Just over a week ago my GP told me I was taking too much levothyroxine and reduced dose from 100 to 75mcg. This coincided with course of antibiotics (Trimethoprim) for suspected UTI although no infection detected from lab tests.
I have been feeling so weak, shaky, hot, have no energy and can hardly get out of bed. I also feel 'spaced out' as if I'm not really here. Could the reduced dose have such an effect so quickly?
Dear libbyt
I am unsure .
Have you had trimethoprim before.
Has your heart rate increased at all?
Hello jean
No I've not had that antibiotic before.
My heart rate is always high, has been investigated but no problem.
Hate feeling so unwell and unable to function properly. Even overbalanced and fell over. Makes me worry there's something else going on that's making me feel like this
Hi Libby
my suggestion would be if you are feeling so unwell go back to your GP and let him/her know how you are feeling. It's your body and you know when you are not feeling right. Hopefully a further blood test will be done plus you temp, pulse, heart rate etc to check if your reduced dose is affecting you. Also do not take your levo and antibiotics together. Wishing you better
Hello Libbyt: I am an RN (Nurse) and I live in the USA. When you have a UTI, they ask for urine and they put a litmus type of dip stick and it changes colors and it shows if you have bacteria in your urine. Antibiotics can make you have loose bowels and in some people it can cause you to feel weak or tired or nauseous. The good thing is the UTI will clear up and go away. Just having an infection, can make you tired. You may not even know you had a UTI and you may have some painful burning urination until the infection goes away.
Now your dose of Levothyroxine would take time to reduce in your body since you have built a level. If the symptoms persists after your antibiotic therapy is over - please contact your doctor and tell him of the symptoms.
I hope this helps.
Hi shellyC19. I finished the antibiotics last Wednesday and hoped the tiredness symptoms would have improved but I still feel in a daze. Will give it a few more days and go back to GP if I don't feel any better. Feel like I'm sleeping my life away!
Many thanks for your help & advice
HI libbyt
I would advise just giving the GP a quick ring and asking for a telephone consultation to advise re the reactiion to this particular antibiotic. You may and I stress the word may need a different one.
A repeat urine dipstick test may show if the infection is clearing up or not.
Jean
Hi Gizmo1963 Thanks for your reply & advice.
Antibiotics finished last Wednesday so hopefully they should be out of my system by now. I will go back to GP if things don't improve, trouble is I don't know if feelings caused by problems with thyroid, venlafaxine for depression/anxiety or hormonal as I still have hot flushes & night sweats although went through menopause years ago (I'm in my late 50s)
Hi Jean
GP did a dipstick test last week and it showed no infection. Maybe I didn't have an infection in the first place as initial lab tests also did not detect infection. My symptoms were blood in urine, lower abdominal pain (like period pains) and poor urine flow. These have all disappeared, just left feeling exhausted
Hi Liby
I would still go back perhaps another dipstick test may show an infection this time. It does not sound as if that particular antibiotic did anything to help you.
Trimeth can make you feel pretty ill in itself .
Has your heart rate decreased at all?
Jean
Hi Libby
I can completely understand how you are feeling. I too am post menopausal but have a host of hormonal symptoms including sweats and flushes. Strange that although you had blood in your urine it showed no infection. If you still have low abdominal pain, it may be worth being referred for a gynae appt to ensure the bleeding and pain isn't from elsewhere eg. A cyst, fibroids or ovaries. Did you get your blood test results from your GP as if you have always felt well on the dose you were previously taking, that may be the dose that treats your thyroid condition the best. I don't think the venal faxing would suddenly make you feel like this unless you have only just started this medication and then it can.
Hi libbyt
I agree with Gizmo.
think you should go back to your GP to update him or her and perhaps take a sample of urine with you.
jean
Oops.... Meant to read as Venlafaxine
what is it prescribed for?
Trimethoprim is one of the many drugs that are contra indicated in Long QT syndrome. I have that but prior to being diagnosed had several courses of trimethoprim which always made me feel a lof worse.Now I know why!!!!!!
My GP didn't seem to think I should still be getting menopausal symptoms (but then he is a man!)
Yes blood results were from GP, he didn't explain why he thought the dose was too high, I've been on the same dose for years with no problems.
If these awful feelings don't disappear in a few days I'll defintely go back.
I asked him if the antibiotics could be affecting me and he just laughed and said all medications have side effects! Very helpful
Heart rate seems normal.
If antibiotics make you feel that ill I'd rather put up with the problem!
Maybe I'm not giving enough time for everything to settle down, just want to be able to function again (nearly said 'normally' but haven't felt that for years!)
Hi Libby
Typical response from a doctor. I am fed up with the 'expected response'.
I research everything now. If you research antibiotic toxicity and then Floxiehope you will get a flavour of what I am on about.
Also research drug interactions on the internet.
Jeanx
Trouble is I research symptoms - mine exactly matched those for bladder cancer which is not ideal with my anxiety problems!
I will be very wary before taking antibiotics again
Libby
That is a problem when doing research.
Signs and symptoms can mimic several different conditions.
There is a condition called interstitial cystitis which although painful is not a malignant condition. If the bladder is sensitive you can get cystitis caused through irritation of the urine against the bladder wall.
This is neither an infection or due to cancer.
Acidic foodstuffs as can some medications can cause an irritation of the bladder.
Hope that helps.
Jean
I would ask him or your surgery to print you out a copy of your 2 most recent blood test results so we can then understand why he reduced your doseage after all these years. Please ask to be referred to a gynaecologist or menopausal clinic so they can do further investigations to find out what is going on. Your GP sounds ignorant to me - has he not read the papers or watched the news lately? Post menopause can last up to 14 years after your periods stop!!!