Do I have to take Synthroid forever?

Hypothyroidism is generally a lifelong condition requiring lifelong treatment. By continuing to take Synthroid as your doctor prescribed and getting your levels checked regularly, you can help keep your thyroid levels where they should be.

Can you ever get off SYNTHROID?

Yes, it's possible. But you should always check with your healthcare provider first. Whether you're able to safely stop taking thyroid medication may depend on the reason you are taking it. Research shows that some people can safely stop taking thyroid medications.

Do I have to take thyroid medication forever?

An underactive thyroid is a lifelong condition, so you'll usually need to take levothyroxine for the rest of your life. If you're prescribed levothyroxine because you have an underactive thyroid, you're entitled to a medical exemption certificate. This means you do not have to pay for your prescriptions.

When can I stop taking SYNTHROID?

As the main treatment for a sluggish thyroid, levothyroxine is meant to be taken for life. Stopping this medication may result in a return of symptoms such as: Fatigue. Weight gain.

What happens when you stop taking SYNTHROID?

When your doctor asks you to stop your thyroid medication, your hormone level will decrease significantly, and this may lead to signs and symptoms of acute hypothyroidism. Weakness, lethargy, cold intolerance, paleness, dry skin, coarse hair, and constipation can occur with acute hypothyroidism.

How to take Levothyroxine (Synthroid) Correctly | Side Effects All Patients Need to Know

Can hypothyroidism go away?

ANSWER: For mild cases of hypothyroidism, not all patients need treatment. Occasionally, the condition may resolve without treatment. Follow-up appointments are important to monitor hypothyroidism over time, however. If hypothyroidism doesn't go away on its own within several months, then treatment is necessary.

Will you gain weight if you stop taking Synthroid?

While undertreatment with levothyroxine can lead to weight gain, overtreatment can result in weight loss as well as adverse effects including bone and muscle loss and heart problems, especially arrhythmias. Once the excess hormone is stopped (that is, the dose is adjusted downward), the weight is typically regained.

What are the long-term side effects of taking Synthroid?

That's why healthcare providers often start low and then slowly increase your dose, depending on your response (Chiovato, 2019). There are two potential side effects from long-term use that you may want to discuss with your healthcare provider: bone-thinning (osteoporosis) and heart-related issues.

What is the downside to taking levothyroxine?

Common side effects of levothyroxine include heat intolerance, a fast heart rate, and diarrhea. More serious levothyroxine side effects are also possible. If you experience side effects like tremors or mood changes, talk to your healthcare provider as soon as you can.

Is it OK to take Synthroid every other day?

In order for Synthroid to be effective, it should always be taken the same way every day. This is important because the amount of medicine you need is very precise. And even the way you take Synthroid can affect how much medicine your body is getting.

How do I get off thyroid medicine?

Or cut the original dose by 25 mcg every two months, stopping no later than six months [2]. In general, those who are on high doses of thyroid hormone or who have been taking their medication for a longer amount of time will need to wean off more slowly.

How can I boost my thyroid naturally?

What happens if you don't take Synthroid for a week?

Levothyroxine levels in the body start to drop significantly after about 6 or 7 days, so you'll likely notice symptoms of hypothyroidism if you miss a week or more of the medication. If you're taking a form of thyroid hormone that doesn't last in the body as long, the symptoms will be even more noticeable.

What happens if you have hypothyroidism and don t take medication?

Untreated hypothyroidism can lead to serious complications, including heart disease and nerve damage. In rare cases, it can be fatal. Most people with hypothyroidism have to take thyroid hormone replacement long term. You will need ongoing thyroid level checks to ensure you are on the right dose.

Is there a difference between Synthroid and levothyroxine?

What's the difference between levothyroxine and Synthroid? Levothyroxine and Synthroid contain the same active (main) ingredient, levothyroxine, which is human-made T4. Levothyroxine is the generic name for Synthroid.

Why do people abuse levothyroxine?

Athletes may abuse levothyroxine as a performance-enhancer, but sometimes, others abuse it to lose weight. Stimulants like Adderall and cocaine have been abused for this reason, and they are more commonly found as drugs of abuse among people who have eating disorders.

Can levothyroxine damage your heart?

This is especially true in patients with heart failure. While levothyroxine replacement may improve heart failure, it is possible that in this group it could have harmful effects, especially if the levothyroxine dose is too high.

What can you take instead of Synthroid?

Cytomel can be an appropriate thyroid hormone replacement option when taken as prescribed by a healthcare provider.

Is Synthroid hard on your liver?

When given in high doses, thyroid hormone preparations can cause mild serum enzyme elevations. In addition, standard doses of levothyroxine have been linked to rare instances of mild, immunoallergic liver injury.

Is Synthroid safer than levothyroxine?

It's Equally Safe

Generic levothyroxine is just as safe as the brand names—in the United States, these include Synthroid, Levoxyl, Unithroid, and Tirosint—because it has the same FDA-approved active ingredient (levothyroxine).

Does Synthroid give you energy?

Those who go on Synthroid usually start feeling better within a few months. They have more energy, and many people lose weight on it because their metabolism is back to normal. The fog of depression starts to lift, and they start to feel happier and more interested in things that used to interest them.

Can thyroid cause belly fat?

Even mild cases of hypothyroidism may increase the risk of weight gain and obesity. People with the condition often report having a puffy face as well as excess weight around the stomach or other areas of the body.

Does Synthroid cause hair loss?

Official answer. Yes, levothyroxine, the main treatment for a sluggish thyroid gland, may cause hair loss in addition to other side effects. You may experience partial hair loss in the first few months of treatment, but this usually resolves and hair growth goes back to normal within a short time.

What is the main cause of hypothyroidism?

The most common cause of hypothyroidism is an autoimmune disease called Hashimoto's disease. Autoimmune diseases happen when the immune system makes antibodies that attack healthy tissues. Sometimes that process involves the thyroid gland and affects its ability to make hormones.

Can a thyroid go back to normal?

Over time the thyroid usually returns to its normal state. Because the stored thyroid hormone has been released, patients may become hypothyroid (where their thyroid gland produces too little thyroid hormone) for a period of time until the thyroid gland can build up new stores of thyroid hormone.