Synthroid why is it prescribed

By decreasing your TSH level, Synthroid can help decrease the growth of certain types of thyroid cancer. Normally, when your thyroid hormone levels are low, your body makes TSH.

This signals your thyroid to make more thyroid hormones. With a lower TSH level, growth of cancer in your thyroid may decrease. When Synthroid is used for TSH suppression, the drug is meant to be used along with surgery and radioactive iodine treatment. According to the American Thyroid Association , TSH suppression is recommended in some people with high-risk forms of thyroid cancer.

Levothyroxine is the recommended drug to use alongside surgery and radioactive iodine treatment. However, levothyroxine is considered the recommended drug for this use. In addition to the uses listed above, Synthroid may be used off-label for other purposes.

And you may wonder if Synthroid is used for certain other conditions. With this condition, you have increased levels of thyroid hormones in your body. The two main thyroid hormones are T3 and T4. Instead, Synthroid is FDA-approved to treat hypothyroidism , which is the opposite of hyperthyroidism. With hypothyroidism, you have low levels of thyroid hormone. Synthroid is a man-made form of T4.

It replaces or adds to your natural thyroid hormones, which helps your body to have the right amount of T4. Your body then uses the T4 to make T3. This raises your risk of serious side effects, such as tremors, anxiety, and irregular heart rate. If you have hyperthyroidism, talk with your doctor about appropriate treatment options for your condition.

In some cases, children may need to take Synthroid for certain problems affecting their thyroid. Below, we describe approved uses of Synthroid for children. From birth, some children may not be able to make enough thyroid hormones.

This condition is called congenital hypothyroidism. Usually, for congenital hypothyroidism, a child will take Synthroid for their entire life. Synthroid works by replacing T4, one of the main thyroid hormones. And their body then uses T4 to make T3, which is the other main thyroid hormone. Children may also acquire develop hypothyroidism during their childhood. This may occur because of changes in their thyroid or pituitary.

The pituitary tells the thyroid to make thyroid hormones. In some cases, your doctor may recommend that you take other medications with Synthroid. Below, we describe some supplements that your doctor may recommend.

However, before starting any of these supplements, be sure to talk with your doctor. Vitamin D plays a role in how your immune system functions. And because some thyroid conditions are related to your immune system, people with these conditions may have low vitamin D levels.

If you have hypothyroidism, your doctor may order blood tests to check your vitamin D level. And your doctor may recommend that you take a vitamin D supplement if your levels are low. For some people, increasing vitamin D level may help decrease symptoms of their thyroid condition.

It makes you feel sleepy when it gets dark outside. One study showed that melatonin may increase your levels of T4. T4 is one of the main thyroid hormones in your body, which Synthroid is used to replace or add to. And the study showed that melatonin may also decrease feelings of anxiety and depression. In some cases, your doctor may recommend that you take a melatonin supplement along with Synthroid.

But keep in mind that melatonin may affect your thyroid hormone levels. Because of this, your doctor may check your thyroid hormone levels when you first start taking melatonin.

Sometimes hypothyroidism may cause problems with your intestines. This may happen because decreased thyroid function is linked to having too much bacteria in your small intestine. And having large amounts of bacteria in your intestine may result in certain problems, such as diarrhea. Taking a probiotic may help to decrease harmful bacteria and increase helpful bacteria in your gut. Synthroid is a man-made form of a natural thyroid hormone called T4. Below, we describe how Synthroid works for each of these uses.

The main thyroid hormones in your body are T3 and T4. And your body then uses T4 to make T3. Synthroid helps to bring your thyroid hormone levels back to a normal range. And it also helps reduce your symptoms of hypothyroidism. Synthroid is used to suppress lower TSH levels in people with thyrotropin-dependent well-differentiated thyroid cancer.

TSH stimulates your thyroid to make more thyroid hormones. In addition, TSH is responsible for cell growth in your thyroid gland. This includes growth of both healthy cells and cancerous cells in the gland. The drug usually has its maximum effect in your body about 4 to 6 weeks after you start taking it.

If you have thyroid-related symptoms, you may notice your symptoms are decreasing within 4 to 6 weeks after starting the drug. After 4 to 6 weeks of treatment, your doctor will check blood tests to monitor your thyroid. And your doctor may adjust your dosage of Synthroid if needed based on your lab results.

Using more than the recommended dosage of Synthroid can lead to serious side effects. Do not use more Synthroid than your doctor recommends. Keep in mind that Synthroid is a man-made form of the natural thyroid hormone T4. Because of this, symptoms of Synthroid overdose are also symptoms of hyperthyroidism elevated thyroid hormone levels. You can also call the American Association of Poison Control Centers at or use their online tool. But if your symptoms are severe, call or go to the nearest emergency room right away.

Usually, if your TSH level is high, your Synthroid dose needs to be increased. TSH, which stands for thyroid stimulating hormone, is made when your body needs more thyroid hormones. When you have an elevated TSH level, your dose of Synthroid may need to be increased. On the other hand, if your TSH level is low, your dose of Synthroid may need to be decreased.

During Synthroid treatment, your doctor will order blood tests to check your TSH level. And for some people, their doctor will also check the levels of their thyroid hormones, T3 and T4. Based on the results of your blood tests, your doctor will adjust your dosage of Synthroid if needed. Withdrawal symptoms may occur when you stop taking a drug that your body is dependent on.

With dependence, your body needs the drug in order for you to feel normal. But stopping Synthroid may cause you to have symptoms of the condition you were taking the drug to treat. This is because your symptoms were relieved when your body was getting thyroid hormone from Synthroid. Yes, Synthroid tablets are gluten-free. In fact, a study was done to determine whether or not Synthroid contained gluten.

And the results of the study showed that there was no detectable gluten in the tablets. Because of this, Synthroid is considered to be gluten-free. Synthroid is a man-made form of the natural thyroid hormone called T4. But your thyroid actually makes two main hormones: T3 and T4. In this case, Synthroid is used to replace your natural T4. Then, your body uses T4 to make T3. Taking Synthroid can help bring your thyroid hormones to healthy levels. And the drug helps to regulate your metabolism all of the chemical reactions in your body.

Instead, Synthroid is a man-made form of the natural thyroid hormone called T4. Synthroid replaces or adds to the natural thyroid hormones in your body.

Yes, Synthroid may help relieve depression , if the depression is related to hypothyroidism. Keep in mind that Synthroid is approved to treat hypothyroidism. For some people, depression may be caused by hypothyroidism. Synthroid treats hypothyroidism by increasing your thyroid hormone levels to a normal range. Be sure and talk with your doctor if you feel depressed. They can discuss with you treatment options that may help improve your moods. In fact, hypothyroidism , which Synthroid is used to treat, can actually be dangerous during pregnancy.

Not having enough thyroid hormone in your body, which happens in hypothyroidism, can increase certain risks. These risks include pregnancy loss, high blood pressure during pregnancy , and premature delivery. In some cases, pregnancy may increase your thyroid hormone needs. If needed during your pregnancy, your doctor will increase your dosage of Synthroid. Some studies have shown that the drug does pass into the breast milk of lactating women.

They can discuss with you the risks and benefits of breastfeeding while taking this drug. Your insurance plan may require you to get prior authorization before approving coverage for brand-name Synthroid. This means that your doctor and insurance company will need to communicate about your prescription before the insurance company will cover the drug. The insurance company will review the request and let you and your doctor know if your plan will cover Synthroid. If you need financial support to pay for Synthroid, or if you need help understanding your insurance coverage, help is available.

AbbVie, Inc. For example, the company offers both a copay card and coupons. Synthroid is available in a generic form called levothyroxine. And generics tend to cost less than brand-name drugs. This is because doses of the different versions of this drug may not be equivalent.

To find out how the cost of levothyroxine compares to the cost of Synthroid, visit GoodRx. Again, the cost you find on GoodRx. They may have a preference for one version or the other. This drug has a boxed warning. A boxed warning alerts doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous.

Before taking Synthroid, talk with your doctor about your health history. Synthroid may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. These include:. When you get Synthroid from the pharmacy, the pharmacist will add an expiration date to the label on the bottle. This date is typically 1 year from the date they dispensed the medication. The expiration date helps guarantee that the medication is effective during this time.

If you have unused medication that has gone past the expiration date, talk to your pharmacist about whether you might still be able to use it. How long a medication remains good can depend on many factors, including how and where you store the medication. The drug should be kept in a tightly sealed container away from light. Avoid storing this medication in areas where it could get damp or wet, such as in bathrooms. This helps prevent others, including children and pets, from taking the drug by accident.

It also helps keep the drug from harming the environment. This article provides several useful tips on medication disposal. It is important to keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers are not child-resistant and young children can open them easily.

To protect young children from poisoning, always lock safety caps and immediately place the medication in a safe location — one that is up and away and out of their sight and reach. Unneeded medications should be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children, and other people cannot consume them. However, you should not flush this medication down the toilet.

Instead, the best way to dispose of your medication is through a medicine take-back program. In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline at If the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can't be awakened, immediately call emergency services at Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will order certain lab tests to check your response to levothyroxine.

Learn the brand name and generic name of your medication. Do not switch brands without talking to your doctor or pharmacist, as each brand of levothyroxine contains a slightly different amount of medication.

Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription. It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription over-the-counter medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital.

It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies. Generic alternatives may be available. Levothyroxine pronounced as lee voe thye rox' een. Why is this medication prescribed? Children can take the medicine if the tablet is crushed and mixed with one to two teaspoons of water. Synthroid may have interactions with the following drugs:.

This is not a complete list of Synthroid interactions. Share all supplements and prescriptions you take with your doctor or pharmacist. Additionally, some foods can interfere with the effectiveness of Synthroid. Some of these items include:. Some people may feel better within a few days of starting Synthroid, but it may take months before your hormone levels get back to normal. Typically, Synthroid will begin improving symptoms within two weeks of starting the drug.

Around the six-week mark is when a healthcare provider will test TSH levels again, monitor thyroid function, and make small adjustments to your dosage to ensure that your thyroid hormone levels are correct. The effectiveness of Synthroid may be changed based on changes in the amount of thyroid hormone your body produces, so your healthcare provider will have to adjust dosage requirements. Major life events, like pregnancy, menopause, or aging can impact your thyroid hormone levels.

Note: If you take thyroid replacement drugs, you may have to take them for life. If one experiences these symptoms, it may be best to switch to another thyroid medication. Here are some other side effects caused by Synthroid:.

But your doctor may also discuss how to take Synthroid at night. In some cases, your body can absorb the drug better if you take Synthroid at night. For more information about drug interactions with Synthroid, refer to this article. They can recommend the best time for you to take your next dose.

Missing a dose of Synthroid could cause your thyroid hormone levels to decrease. This could lead to side effects. This can include setting an alarm or timer on your phone or downloading a reminder app.

A kitchen timer can work, too. With withdrawal, you have unpleasant symptoms when you stop taking a drug that your body has become dependent upon. Stopping Synthroid can also affect other medical conditions you have or other medications you take. For example, the dosage of certain diabetes drugs may need to be adjusted after stopping Synthroid treatment. This is because Synthroid can make certain diabetes drugs less effective.

The dosages in this article are typical dosages provided by the drug manufacturer. Always follow the dosage that your doctor prescribes for you. Besides learning about dosage, you may want other information about Synthroid.

For information about other aspects of Synthroid, refer to this article. Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or other healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects.

The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.

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