Can Levothyroxine cause Sweating and Hot Flashes?

Posted by Gail, Alumni Mentor @baxtersmom, Jan 7, 2020

I started on Levothryroxine around September of last year after testing borderline hypothyroid and complaining of fatigue. After being on 25 mcg except for 3 days a week where I take 50, it got my TSH back to around 2.5 as I recall. I am having the most awful sweating episodes it is as if I am going through menopause all over again. Has anyone had this experience with Levothyroxine? I take some other meds so it is hard to know if this is the culprit but it is the one I began most recently and seems most likely the cause at least to me. I should probably get tested again but is it possible that even if your TSH is where they want it to be (they tested the free T3, T4 and some other things as well) that this particular medication just doesn't agree with me? Has anyone had levothyroxine cause sweating?

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Hi Catherine,
Yes, the sweating is horrific. I did start taking Prem Pro (estrogen/progesterone). I only take 3 a week just to put the hot flashes at bay. I use to take Prem Pro for hot flashes before I developed hypothyroidism. I started on Armor Thyroid and it does cause them as well. I opted for Prem Pro and it did make flashes go away. I have all my female parts so I have to take estrogen with progesterone.
my levels are best between 1 and 2 otherwise, yes, my hair and nails and skin get so dry it is horrible.
My Doctor argued with me about the meds not causing hots flashes and I printed off the side effects and took it to him and he got very sarcastic because he was embarrassed, I'm sure. A doctor that doesn't know the side effects of medication he prescribes or that refuses to check it out as a side effect, should not be allowed to practice medicine. They lump everyone into a 95 percentile of treatment and it should be an individual basis. Big Pharma started this and they are also the ones that started the average of 0.45 to 3.45 for TSH levels as an average. Everyone is different and you should be able to find a doctor that adjust your medication to where you are not having symptoms. Bottom line......Good Luck, because they follow big pharma rules because they control all medical and are evil as hell. All about the money.

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@adpetty

Hi Catherine,
Yes, the sweating is horrific. I did start taking Prem Pro (estrogen/progesterone). I only take 3 a week just to put the hot flashes at bay. I use to take Prem Pro for hot flashes before I developed hypothyroidism. I started on Armor Thyroid and it does cause them as well. I opted for Prem Pro and it did make flashes go away. I have all my female parts so I have to take estrogen with progesterone.
my levels are best between 1 and 2 otherwise, yes, my hair and nails and skin get so dry it is horrible.
My Doctor argued with me about the meds not causing hots flashes and I printed off the side effects and took it to him and he got very sarcastic because he was embarrassed, I'm sure. A doctor that doesn't know the side effects of medication he prescribes or that refuses to check it out as a side effect, should not be allowed to practice medicine. They lump everyone into a 95 percentile of treatment and it should be an individual basis. Big Pharma started this and they are also the ones that started the average of 0.45 to 3.45 for TSH levels as an average. Everyone is different and you should be able to find a doctor that adjust your medication to where you are not having symptoms. Bottom line......Good Luck, because they follow big pharma rules because they control all medical and are evil as hell. All about the money.

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Thank you for replying. I agree with everything you say. My doctor also acts the same way 😢 It’s so frustrating and maddening. It does help knowing there are others that have the same issues ❤️

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@adpetty

Hi Catherine,
Yes, the sweating is horrific. I did start taking Prem Pro (estrogen/progesterone). I only take 3 a week just to put the hot flashes at bay. I use to take Prem Pro for hot flashes before I developed hypothyroidism. I started on Armor Thyroid and it does cause them as well. I opted for Prem Pro and it did make flashes go away. I have all my female parts so I have to take estrogen with progesterone.
my levels are best between 1 and 2 otherwise, yes, my hair and nails and skin get so dry it is horrible.
My Doctor argued with me about the meds not causing hots flashes and I printed off the side effects and took it to him and he got very sarcastic because he was embarrassed, I'm sure. A doctor that doesn't know the side effects of medication he prescribes or that refuses to check it out as a side effect, should not be allowed to practice medicine. They lump everyone into a 95 percentile of treatment and it should be an individual basis. Big Pharma started this and they are also the ones that started the average of 0.45 to 3.45 for TSH levels as an average. Everyone is different and you should be able to find a doctor that adjust your medication to where you are not having symptoms. Bottom line......Good Luck, because they follow big pharma rules because they control all medical and are evil as hell. All about the money.

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What about peeing a lot in the same hour or hours, is this a side effect of Levothyroxine?

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I can’t stand being hot either! I only have 1/2 thyroid left after surgery years ago. I have not had the dots connected between synthroid and heat intolerance! 🥲

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@suzyq99

What about peeing a lot in the same hour or hours, is this a side effect of Levothyroxine?

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I haven’t noticed this for myself.

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@catherinebird

I haven’t noticed this for myself.

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I haven’t had that side effect.

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I have not had the sweating, but I am always very warm when other people my age are cold.

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I thought my horrible night sweats were from menopause but maybe they are from the Levo. I go to the VA and I haven’t had my levels tested in a year.

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@brendaloukes

I thought my horrible night sweats were from menopause but maybe they are from the Levo. I go to the VA and I haven’t had my levels tested in a year.

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I thought the same thing and was treated with hormone replacement for 6 years. The doctor didn’t even test my hormone levels during that time. Turns out it is the thyroid meds causing it 🥵

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@catherinebird

I thought the same thing and was treated with hormone replacement for 6 years. The doctor didn’t even test my hormone levels during that time. Turns out it is the thyroid meds causing it 🥵

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I just stopped taking Effexor and am going through horrible withdrawals. My Dr put me on this SNRI to assist with the night flashes. Well it didn’t work and now I get to live my days with brain zaps.

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