Your treatment of hypothyroidism entails restoring your thyroid hormone levels to normal. It may take several weeks, as the peak effect of levothyroxine can take weeks to achieve DailyMed, Levothyroxine replaces the primary hormone produced by the thyroid gland that it can no longer make for itself. For example, you might be instructed to take the same dose daily or different amounts on different days of the week.
Your healthcare provider will check your thyroid-stimulating hormone TSH levels with blood tests to see if your thyroid hormones are in balance; a high TSH means that you need more thyroid hormone and vice versa.
Your healthcare provider will estimate what dosage of thyroid replacement medicine to give you based on things like your age, weight, why you have low thyroid hormone levels and other factors. The dosage might also be influenced by other medicines you take—be sure to tell your provider about any other drugs you take, including prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, and dietary supplements. Levothyroxine is most effective if you take it on an empty stomach, minutes before eating DailyMed, Also, to maximize effectiveness, do not take calcium carbonate like in over-the-counter antacids or iron supplements, as they can prevent levothyroxine from being absorbed.
Proton pump inhibitors like omeprazole brand name Prilosec and other antacids brand names Maalox, Mylanta, etc. You may need to adjust your dosage over time. Often, healthcare providers start people on a low dose to get people used to the hormone replacement medicine and prevent symptoms of hyperthyroidism.
Thyroxine is slow-acting, and it can take time for levels of this hormone to rise to the target level. In a typical scenario, your healthcare provider will test your TSH level after weeks to see how you have responded Garber, Thyroid medication can cause a number of side effects, especially as you and your healthcare provider look for the right dosage for you.
Most of the side effects of levothyroxine are similar to the symptoms of hyperthyroidism. They usually indicate that you are getting too much of the drug—in other words, too much thyroid hormone. The U. What is Hypothyroidism? Abbott Laboratories Web site. Medline Plus Web site. Mayo Clinic Web site. January 13, Yvette C. Signs and Symptoms Asociated with Hypothyroidism Hypothyroidism rarely causes symptoms in the early stages, but if left untreated over time it can cause a number of medical problems such as infertility, obesity, heart problems, and joint pain.
Treatment If you have been diagnosed with hypothyroidism your doctor will prescribe a synthetic form of the thyroid hormone. References 1. Terrie is a clinical pharmacy writer based in Haymarket, Virginia. My doctor says I don't need treatment now, but she wants me to come back for regular checkups.
Does hypothyroidism usually get worse over time? If it does, how is it treated? Occasionally, the condition may resolve without treatment. Follow-up appointments are important to monitor hypothyroidism over time, however. If hypothyroidism doesn't go away on its own within several months, then treatment is necessary.
If left untreated, this condition eventually may lead to serious health problems. The thyroid gland is a small butterfly-shaped gland in the front of the neck that makes the hormones triiodothyronine, or T3, and thyroxine, or T4. Those hormones affect all aspects of your metabolism. They maintain the rate at which your body uses fats and carbohydrates, help control your body temperature, influence your heart rate, and help regulate the production of proteins. But for those who want to eat within an hour of rising, this approach may not work.
Just as food can, antacids and iron supplements can bind with your hypothyroidism medication and prevent its absorption. Build a time buffer between taking your thyroid medication and taking any other medications, as well as any antacids, multivitamins, or other supplements, like iron.
Discuss any treatment changes with your pharmacist. Some medications are processed by the same enzyme in the liver as levothyroxine — this could interfere enough with your thyroid medication to require dosage adjustments.
You should also discuss any potential changes to the brand of thyroid medication that you take. The ATA says that you should not switch from one brand of thyroid medication to another, from your brand to a generic, or from one generic to another without talking to your doctor first.
This is because there may be variation in hormone content among thyroid medications. Hormones matter, and so could weight changes.
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