The Endo is right - no generic for Synthroid. It does make a difference. Synthroid does not suppress the throid. It adds the hormones that are low in hypothroid people.

The meds for Graves Disease (hyperthroid) is the one that surpresses the over abundance of hormones being produced by an overactive throid. The med that surpresses the throid is Tapazole. Again, used for people with an overactive throid.

By putting you on synthroid, you most likely are hypothroid (not producing enough hormones) that's probably why you have more energy when he gives you a higher dose. Higher dose; more hormones. But it is important to stay where the blood test show and the amount necessary. Getting overdose is sometimes done by people looking to loose weight because of the extra hormones causing more energy, etc. But not healthy to do this. Sounds like this is a possible reason for high and lows. The dose is not properly adjusted to your throid needs.

(Ger)

My pcp has me checked every few months. the numbers have been going up and down for almost 2 years now...that's why she sent me to an endocrinologist. The endocrinologist had an ultrasound done of the thyroid...it is asymmetrical. On examintation, she said it felt like a "typical" MS thryoid...not hard, but not symmetrical. She had the pcp do the testing and said see her yearly, but this is really beginning to affect my quality of life. My face is swollen, my hair is brittle and thinning, my nails are so thing (the manicurist said people with thyroid issues never have healthy nails), and even though I'm on a weight loss regimen I'm not being successful. And I also read that it can affect your joints, which have been bothering me quite a bit since Christmas.
But the fatigue, which I've been blaming on MS, is so up and down the last month that I am sure it's my thyroid.
In the research I read on Hashimoto's, it stated that the thyroid can occasionally "kick on", produce increased hormone, and that is why the numbers flucuate.

I will have a long talk with the specialist when I see her...we need to nip this in the bud.

You might want to try a new endocrinologist. As mentioned previously, I started Hyperthroid (Graves) producing too many throid hormones. I had no idea what was wrong with me. My PCP added throid without my knowledge in a general blood test. The doctor called me up and asked me if I knew I had Graves Disease (hyperthroid). Luckily got to a good endo, who also is an internist. he treated me a couple of years with the Tapazole and the I went into remission.

Because of blood work ever 4 - 6 months, it was caught right away when I became hypothroid and started with Synthroid. Dose had been adjusted a couple of times and for the past couple of years am on the same dose with no more up and downs. Again, I was lucky to get to the right endo who really is treating my throid disease. Once you have the disease, it is with you for life. Correct treatment can keep in level. This up and down is not good for you or anyone that comes in your path. I know when I had too much of the throid hormone; the anxiety, irritability, hair loss, etc. was not good. I do so understand what you are going through. Wish you all the best.

(Ger)

I thought of something . . . Have you had your adrenals tested? Cortisol levels checked? If these aren't functioning well, it can definitely effect your thyroid. Also, when you get the thyroid tests are they just the TSH? Or do you get the T3/T4 checked as well? This can make a difference and is worth checking in to.

I hope you start feeling better soon.

PCP checks T3 and T4, per my suggestion...she used to only check the TSH levels.
When I see the endocrinologist, I'll ask her about the adrenals...I also read that people with symptoms should have levels against thyroglobulin and thyroid peroxidase checked.

I found out that I wasn't supposed to take ANY other meds with the synthroid, as opposed to what I was told by pcp and other docs. I take incontinence med in the a.m. as well as zanaflex and I took them all together.

Specialist's nurse just called and told me to take it alone, and to alternate doses every other day for 8 weeks, then have labs done again. I am not happy...I told her when I'm on the lower dose that I sleep all day...told me to do it and then labs...HELLO??? Did you hear me? Nope, just do as I am told.

So we'll see...

The higher dose gives you added throid hormones, thus the reason for more energy; less synthroid, less throid hormones; still not good if you are very sleepy. Hopefully, soon, the correct dose will be reached, which should level you out and get back to a world without all these highs and lows. But, she is right. I was unaware for quite some time about not taking anything with the synthroid as well. Very important.

Also, seeing an endo whose specialty is the throid is more likely to get you on the correct dose sooner. Although, the blood work is necessary every 4 to 6 months in case there are any changes. The throid regulates so much in our bodies. I know it has been a rough ride for you.
(Ger)