Thyroid Problems from Effexor?

[FMcElligott]

I now know that if you have Thyroid problems you are not to take effexor, but has anyone had hypotyroidism caused by effexor. Right now my thyroid is shot. I just had my tests done on it and awaiting the results.

I hate effexor

[Ezin]

It is listed as a rare effect:

http://www.drugs.com/pro/effexor-xr.html

Read down towards the bottom...

"Endocrine system - Rare: goiter, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, thyroid nodule, thyroiditis."

[FMcElligott]

Thanks Ezin,

But WTF, I am heavy enough and I may be facing cancer in my Thyroid. I don't have a family history of it and I never had a problem with my thyroid and I am at the Doctor ALL the time.

This could be a lawsuit waiting to happen.

[dramey]

i have had hypothyroid for years, i got on effexor because of the depression the hypothyroid caused. i have not had any trouble because of the effexor in regards to my weight or my thyroid. i just am having a hard time getting off of this stuff!!! think i will try the bead method too. i dont want to take any more drugs on top of it.

[FMcElligott]

Dramey, What medication are you on?

I am having to go on something because of my hypothyroid.

[jinglebts]

I have just come off a year's worth of effexor and I would never take it again. Last month it gave me seratonin syndrome, last week it gave me absence seizures, and I just got a call from my doctor's office now saying that my thyroid is low. Since Dilantin (I been having seizures for six years now) can also cause thyroid issues, I wasn't surprised, but then I remembered -- I've been taking effexor till about three weeks ago (in decreasing doses).

I'm willing to bet it was the effexor. Damned drug!

[jinglebts]

And I'll go in with you on your lawsuit!!

[fmcelligott]

Jinglebts,

I think the FDA has dropped the ball on this one. I spoke with a lawyer and you can't even sue the FDA he said???? what do I know I'm not in that field so I can't confirm it but it is crazy.

There must be some kind of lobbying going on somewhere.

[deedles]

I have thyroid nodules (b4 effexor), my doc said the effex was OK for the thyroid!
Now I don't believe her!

[angry-not-mad]

I started effexor in the fall. I dropped a bunch of weight right after that without exercising or eating well. I was exhausted all the time, got heart palpitations, and my eyesight got worse. Turns out I got hyperthyroidism. I don't think it's such a "rare" side effect. I took my last effexor one week ago and am in the throes of withdrawal. Now i have to take drugs for my thyroid and may have to have it radiated.

[cathionwhidbey]

I have just started checking into these effects from Effexor. I have had such horrible short term memory losses. But then as I have started looking, I find this info about thyroids. My doc is sending me to a specialist because my last blook panel showed all of a sudden my sed rates are bad. I wonder if this is caused by Effexor????
between the memory and the feeling like I am having mini strokes in my brain and now this, Is there a lawyer out there that can take this on?? I lost a chance at a great job recently becuase I couldn't learn the info. I have never had a problem learning anything. So it was a big kick in the butt for me!!!
Anybody else having these problems??

[Christinem]

I have experienced a persistent inflammation of my right thyroid, a goiter, for a long while now, since, ironically, that I have been on Effexor!
I suspect it is because of taking this drug...and I wish to go off of it, and not ever go back on it!

[Jodi]

If you Google effexor xr and hives together, you will find a whole other host of problems caused by Effexor. Any of you have hives as well? I contacted Wyeth and they admitted that hives are an issue in the clinical trials, but it's not listed as a side effect because they decided it wasn't a big enough problem. I was told that unless people call them and report side effects that they won't do anything about it. They need to hear from us!

[Stephanie]

I took 375 mg of Effexor a day for several years and have been off it for five years. During that time, I developed hypothyroidism. I do not know if Effexor was to blame, but I still have hypothyroidism.

[cindy]

FMcElligott wrote:

I now know that if you have Thyroid problems you are not to take effexor, but has anyone had hypotyroidism caused by effexor. Right now my thyroid is shot. I just had my tests done on it and awaiting the results.
I hate effexor

I was on Effexor (3x 75mg daily) for the past 2.5 years and I have just discovered that I have a hypoactive thyroid. My doctor didn't mention this as a possible side-effect and I don't recall seeing it in the literature I was given. I'm pissed!!

[randa]

Stephanie wrote:

I took 375 mg of Effexor a day for several years and have been off it for five years. During that time, I developed hypothyroidism. I do not know if Effexor was to blame, but I still have hypothyroidism.

I also have being on effexor 75xr for about four years and still on it.Last year i also developed hypothyroidism i want to know if there are other people who had the same problem,because if the medication causes this and can be proven the company producing it will be really in a great deal of trouble.

[randa]

i would like to be posted about people who developed hypothyrodism after using effexor for some time.

[Mad At the FDA]

I have been having severe medical issues since upping my dose of Effexor XR two years ago. I have had the development of thyroid nodules, a mass in my pituitary gland, exfoliating facial lesions, and intermittent extreme swelling of the sublingual and parotid saliva glands amongst many other symptoms. No, you can't sue the FDA (Crazy huh?) But please, you CAN AND SHOULD, all call the FDA to report your side effects. If no one calls them to report them, the rate of some of these incidents gets put down on their package insert as "rare". EVERYONE SHOULD CALL THE FDA WITH THEIR SIDE EFFECTS. A doctor just today finally figured out it was the effexor causing this all along... after ten thousand out of pocket expenses and now a scarred face that looks like Edward James Olmos.

[Bec]

I've just found this thread after some Googling. I've developed absence seizures after 6 months on Effexor. I've been so happy with the results from the medication, I'm a bit disappointed that I'll have to try something else!

[Imen]

My doc just called me yesterday to let me know that I have Hyperthyroid, and guess what I am on effexor as well. I started it about 6 months ago for panic attacks while I was pregnant! I'm in the process on stopping Effexor, 1 pill/5 days