Side effects are also most likely to occur within the first three months of treatment, so that is the time to be most vigilant. Paying for medications can be stressful. It is a smart investment to get affordable health insurance if you don't already have it. If you are covered by Medicare or Medicaid coverage, your thyroid treatments should be paid for under these plans. There are a number of strategies you can use to remember to take your thyroid medication.
Your phone, computer, or another alarm can be programmed to give you a daily reminder. You can keep your medicine in an obvious place in your bedroom, bathroom, or kitchen, or you can use a pill organizer to keep you on track. Unfortunately, there isn't a natural or herbal replacement for thyroid hormone. Just like a person with type 1 diabetes needs insulin, you need thyroid hormone for survival. And there are no natural substitutes for antithyroid medications.
Hyperthyroidism can cause undesirable symptoms like anxiety and excessive sweating. But it can also cause weight loss and a reduced need for sleep, which some actually welcome. While you may experience some symptoms of overactive thyroid more than others, and you may even consider some of them beneficial, it is important to be aware of the strain this condition is putting on your heart, bones, and overall health.
You need to be involved in the decisions regarding your care, and how you feel about your medication and its effects are of central importance.
With a thyroid condition, your symptoms can be a good reflection of how well the medication is working. But the constellation of symptoms and side effects associated with thyroid disease can make it difficult to know whether you feel better overall with or without your thyroid medication.
Since you may be conflicted about your thyroid medication, it is a good idea to think about your reasons for feeling so conflicted, to discuss these reasons with your healthcare provider, and to fully understand the consequences of untreated thyroid disease. Most people who have thyroid disease feel better with the appropriate medication. However, thyroid disease is complicated, and you can develop new symptoms when you begin your treatment, either due to the wrong medication dose or the way that your body compensates and responds to the medication.
Sometimes, it can take a few months to adjust your medication, but the end result is well worth it. Again, be sure to discuss any concerns with your healthcare provider and do not cease taking your medication without consulting with her first. Losing weight with thyroid disease can be a struggle. It's having an underactive thyroid that causes hair loss — not treatment with levothyroxine.
Because the natural hair growth cycle takes several months, hair loss related to thyroid disease might only be seen months after the illness has begun. If treatment with levothyroxine has already started, it may seem like the medicine — rather than the underlying illness — is causing the hair loss. Page last reviewed: 23 October Next review due: 23 October Levothyroxine - Brand name: Eltroxin On this page About levothyroxine Key facts Who can and cannot take levothyroxine How and when to take levothyroxine Side effects Pregnancy and breastfeeding Cautions with other medicines Common questions about levothyroxine.
About levothyroxine Levothyroxine is a medicine used to treat an underactive thyroid gland hypothyroidism. Levothyroxine starts working straight away, but it may be several weeks before your symptoms start to improve. The most common side effects of levothyroxine are caused by taking a bigger dose than you need. Your doctor can lower your dose to help reduce any side effects.
Before you start taking levothyroxine, your doctor will do a blood test to see what dose you need. Once you start taking the medicine you'll have regular blood tests to see how well it's working.
Levothyroxine doses need to be carefully monitored during pregnancy. If you're planning to become pregnant or think you may be pregnant while taking levothyroxine, it's important to visit your doctor to make sure you get the correct care for you and your baby. Do not take levothyroxine and go back to your doctor to discuss your treatment if you have : had an allergic reaction to levothyroxine or any other medicines in the past an overactive thyroid hyperthyroidism a health problem that affects your adrenal glands your doctor will be able to tell you if you're not sure Check with your doctor before taking levothyroxine if you have : a heart problem including angina , heart disease or heart failure high blood pressure had a heart attack diabetes — the dose of your diabetes medicine may need to change because levothyroxine can raise blood sugar levels.
Dosage You may need to take several different tablets to make up your dose. Your doctor will tell you how many tablets to take each day. The dose of levothyroxine varies from person to person. How to take it Swallow the tablets whole with a drink of water.
What if I forget to take it? What if I take too much? Taking an extra dose of levothyroxine by accident is unlikely to harm you. Speak to your doctor if: you accidentally take more than 1 extra dose you get side effects such as a racing heart beat or chest pain — these may not happen straight away, it can be several days before they come on Blood tests Your doctor will do regular blood tests to check the levels of thyroid hormones in your body before and after starting levothyroxine.
These will allow your doctor to adjust the dose to suit you. You may need blood tests more often if you: are pregnant start or stop a medicine that can interfere with levothyroxine have any symptoms that could mean your dose is not quite right. Common side effects and self-help advice The common side effects of levothyroxine usually happen because the dose you're taking is more than you need.
Feeling sick Stick to simple meals and do not eat rich or spicy food. Being sick vomiting or diarrhoea Drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration. Headaches Make sure you rest and drink plenty of fluids. Feeling restless or excitable, or problems sleeping These symptoms should improve as your body gets used to levothyroxine. Flushing or sweating Try cutting down on coffee, tea and alcohol. Muscle cramps If you get unusual muscle ache, which is not from exercise or hard work, talk to your doctor.
Shaking, usually of the hands Talk to your doctor as you may need to have your dose reduced. Serious side effects It happens rarely, but some people may have serious side effects when taking levothyroxine. Call a doctor straight away if you get: chest pain fast or irregular heartbeats, or palpitations Serious allergic reaction In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction anaphylaxis to levothyroxine.
Information: You can report any suspected side effect using the Yellow Card safety scheme. Visit Yellow Card for further information. Levothyroxine and pregnancy Levothyroxine is usually safe to take in pregnancy. Levothyroxine and breastfeeding It's usually safe to breastfeed while you're on levothyroxine.
Non-urgent advice: Tell your doctor if you're:. They include: medicines for fits or seizures — such as carbamazepine and phenytoin rifampicin amiodarone oestrogens — such as in combined contraceptive pills or hormone replacement therapy HRT Levothyroxine can change how other medicines work, so their doses may need to be altered.
These medicines include: medicines for diabetes — either insulin or tablets the blood thinning medicine, warfarin Some medicines should not be taken at the same time of day as levothyroxine as they can reduce the amount of levothyroxine your body takes in, including: antacids calcium salts iron salts orlistat, a medicine used for weight loss sucralfate, a medicine used to treat stomach ulcers some cholesterol-lowering medicines such as colestyramine, colestipol or colesevelem Read the information leaflet supplied with these medicines or speak to your pharmacist for advice on how much time to leave between taking these medicines and taking levothyroxine.
Endocrinologist Dr. Jeffrey Garber, an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, agrees with the findings. He says a number of factors may be contributing to the increase in treatment of mild hypothyroidism. Researchers found a similar increase in England and Wales, with prescriptions jumping from 17 million in to 23 million in They run the risk of experiencing side effects from taking levothyroxine, which include irregular heart rhythms, insomnia, and loss of bone density, without reaping any benefit from it.
The best way to check for hypothyroidism is to look at the level of thyroid stimulating hormone TSH in the blood. If the thyroid is underactive, the pituitary gland will tell the thyroid to work harder, and it does that by sending out more TSH. So the higher the TSH level, the lower the thyroid activity. A normal TSH value is under 4. If not, then stop. All treatment for hypothyroidism, even borderline cases, must be individualized and monitored carefully by a physician. That requires measuring TSH four to eight weeks after starting treatment or changing a dose, another TSH test after six months, then every 12 months.
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No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician. I am a 63yr old female, and have been taking Thyroxine for years, my new Gp increased the dosage after I complained of being tired all the time and simply not having any energy, and those energy levels waning even further after a bout of radiotherapy for breast cancer.
This last week I have experienced chest pains and the past few weeks I have had continual headaches. After a visit today with my GP he has suggested I stop taking the thyroxine and we will see what happens. Hopefully I will feel better and gain some energy and be rid of feeling like crap all the time and somehow lose some weight which despite diet and exercise I am unable to move!! I love this article. I then turned into eating healthy, changed my lifestyle and I feel better.
You can read about my struggles in health at my blog, mommateng. Just was trying to get a second opinion…I due have symptons forsure…. Very interesting article and fascinating controversy. This relationship is also a subject of interest and further investigation. Finally, in the field of psychology, we know of too many cases who were wrongly diagnosed with depression, missing out the fact they suffered from hypothyroidism. Switching between generic and brand medications can change how your body responds to each type of medication.
To remain stable on your thyroid medication, make sure that you know about things that can affect thyroid medication absorption. The information shared in this article is intended to empower you with the information you need to treat your thyroid condition and feel your best!
Work with a thyroid doctor to determine the best treatment plan for your specific needs, including medication, nutrition , and lifestyle modifications. She believes managing chronic illnesses requires a balance of medical interventions and lifestyle adjustments. Free guide Claim your free guide to thyroid meds Check your mailbox for your guide. Learn out what happens to your thyroid the longer you go without thyroid medication. Medically Reviewed by:. Why is thyroid medication is necessary for hypothyroidism?
Different kinds of thyroid medication What happens when you stop taking thyroid medication? How long can you go without thyroid medication before symptoms?
How to make sure you are on the right dose. Dealing with Hypothyroidism? Video chat with a thyroid doctor Get answers and treatments in minutes without leaving home - anytime. Consult with a U. Insurance accepted. Something went wrong while submitting the form. Read more. This is an overview of the thyroid-gut axis.
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