Going "cold turkey" can have negative consequences. Suppose you wish to decrease your medication or try to go off it entirely. In that case, your thyroid doctor may recommend you taper off your dose so that the process is more gradual. If you wish to quit taking your medication or think you are taking too much, make a list of your symptoms and reasons for stopping your medication. Then, share your concerns with your thyroid doctor.
People with primary hypothyroidism usually require lifelong medication. However, for individuals with subclinical hypothyroidism, you may be able to trial off your medication. The best way to understand your thyroid function is with a thyroid blood test. Many labs only look at thyroid-stimulating hormone TSH.
Still, we believe it's helpful also to measure free triiodothyronine fT3 , free thyroxine fT4 , and TPO antibodies which may indicate the presence of Hashimoto's disease. Besides looking at your thyroid function, your thyroid doctor will also want to know about your symptoms, lifestyle, and medical history. The combination of these factors can help determine whether or not you may benefit from thyroid medication. If you think you have a thyroid condition or are concerned you are over-treated, schedule a consult with a trusted Paloma Health thyroid doctor to create a personalized thyroid treatment plan that fits your specific needs.
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. Medically Reviewed by:. Something went wrong while submitting the form. Thank you! Check your mailbox for your guide. Your submission has been received! Read more. This is an overview of the thyroid-gut axis. Learn how to restore proper gut function for better thyroid health.
Thyroid Disease and Oral Health Find tips for a healthier mouth in this article about thyroid disease and oral health. As a result, your metabolism slows down. As thyroid activity slows, the level of T4 in your body decreases, and the level of TSH increases to encourage the thyroid gland to raise T4 production. Some mild cases of hypothyroidism, called subclinical hypothyroidism, are associated with an elevated TSH while the T4 level stays within the normal range.
At that point, the condition may not produce any noticeable symptoms. But if the decrease in T3 and T4 continues referred to as overt hypothyroidism , it can affect many bodily functions.
Common early symptoms of hypothyroidism include unexplained weight gain, fatigue and low energy. It also may cause dry skin, constipation, sensitivity to cold, a puffy face, muscle weakness, hoarseness, and joint pain or stiffness. Hypothyroidism can affect the heart by slowing the heart rate. It also has an effect on the body's ability to effectively metabolize cholesterol.
That can lead to a rise in blood cholesterol, increasing the risk of heart disease and cardiovascular events, such as heart attack and stroke. Hypothyroidism can affect the brain and lead to difficulty with concentration and memory.
It can affect the gastrointestinal system, too, causing less frequent bowel movements and constipation. In premenopausal women, hypothyroidism can affect the menstrual cycle and fertility. Hypothyroidism is diagnosed using a blood test that measures the level of thyroid hormones in the body. The common side effects of levothyroxine usually happen because the dose you're taking is more than you need.
These side effects usually go away after you go on to a lower dose of levothyroxine or stop treatment. Common side effects are the same as the symptoms of an overactive thyroid. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if these side effects bother you or do not go away. Drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration. If you're being sick try small, frequent sips.
Speak to a pharmacist if you have signs of dehydration , such as peeing less than usual or having dark, strong-smelling pee. If you get severe diarrhoea or vomiting from a stomach bug or illness, tell your doctor. Make sure you rest and drink plenty of fluids.
Do not drink too much alcohol. Ask your pharmacist to recommend a painkiller. Headaches should usually go away after the first week of taking levothyroxine. Talk to your doctor if they last longer than a week or are severe. These symptoms should improve as your body gets used to levothyroxine.
If it does not go away, or if it's causing you problems, contact your doctor. Try cutting down on coffee, tea and alcohol. It might help to keep the room cool and use a fan. You could also spray your face with cool water or sip cold or iced drinks. The flushing should go away after a few days. If you get unusual muscle ache, which is not from exercise or hard work, talk to your doctor. You may need a blood test to find the cause. In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction anaphylaxis to levothyroxine.
These are not all the side effects of levothyroxine. For a full list see the leaflet inside your medicines packet. It's important to carry on taking levothyroxine throughout your pregnancy. Having too low or too high levels of thyroid hormone in pregnancy can cause problems for you and your baby.
You'll need to have regular blood tests during pregnancy to make sure you're on the right dose of levothyroxine for you and your baby. Most women need to take a higher dose of levothyroxine than usual while they're pregnant. It's usually safe to breastfeed while you're on levothyroxine. Thyroid hormones pass into breast milk in very low levels that are too small to affect the baby. If you're breastfeeding, it's important that you continue to take levothyroxine.
Your body needs good levels of thyroid hormones to make enough breast milk to feed your baby. Some medicines can interfere with thyroid hormones, so the dose of levothyroxine may need to be changed. They include:. Levothyroxine can change how other medicines work, so their doses may need to be altered. These medicines include:. 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:.
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. There's very little information about taking herbal remedies and supplements with levothyroxine.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal medicines, vitamins or supplements. The thyroid gland in your neck makes a hormone called thyroxine. Thyroxine controls how much energy your body uses the metabolic rate. It's also involved in digestion, how your heart and muscles work, brain development and bone health.
When the thyroid gland does not make enough thyroxine called hypothyroidism , many of the body's functions slow down. Some of the most common symptoms of an underactive thyroid gland are:. Levothyroxine is a synthetic version of thyroxine. You take levothyroxine tablets to replace the thyroxine that your thyroid gland cannot produce and prevent the symptoms of hypothyroidism. Levothyroxine starts working straight away, but it may be several weeks before your symptoms start to improve and you feel any different.
Treatment with levothyroxine is usually lifelong. If you stop taking levothyroxine your symptoms are likely to come back. Yes, it's safe to take levothyroxine for a long time, even many years. High doses of levothyroxine over a long time can sometimes cause weakening of the bones osteoporosis. This should not happen if you are on the right dose. It's important to have regular blood tests to make sure your dose is not too high.
There's no clear evidence to suggest that taking levothyroxine will reduce fertility in either men or women.
0コメント