How Much Thyroid Medication Is Too Much

Determining The Underlying Cause

Signs You Are Taking Too Much Levothyroxine (When to LOWER Your Dose)

If tests confirm an overactive thyroid gland, you may be referred for further tests to determine the underlying cause.

An additional test that may be used is an isotope thyroid scan. This involves swallowing small amounts of a radioactive substance , usually technetium, in capsule or liquid form.

A scan is then used to measure how much of the isotope has been absorbed by your thyroid gland.

If your thyroid gland absorbs a high amount of the isotope, it is likely the underlying cause is either Graves’ disease or thyroid nodules.

If the amount is low, the underlying cause could be due to:

swelling of the thyroid gland , often caused by your immune system mistakenly attacking thyroid tissue or, less commonly, by infection
having too much iodine in your diet
in rare cases, thyroid cancer

How Is Synthroid Taken

Synthroid comes as tablets that are taken by mouth once per day, without food. Its usually recommended to take Synthroid 30 minutes to 1 hour before your first meal of the day. In general, the drug should be taken at about the same time each day, on an empty stomach . But make sure to take Synthroid exactly as prescribed by your doctor.

You should also take Synthroid at least 4 hours before or after certain drugs that can affect how effective Synthroid is. See the this article for a list of drugs that can interact with Synthroid. And make sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist about all of the medications you use before starting Synthroid.

Synthroid And Lab Tests

Synthroid may affect certain blood tests, such as those used to check your thyroid hormone levels. In addition, a supplement called biotin may interact with labs that are used to check thyroid hormone levels. Both of these interactions are described below.

Biotin and blood tests used to monitor your thyroid

affect the blood tests used to check thyroid hormone levels. In fact, biotin may cause certain blood tests to show a high level of thyroid hormone in your body.

But this interaction is just between the blood test and the biotin supplement. It doesnt necessarily mean that you have too much thyroid hormone in your body.

If you take biotin, your doctor may have you take less of the supplement for a few days before you have labs to check your thyroid. Or your doctor may recommend that you stop taking the biotin supplement before your labs.

Synthroid use before having blood tests to monitor your thyroid

While youre taking Synthroid, your doctor will order certain lab tests to check your thyroid hormone levels. This is done to be sure that your levels are within a normal range.

But keep in mind that Synthroid is a man-made form of the natural thyroid hormone called T4. This means that if you take the drug before having blood work, your T4 level may be falsely elevated .

Synthroid comes as tablets that are taken by mouth. You should take Synthroid according to your doctors or healthcare providers instructions.

Also Check: For Thyroid Test Is Fasting Needed

What To Do About Overmedication

Talk to your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms. The doctor will probably check your thyroid-stimulating hormone levels to see if your thyroid hormone dose needs adjustment. Do not change the dose on your own. It’s important to have your TSH levels measured first. Only then can your doctor know whether to change your dosage.

Here’s how the process works.

When you have hypothyroidism, the thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormone to meet your bodys needs. That’s why you take thyroid hormone replacement therapy.

A doctor prescribes a dose based on your weight, on how well your thyroid is working and on how your blood absorbs the hormone. Each person’s metabolism is different and serum levels of thyroid hormone change slowly. Your doctor may need to fine-tune the dose once you start taking the medication. That’s normal.

When you first start treatment, your doctor will check your thyroid hormone levels about every four to eight weeks. Blood tests will show if your thyroid-stimulating hormone is at the right level. The normal range for TSH levels is 0.3 to 4.0 mIU/L. But, your specific target range depends on your health.

Now that you know the signs to watch for, remember to call your doctor right away if you experience any unusual symptoms. That’s how you avoid overmedication and make sure you’re taking just the right dose.

What Is The Treatment For Overmedication

Are You Taking Too Much Thyroid Medication?

The treatment for overmedication is clear: Your healthcare practitioner will reduce your dosage of thyroid hormone replacement medication. You should also review and discuss any medications, vitamins, or supplements that may be affecting your thyroid, and determine whether to continue taking them.

After a dosage decrease, make sure that you are frequently tested until your overmedicated state is resolved and . Once stabilized, you can return to your regular schedule of monitoring your thyroid levels.

Read Also: What Is Thyroid Function Test

Starting Dose Calculator For Adults

Healthy, nonpregnant, non-elderly adults not at risk of disease

Dosing must be individualized based on your patients age, weight, cardiovascular status, concomitant medical conditions , concomitant medications, co-administered food, and the specific etiology of the condition being treated.2See full prescribing information for dosing in specific patient populations.

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Tablets shown not actual size and may not represent actual color.

How It Works For Tsh Suppression

Synthroid is used to suppress 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.

Normally, when your thyroid hormone levels are low, your body makes TSH. This signals your thyroid to make more thyroid hormones. However, if youre taking Synthroid, your thyroid hormone levels wont be low. So your body wont need to make TSH, and your TSH level will be lower than usual.

How Thyroid Medication Treats Hypothyroidism

The thyroid gland is responsible for regulating cellular metabolism, growth, and development. When the thyroid does not produce enough hormone, it can slow down all body systems.

Common symptoms of hypothyroidism include:

Fatigue and malaise

Thyroid hormone replacement medication can relieve the above symptoms and improve your overall health and quality of life.

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, an autoimmune condition, is often the cause of hypothyroidism. Chronic inflammation from Hashimoto’s can lead to the thyroid gland’s eventual failure, making it unable to produce enough thyroid hormone. Surgical removal, radiation, thyroiditis, and damage to the pituitary gland can also cause hypothyroidism. No matter the cause, people with hypothyroidism often need thyroid replacement medication.

How Much Money Is Too Much For Obesity Treatments

Synthroid Overdose: signs you taking too much thyroid medication

by Jim Hanchett, Cornell University

A new generation of effective weight loss drugs is now available in the U.S., but the drugs’ high cost highlights a reality hurting the nation’s economy and those who want to shed pounds: Obesity is expensive, and so are the treatments.

Economist John Cawley has spent his career studying the economics of obesity, including the economic causes of obesity, the economic consequences of obesitysuch as direct medical care costs and the indirect costs of job absenteeismand evaluating policies and programs to prevent and reduce obesity.

He is a professor in the Department of Economics and in the Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy as well as the director of Cornell in Washington. He serves on the External Scientific Panel of the National Collaborative on Childhood Obesity Research, which advises the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Agriculture and other groups on priorities for obesity research. Cawley is a contributor to the forthcoming fifth edition of the “Handbook of Obesity,” a standard reference in the field, and in November he presented his research in a President’s Symposium at Obesity Week, the conference of the interdisciplinary research organization The Obesity Society.

Cawley spoke to the Chronicle about the economics of obesity.

Why isn’t there greater health insurance coverage of weight loss surgery, drugs and programs?

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What To Do In Case Of Overdose

If you think youve taken too much of this drug, call your doctor. You can also call the American Association of Poison Control Centers at 800-222-1222 or use their online tool. But if your symptoms are severe, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room right away. Dont try to treat the overdose yourself.

What Should I Ask My Doctor

The sections above describe the typical dosages provided by the drug manufacturer. If your doctor recommends Synthroid for you, they will prescribe the dosage thats right for you.

Remember, you shouldnt change your dosage of Synthroid without your doctors approval. Only take Synthroid exactly as prescribed. Talk with your doctor if you have questions or concerns about your current dosage.

Here are some examples of questions you may want to ask your doctor:

What drugs should I avoid while Im taking Synthroid?
How will I know which dosage of Synthroid is best for me?
Would a different dosage raise or lower my risk for side effects from Synthroid?

Weight Changes And Hormonal Changes

As mentioned above, levothyroxine dose requirements are affected by body weight, ideal body weight, and lean body mass, with dose requirements increasing as these parameters increase . However, if actual body weight is used to calculate the levothyroxine requirement in obese individuals, the dose may be overestimated, with ideal body weight being a better predictor . Moreover, the studies regarding levothyroxine requirement in obese individuals often yield differing results of either increased or decreased requirements, possibly because of competing effects of the increased body weight and the impaired absorption and altered levothyroxine kinetics that may be seen with obesity . Different results have also been reported regarding the altered levothyroxine requirement associated with the weight loss seen after bariatric surgery. Most studies show that such weight loss is associated with a reduced levothyroxine requirement , possibly due to both the reduced weight and improved absorption. However, bariatric procedures involving jejunoileal bypass may be associated with an increased levothyroxine requirement because of reduced, as opposed to improved, levothyroxine absorption . In cases where levothyroxine absorption is impaired after bariatric surgery, use of liquid levothyroxine may improve absorption .

Is There A Dosage Calculator For Synthroid

Yes, a dosage calculator is available for your doctor to use when prescribing Synthroid. Its important to note that your doctor is responsible for calculating your dosage. Your dosage of Synthroid depends on a variety of factors, which are listed in the What factors can affect my dosage? section below.

If you have questions about how your dosage is calculated, talk with your doctor.

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What Happens When You Stop Taking Hypothyroid Medication

When your doctor instructs you to discontinue your thyroid medication, your hormone levels will plummet, perhaps leading to signs and symptoms of acute hypothyroidism. Acute hypothyroidism can include fatigue, apathy, cold sensitivity, pallor, dry skin, coarse hair, and constipation. If you develop any of these symptoms while trying to go off thyroxine, contact your doctor immediately.

You should be warned that if you stop taking your medication without consulting a physician, you may experience symptoms such as irritability, insomnia, anxiety, muscle cramps, and weight gain. These may be due to the sudden change in your body’s hormones therefore, stopping medication without consulting your doctor is not recommended.

Hypothyroidism is a common condition that affects the function of the thyroid gland. The two main types are hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. With hyperthyroidism, the thyroid produces too much thyroid hormone, which causes an increase in heart rate, increased blood flow, increased temperature, and a rapid metabolism. This condition can be caused by Graves’ disease or toxic adenomas. With hypothyroidism, the thyroid doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormone, which results in low blood sugar levels, depression, fatigue, weight gain, dry skin, slow mental reaction time, and brittle nails.

Thyroid cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer worldwide.

Reasons Patients May Take Too Much Synthroid

There are several hypothetical reasons as why a patient may end up taking too much synthroid. While taking too much is certainly not the norm, it could be a result of: misinterpreted dosing instructions, improper dosage , or intentionally taking more than usual . Most individuals that take too much synthroid do so unintentionally and/or unknowingly.

Misinterpretation of dosing instructions: Some synthroid users may misinterpret dosing instructions as given by their doctor. While dosing instructions are generally confirmed with a pharmacist prior to administration of synthroid, some individuals are more absent-minded than others. It is possible to consider that a simple slip-up on the end of the patient may lead to ingestion of a dose that is larger than necessary.

Improperly calibrated dose: Although most doctors attempt to prescribe patients with a minimal effective dose of synthroid, not all patients respond to low doses when beginning treatment. For this reason, a doctor may slightly overshoot the necessary dosing needs for a particular patient. Regular administration of an improperly calibrated dose can provoke symptoms of too much synthroid.

Dosage Or Drug Quality Issues

You could take too much levothyroxine because you are taking the wrong dose.

For example:

Your healthcare provider may prescribe a dosage that is too high for you.
Your pharmacist may give you the wrong dosage or incorrect instructions for use.

It is also possible that the quality of your medication may change from one refill of your prescription to another. This is sometimes the case when your medication is produced by several different manufacturers.

If you are taking generic levothyroxine, you may receive a batch of medication that is more potent or less potent than your previous refill. Even a slight change of potency from one refill to the next can lead to over or under medication and symptoms of hyper or hypothyroidism.

Switching formulations of levothyroxinefor example, from tablet to gel caps or liquidcan also cause overmedication because your body absorbs some formulations of levothyroxine better than others.

For example, Tirosint liquid gel caps and Tirosint-SOL liquid levothyroxine are absorbed better than levothyroxine in tablet form. You might be prescribed gel-cap or liquid levothyroxine if you are allergic to dyes or fillers, but making the switch could result in overmedication.

This is why close monitoring is important. You should get your TSH level checked within six weeks of beginning thyroid hormone replacement or after changing the brand, formulation, or dose of your medication.

Thyroid Hormone Replacement Drugs

Too Much Iodine and Thyroid Symptoms

Levothyroxine is a type of thyroid hormone replacement drug that is often used to treat hypothyroidism. Brand names for levothyroxine include Synthroid, Levoxyl, and Tirosint.

Natural desiccated thyroid is also used to treat hypothyroidism. For some people, NDTs work better than levothyroxine. Many people prefer NDTs because they are considered more natural. Brand names NDTs include Armour and Nature-Throid.

Usually, people start thyroid hormone therapy by taking a low dose and gradually increasing it. Since hypothyroidism progresses over time, starting therapy with a low dose is helpful for reducing the risk of overmedication.

If you’re prescribed levothyroxine, your provider will tell you how much to take. Still, it’s possible to take too much levothyroxine by accident.

Feeling like your heart is skipping a beat or racing
Weight loss with no change in your diet or exercise routine
Increase in food intake with no weight gain

In some cases, the symptoms and side effects of taking too much levothyroxine are similar to those of hypothyroidism. For example, you may feel more exhausted than usual, feel achy , or feel jittery and anxious. You may also gain weight.

It’s not unheard of for a person to go to their healthcare provider because they think they need a higher dose of their medication only to find out their symptoms are actually being caused by thyroid overmedication.

Thyroid Disease Healthcare Provider Discussion Guide

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What Should You Do If You Took Too Much Synthroid

If you know that you may have ingested too much synthroid, seeking emergency medical attention is necessary. Complications arising from a synthroid overdose could be fatal if they arent addressed in a timely manner. Thereafter, you should take steps to minimize the likelihood of future dosing errors by reviewing and confirming dosing instructions with your doctor.

Seek medical attention: Since taking too much synthroid could prove to be fatal, it is necessary to seek medical assistance as soon as possible after your dosing. If you know that you overdosed and/or intentionally took too much, call emergency medical services and/or get yourself to a hospital. In rare cases, individuals may die of hyperthermia and/or cardiac arrest associated with elevated levothyroxine concentrations.

Refrain from synthroid usage: If you know you took too much synthroid, your doctor may instruct you to refrain from synthroid usage for a day or two after your abnormally high dose. Dont immediately stop taking synthroid without medical instruction, but be cognizant that in the event of an overdose, ingestion of additional synthroid may exacerbate adverse effects. Work with your doctor to determine when it is safe to resume normative synthroid administration.

What Does The Conversation About Your Thyroid Symptoms Look Like With Your Doctor

If youre concerned you may be taking too much thyroid medication, its important that you continue to take the prescribed dosage until youve had a chance to visit your doctor.

Once there, its important that you let them know if theres something that just doesnt feel right. Ask if it could be related to your thyroid treatment.

Although adjusting your medication to make sure that your TSH levels are in the healthy zone can feel a bit more like an art than a science, the good news is that figuring out whether youre being overmedicated is a fairly straightforward process.

Youll know whether youre taking too much medication when your TSH numbers come back. If theyre in the normal range, the symptoms youre feeling arent related to your thyroid medication. Its important that your doctor looks at the balance of total T3 and free T4 to make sure your TSH levels are within the healthy range.