Thyroid Managment
What is Hypothyroidism?
The symptoms of hypothyroidism can be different from person to person, and they often look like symptoms of other health problems. Because of that, a diagnosis of hypothyroidism doesn't rely on symptoms alone. It's usually based on the results of blood tests. Your provider will order thyroid labs to diagnose this.
The results of these blood tests can be affected by some medicines or supplements. This includes biotin, a vitamin taken as a stand-alone supplement or as part of a multivitamin. Before you have blood tests done, tell your health care provider about any medicines or supplements you take.
Hypothyroidism Treatment
Treatment for hypothyroidism usually includes taking thyroid hormone medicine (Synthroid, Tirosint, Armour Thyroid, NP Thyroid) every day. This medicine is taken by mouth. It returns hormone levels to a healthy range, eliminating symptoms of hypothyroidism.
You'll likely start to feel better one or two weeks after you begin treatment. Treatment with thyroid medications likely will be lifelong. Because the dosage you need may change, your health care provider may check your thyroid levels every year, or more often, based on your response to medication and fluctuating thyroid levels.
Finding the Right Dosage
To find the right dosage for you, your health care provider may check your thyroid hormone levels as often as is deemed necessary. Too much thyroid medication can cause side effects, such as: tiredness, increased appetite, sleep issues, shakiness, and heart palpitations.
Thyroid medications typically causes no side effects when used in the correct dose. If you change brands of the medicine, tell your health care provider, as the dosage may need to change.
If you have coronary artery disease or severe hypothyroidism, your health care provider may start treatment with a smaller amount of medicine and then slowly increase the dosage. This allows your heart to adjust to the rise in your body's metabolism.