prometrium (AM & PM) 10/15 --> 1 mature follicle --> BFN 
    TI - Last attempt at injectables (Gonal-F, Ganirelix & 1/2 dose Pregnyl) + crinone (AM only) + vaginal estrace (AM & PM) 11/15 --> 3-4 mature follicles --> BFP!! 11/27/15 @ 13dpo (shockingly, actually waited until then to test)

    Beta #1 @ 16dpo (11/30/15) = 1,075
    Beta #2 @ 19dpo (12/3/15) = 3,150
    One baby: Saw heartbeat @ 5w5d (114 bpm; baby measuring 2.3mm)

    "Great Things are Happening"
    Report Reply
  • emgem819emgem819 member
    @LoveBulldogs99 I have been on syntroid and metformin for the past 6 months and haven't had any symptoms like you describe. Metformin was pretty bad at first with the Bathroom side effects but after a month those go away and it's back to normal even if you eat sugar or bread. At least it was for me. They upped my dose recently of the syntroid and I haven't even noticed a difference. It is different for everyone though so maybe you should look into switching to synthroid if you can swing it. I pay higher than I usually do for that prescription--$30/month but it's not too bad.
    Married to DH since 8/15
    TTC since 5/15
    PCOS, 35+, diagnosed with pre-diabetes
    TI for 4 cycles: 1 round of femara; 2 rounds femara/ injectables: all ended in BFN. 
    3 IUI Cycles: letrozole/Follistim with HCG Trigger,all resulted in BFN.
    FET #1: Baseline appt 4/28/16, Gonal-F/Menopur stims, Centrotide 5/4/16, ER 5/11/16; 6/8/16 ET, BFN
    FET #2: Baseline appt 6/22/16, Estrace/PIO shots: 7/12/16 ET, 1st beta 7/21/16: 83 BFP, 2nd beta 7/23/16: 315. 1st U/S: 8/4/16 empty sac.  2nd U/S: 8/10/16 yolk sac appeared, everything stopped growing. Office D&C: 8/11/16, MC.
    FET #3: Baseline appt 12/28/16, Estrace/PIO shots: 1/17/17 ET, 1st beta 1/27/17: 146 BFP, 2nd beta 1/29/17: 336, 1st U/S: 2/16/17, 2 healthy twin babies measuring 7w0d.  EDD: 10/5/17
    Pregnancy Ticker
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  • LoveBulldogs99LoveBulldogs99 member
    I'm due for lab work this Monday to check my thyroid levels and other things. Maybe 50mcg is enough to make a difference maybe even bring my level down to where my RE likes it to be - which would be absolutely awesome cuz that means we can move forward with IVF. Crossing fingers!
    I just try to tell myself that hopefully and soon enough that these symptoms that I'm experience, may it be from the Levo or Metformin, will soon subside. Otherwise, my endocrinologist and I will definitely have a long conversation but that won't happen until the end of the month.
    Again, thank you for you feedback!!! :)
    Report Reply
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