Side Effects To Thyroid Medication

Are There Any Warnings About Using Levothyroxine Sodium

Levothyroxine sodium should not be used in dogs with thyrotoxicosis or in dogs with uncorrected adrenal insufficiency.

The safety of levothyroxine sodium has not been evaluated in breeding, pregnant, or nursing dogs. In pregnant women and rodents, too much exposure to thyroid hormones is associated with defects in the thyroid gland of their offspring.

What Should I Know About Storage And Disposal Of This Medication

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture .

It is important to keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers 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 â 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. Talk to your pharmacist or contact your local garbage/recycling department to learn about take-back programs in your community. See the FDA’s Safe Disposal of Medicines website for more information if you do not have access to a take-back program.

Do Overactive Thyroid Medications Have Side Effects

All medications have the potential to cause side effects. If your doctor prescribes a hyperthyroidism drug, they feel the benefits outweigh your risks. Call your healthcare provider right away if you experience any unusual symptoms while taking medication for an overactive thyroid.

Propylthiouracil side effects

Propylthiouracil can cause severe liver damage. If you cannot tolerate methimazole or other hyperthyroidism treatments like surgery or radioactive iodine, your doctor may prescribe this drug. If you’re pregnant, your doctor may also prescribe propylthiouracil during your first trimester, as methimazole may cause congenital disorders when taken during early pregnancy.

You should call your doctor right away if you experience itching, dark or foamy urine, stools that are lighter than normal, your eyes or skin appear yellow, or you develop pain in the upper right side of your stomach while taking propylthiouracil.

Other side effects of propylthiouracil include hair loss, a diminished sense of taste, unusual sensations in your hands or feet like numbness or tingling, unexplained pain in your joints or muscles, dizziness, and swelling in your neck.

Methimazole side effects

Agranulocytosis

Overactive thyroid medications can cause an extremely rare but serious condition called agranulocytosis. The most common symptoms of agranulocytosis are a high fever and sore throat. The condition can also cause mouth sores, a cough, and chills.

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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

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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Reasons Youll Probably Get Worse If You Stop Taking Your Medication

There will always be exceptions to these reasons, but most of you will probably feel worse if you stop taking your thyroid medication for the following reasons:

#1. Your Body May be Reliant upon the Medication

The first group of patients that should never stop taking thyroid medication includes those who do not have a thyroid or those who have had their thyroid removed.

This typically stems from conditions such as hyperthyroidism or thyroid cancer.

If you dont have a thyroid then you are REQUIRED to supplement with thyroid hormone indefinitely !

That means you will NEED to take thyroid medication for the rest of your life.

Remember, we said that thyroid hormone is required for you to function and for you to live.

If you cant produce it naturally then you have to take it in some other way.

This group of people should never make changes to their thyroid medication without physician supervision as it can be very dangerous.

Does that mean that you need to suffer from any existing symptoms?

No, but it does mean that you should be very thoughtful about any changes you make to your thyroid medication and dosing.

TSH is part of an important axis known as the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis .

In this axis, your body produces TRH which stimulates TSH which stimulates thyroid hormone production.

This normal axis is disrupted when you take any sort of thyroid medication .

Even some supplements, such as iodine, can alter this axis.

Imagine this scenario:

Synthroid Side Effects And How To Avoid Them

Common Synthroid side effects | Weight changes | Headache | Diarrhea | Hair loss | Serious side effects | Overdose | Allergic reactions | How long do side effects last? | Warnings | Interactions | How to avoid side effects

Synthroid is a thyroid-replacement hormone. You may also see this medication manufactured under the brand name Levoxyl. It is a synthetic version of the thyroid hormone called thyroxine, or T4, which naturally circulates in the body. The thyroid gland releases thyroid hormones in response to thyroid-stimulating hormone release from the brain. Thyroid hormones act on nearly every tissue in the body and function to regulate aspects of human metabolism including proper development and differentiation of all cells in the body.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Synthroid for use in adults and children as young as infants for the treatment of primary, tertiary, congenital, and hypothalamic hypothyroidism , as well as for suppression of hormone release from the pituitary gland in individuals with thyroid cancer prior to undergoing high-stress states such as surgical procedures.

Synthroid is a prescription drug in tablet form, available in a wide range of doses depending on usage and patient characteristics.

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Common Side Effects Of Synthroid

As with any medication, Synthroid can cause some very common, non-serious side effects. Many side effects of Synthroid are self-limiting . If any of the following adverse effects become bothersome, notify your healthcare provider.

• Heart palpitations and tachycardia
• Increased nervousness, anxiety, and tremor
• Increased appetite

You Experience New Or Worsening Symptoms

If you have lived with untreated thyroid disease for years, you may have gotten used to living with symptoms. When starting medication, your appetite may change, you may be feeling tired, or you could have a change in your bowel movements.

Some thyroid medications can also cause hair loss, which most people find frustrating and undesirable.

Talk to your doctor about these issues, as they can be the effects of your thyroid hormone levels getting back to normal. Or, you could be experiencing over-treatment, meaning that you need a dose adjustment or a different medication.

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How To Take Levothyroxine

Use Levothyroxine exactly as directed on the label, or as prescribed by your doctor. Do not use in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

Levothyroxine is taken by mouth. Levothyroxine is given as an infusion into a vein. Levothyroxine is usually given by injection only if you are unable to take the medicine by mouth. oralinjection

Measure carefully. Use the dosing syringe provided, or use a medicine dose-measuring device . liquid medicine

It may take several weeks before your body starts to respond to levothyroxine. You may need to use levothyroxine for the rest of your life. Keep using this medicine even if you feel well.

You may need frequent medical tests. Tell any doctor, dentist, or surgeon who treats you that you are using levothyroxine.

Do not share this medicine with another person, even if they have the same symptoms you have.

Levothyroxine works best if you take it on an empty stomach, 30 to 60 minutes before breakfast. Follow your doctor’s dosing instructions and try to take the medicine at the same time each day. oral

Swallow the or whole, with a full glass of water. The levothyroxine tablet may dissolve very quickly and could swell in your throat. tabletcapsule

What Special Dietary Instructions Should I Follow

Some foods and beverages, particularly those that contain soybeans, walnuts, and dietary fiber, may affect how levothyroxine works for you. Talk to your doctor before eating or drinking these foods.

Talk to your doctor about eating grapefruit and drinking grapefruit juice while taking this medication.

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What Are The Short

One thing to be aware of is that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a black box warning for levothyroxine: You should not use levothyroxine for weight loss. Large doses of levothyroxine can lead to serious and potentially life-threatening adverse effects .

As you and your healthcare provider look for the right dose of Synthroid or levothyroxine, you may experience side effectsthese usually stem from the dosage not being quite right. Symptoms of too low a dose of thyroxine are basically what youve been feeling with your hypothyroidism.

However, its also possible to have certain adverse effects because youre getting too much thyroid hormoneyour Synthroid dose is too high, leading to a condition known as hyperthyroidism.

Be sure to seek medical advice if you experience any of the following side effects so that dose adjustments can be made .

• Fast or abnormal heart rate

Get immediate medical attention if you notice any of these symptoms or you have side effects that worsen.

What Are The Long

Synthroid is considered a safe and effective therapy. Eventually, you and your healthcare provider will settle on an effective dose for the long haul. People take these medicines for decadesusually for a lifetime.

Because of this, its a good idea to confirm with your healthcare provider that youre on the right amount of thyroid hormone. Ideally, you want to be on the lowest possible dose to control your thyroid deficiency, which is why healthcare providers often start low and then titrate up the amount depending on your response .

There are two potential side effects from long-term use that you may want to discuss with your healthcare provider: bone-thinning and heart-related issues.

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Warnings For Other Groups

For pregnant women: Studies of levothyroxine in pregnant women havent shown risk to the fetus. Talk to your doctor if youre pregnant or planning to become pregnant. It appears unlikely that this drug will harm a pregnancy.

Not treating hypothyroidism could cause problems for both you and your pregnancy. You should not stop taking this drug during pregnancy.

For women who are breastfeeding: Small amounts of levothyroxine may pass into breast milk, but this drug is usually safe to take while breastfeeding. Talk to your doctor about the best way to feed your child while taking levothyroxine.

For seniors: If youre older than 65 years, you may be at higher risk of developing negative heart effects while taking this drug. Your doctor may choose to start you on a lower dosage.

For children: Levothyroxine has only been approved for use in children for the treatment of hypothyroidism. The tablet can be used safely in children of all ages.

Before Taking This Medicine

Levothyroxine should not be used to treat obesity or weight problems. Dangerous side effects or death can occur from the misuse of levothyroxine, especially if you are taking any other weight-loss medications or appetite suppressants.

Since thyroid hormone occurs naturally in the body, almost anyone can take levothyroxine. However, you may not be able to take this medicine if you have certain medical conditions. Tell your doctor if you have:

• an untreated or uncontrolled adrenal gland disorder

• a thyroid disorder called thyrotoxicosis or

• symptoms of a heart attack .

To make sure levothyroxine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• a thyroid nodule

• heart disease, a blood clot, or a blood-clotting disorder

• kidney disease

• osteoporosis, or low bone mineral density

• problems with your pituitary gland or

• any food or drug allergies.

Tell your doctor if you have recently received radiation therapy with iodine .

If you become pregnant while taking levothyroxine, do not stop taking the medicine without your doctor’s advice. Having low thyroid hormone levels during pregnancy could harm both mother and baby. Your dose needs may be different during pregnancy.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding. Your dose needs may be different while you are nursing.

Do not give this medicine to a child without medical advice. Tirosint is not approved for use by anyone younger than 6 years old.

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You Like How Hyperthyroidism Makes You Feel

Hyperthyroidism can cause unwanted symptoms like anxiety and excessive sweating. But it can also cause weight loss and a reduced need for sleep, which some people 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.

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Dog Thyroid Medication Side Effects

If your vet diagnoses your pet with a dog thyroid problem, you’ll need to take prompt action in order to ensure that your pet is adequately cared for. Thyroid conditions can lead to a variety of damaging and potentially fatal conditions in and of themselves, not to mention that the symptoms of such a condition might be quite devastatingto your pet’s way of life.

Before you give your pet any number of different synthetic thyroid hormones, like Thyroxin, or other treatment methods and supplements, however, it’s crucial that you work with your vet to understand all of the potential side effects.

In some cases, it will actually make more sense to limit the medication that your dog will receive, particularly if the side effects of that drug are such that they may cause issues for your pet worse thanthose that his thyroid condition will bring about. Some of the most common side effects of dog thyroid medication include the following.