Levoxyl and exhaustion

I am just slightly hypothyroid and could go without meds, but decided to try meds, and endocrinologist suggested Levoxyl 50 mcg per day. First day on the drug, felt exhausted by night time, next morning, usually jump out of bed for workout and was extremely tired at the gym, no energy, was starving during the day even after breakfast which is unusual for me, and exhausted by evening, and third day woke up with swollen glands and exhaustion, knew something was up. Decided to research the side effects and found others with similar symptoms and didn't like long term effects so I am going off the drug and hoping I caused no damage to my system. My doctor's reaction was "impossible" that the drug could cause this. My reaction was, "no thank you, I think for myself, know my body, and know this drug caused this reaction." I was feeling fine before 3 days ago, and how could so many have similar symptoms if it isn't the drug.

I only took Levoxyl for 5 days then stopped. The first couple of days were just headaches and extreme nausea. At night I would have sweats and during the day chills. I was going to live with these side effects but then on the fourth day I started being nervous, my face was flushing and one of the veins in my leg swelled. Then on the fifth day - along with everything else I began feeling a little weakness in my muscles - but the kicker was my toes and fingers were so sore and hurt so bad I couldn't stand it. My fingers felt as if I had been typing non stop all day - first thing in the morning and all day long. I called my physician who said that Levoxyl couldn't give any of those symptoms and I was imagining it all. I WAS NOT imagining any of it! I didn't wake up and say,"oh, i want my fingers and toes to hurt all day long for no reason". He didn't like me questioning him, but I wasn't questioning him, I was questioning Levoxyl. I asked him if there were any withdrawal symptoms and he said no. So I stopped taking it. Of course, I am not symptom free yet, as I figure it will take a couple days to get out of my system. My thyroid is slow and I know I am going to need to take something - I just wonder what suggestions other people with Levoxyl have done. And if anyone who has gone off it, actually had worse problems in the withdrawal phase. I know five days isn't that much, but I think my body is very medicine sensitive and responds very well. Thanks so much for anyones comments or advice!
Tammy in Florida

I have been on Levoxyl for 10 years and have never felt "good" yet. My dtr thought maybe I needed an increase, so I am on 125mcg three days a week, 112mcg the other four days. Upon taking the increased meds, I was experiencing headaches every morning, and also severe exhaustion every afternoon. I also have muscle pain and cramps, and memory loss, thinning hair. I also have developed a stomach issue- maybe acid reflux, probably because I feel hungry all the time. I would really like to explore the natural thyroid but my dtr is not familiar with it but I think would be willing to try it. Can anyone advise me on the process of switching over? Has anyone weaned themselves off the levoxyl alltogether? I have a friend who was on it for 10 years and her tyroid no longer has a problem. She is totally off all meds.