Can Levothyroxine cause Sweating and Hot Flashes?

I am quite confused because I have hot spells and cold chills down my back, but I do not sweat, and I think my body should be sweating at times. I am 85 and my doctor gives me no help. I take Synthroid at 112 mcg. My endocrinologist says everything is perfect. Dorisena

Hello, @dosina. I'm 73...74 in a few days and have spent the past year dealing with the same/similar symptoms, getting progressively worse. This experience ended in Nov. 2020, Mayo.

I, too, was fearful I was re-experienceing dreaded menopause. I was not.

I began taking levothyroxine several years ago. I was just below normal for my age group. A couple years ago, dosage was increased gradually. Then, the new symptoms started.

Night sweats got to the point my head would get very hot and hotter, beginning at night then off and on all day. Then,, add sweating to the point I had sweating running down my face, neck, all over my head, then my whole body was involved. I had chills, my anxiety level kept going up, couldn't stop talking, agitated.....etc. I told several doctors who didn't connect to thyroid.

When admitted through ED after episodes thought to be BP related, 'fainting ' on getting up from a stretcher or chair, Mayo docs zeroed in on the thyroid. My hypothyroid was hyperthyroid due to over medication.

My dosage was cut back to 122mcg from 157mcg. Within days I began improving. Calmed down, fewer tremors, no 'hot heads', no sweating, no fainting and generally much improved!

I am still feeling better. Everything seems to be working better. I hope this story helps you w/yours. It may not be the same, but now you have more information to add to the pot.

Wishing you well and blessings on this journey.
Elizabeth

No, I am not experiencing night sweats. In fact I did not have them with menopause because I had my uterus removed at age 35 and then the doctors told me nothing. When I was about 50, I learned that any menopause I may have experienced happened after that surgery. Later I went on Estrogen because I wasn’t sleeping and I was employed for three years. After 10 years, I was told to quit the Estrogen because of cancer risk. I am taking 112 mcg of Synthroid after having my thyroid removed due to cancerous growths. My Endocrinologist says everything is perfect.

But I have cold chills down my back despite wearing sweaters and I have hot spells several times a day including in the middle of the night, without any sweating. I didn’t sweat last summer while working in the sun in the garden. I thought that was strange. I have little energy and don’t work hard at all anymore. The diabetes is well under control with my diet. I am scheduled to get my kidneys scanned as well as my bladder. I just need to sleep better without pills, of course, so I can get up at a reasonable time in the morning. Dorisena

I am taking 75mg of levothyroxine in the morning before breakfast. Have low thyroid (my dad had it so I guess it could be inherited). Been taking levothyroxine for years. I have been diagnosed with bipolar depression, have trouble sleeping unless taking seriously, constipation, dry skin, brittle nails and pruny fingers all day long. Would seeing an endocrinologist help or any other suggestions anyone could offer?

An endocrinologist knows more about our hormones and our endocrine system, and how difficult it is to keep in perfect balance. I have the same symptoms and work on my diet to improve my skin and nails. I do not assume that problems are always inherited genetically. My endocrinologist says I must keep my one test number low to avoid more cancer. My thyroid surgeon says I am cancer free and will will not get more cancer. I am now being tested for kidney problems. The body works together in a complicated way and is wearing out at my age. Prunes are my friends for the constipation and I really like them.
I am drinking water at last to see if it really helps anything. It all has to work together, so the endocrinologist is your best help at this time. Dorisena

@sls1 Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Hypothyroidism can definitely be hereditary and some of your symptoms are indicative of low thyroid levels. I agree with @dorisena that an endocrinologist can address alternative avenues for relieving symptoms and balancing out your levels.

Have you had any problem with puffiness or weight gain at all?

Yes, although I've taken it for a couple of years it is only as of late that the sweating has become profuse.

I noticed sweating earlier on but discovered it was actually related in my case to acid reflux. As soon as I stopped foods with a lot of acid, & observed a few other GERD precautions like first sleeping for two hours on my left side, my sweating went away.

How do you take your thyroid medication (on a empty stomach, an hour away from food & coffee)? Are you taking this medication at least two hours apart from other medications? I myself can never skip these basics.

It may be a “filler” in the brand you are using. A pharmacist may be helpful in locating a alternative brand with some different fillers to perhaps run by your doctor. Taking less fillers seems to have improved my tolerance of thyroid medication.

Have you gotten any answers? I have been on Levothryroxine or years and from the first time I went on it I notices excessive sweating with exercise or in even moderate heat/sun, and possibly in high stress situations. My doctor switched me to brand name Synthroid to see if that would make a difference, but it didn't. Now we are discussing switching to Tirosint to see if that helps. This is not does dependent because at times my dosage was too low and needed to be increased -- the profuse sweating was sill a problem even when my dosage was too low.

I am dealing with the exact same thing! Profuse sweating and it is NOT related to my dose (in fact, at times my dose has been too low, and I still have the excessive sweating). Did you ever get any answers? My doctor is going to try switching me to Tirosint from Synthroid to see if that helps at all.