Is it possible to stop taking levothyroxine

And guess what? Turns out my thyroid problem IS all in my head, just not the way those endocrinologists meant it. I have a pituitary adenoma.

Godman: This article is an un-scholarly parroting of misinformation spread by the PR team hired years ago by Abbott Labs to boost sales of its pharmaceutical product, Synthroid. I recall it took at least a year for natural desiccated thyroid to get back into the pipeline in the U.

Neither the FDA nor the manufacturers ever favored consumers with an honest explanation of the SNAFU; though it was revealed that members of the central advisory board at the FDA had close ties to pharmaceutical companies. The inherent conflicts of interest somehow remind me of the deferential treatment Bernie Madoff received from the SEC.

TSH tests the pituitary gland, not the thyroid and while yes, there is a feedback mechanism between the two glands, testing TSH production is only an indirect indication of the function of the thyroid. The proper test of thyroid function is not merely total T4, but FREE T4, that is, the thyroxine actually circulating in the blood available for use by the organs in the body.

Bound T4 is of no practical use in the body; so even if the total T4 appears within range, that number could mask a significantly sub-par level of FREE T4. Coincidentally, this was the exact result on my most recent blood test: low TSH, total T4 in range, FREE T4 well below range—not to mention, clear clinical symptoms—ergo, need to raise my supplement dose.

Additionally, one of the great and under-diagnosed problems with hypothyroidism is that often the sufferer has limited ability to convert T4 to its active form, T3, so testing of T3 levels is also critical. If the patient has limited ability to convert thyroxine T4 to triiodothyronine T3 , no amount of T4, synthetic or natural, will restore her health. I would urge you to go back and take up a critical re-examination of the issue of hypothyroid diagnosis and treatment.

My treatment of Armour Natural Thyroid has successfully alleviated those symptoms — and my weight easily lost; now back to normal — after years of cchallenges. Not to mention to total lack of regard for the presence of reverse triiodothyronine which is a known issue for many patients. Thank you for the important overview of this situation.

My concerns go to the cause and in our opinion the excessive consuption of products based in soy could be something that we should check. The main bioactive compounds of soy are isoflavones and those can induce hypothyroidism. Other countries as Brazil also have these increase of thyroid problems. Is urgent that we found the cause to prevent this situations in the future, and probably for some people this could be reversible.

I am very interested to learn about the interaction you have found with consumption of soy products and would welcome some references on the topic. Great article Heidi!

Thanks a lot! I also think that many people may be taking this medication unnecessarily, and the side effects of thyroid medication can be seriuos. Individual treatment is absolutely necessary. Great to know that other think alike. Thanks again, Kind regards, Markus Frauchiger.

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Recent Blog Articles. Health news headlines can be deceiving. 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.

Our thyroid-friendly meal plan can help. Sign up and get yours free! Nonadherence to medication in hypothyroidism: a case report. Abraham P, Acharya S. Current and emerging treatment options for Graves' hyperthyroidism. Ther Clin Risk Manag. Adherence to thyroid hormone replacement therapy: a retrospective, claims database analysis. Curr Med Res Opin. Epub Jun Medication adherence and the use of new pharmaceutical formulations: the case of levothyroxine.

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I Accept Show Purposes. 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.

However, speak to a pharmacist or your doctor if you're trying to get pregnant. They may want to review your treatment. Yes, you can drink alcohol while taking levothyroxine. Alcohol does not affect how this medicine works.