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).

Is it better to take Synthroid or levothyroxine?

As previously mentioned, one version isn't technically better than the other. Both generic levothyroxine and Synthroid should work equally well for the treatment of hypothyroidism. It's just not ideal to switch back and forth between different products, unless you're directed to do so.

Does Synthroid have less side effects than levothyroxine?

Side effects of Synthroid and levothyroxine

Because the active chemicals in both brand name and generic levothyroxine are the same, they share the same side effect profile.

What are the dangers of taking Synthroid?

They include the following: General: fatigue, increased appetite, weight loss, heat intolerance, fever, excessive sweating. Central nervous system: headache, hyperactivity, nervousness, anxiety, irritability, emotional lability, insomnia. Musculoskeletal: tremors, muscle weakness, muscle spasm.

Is it OK to switch from levothyroxine to Synthroid?

The FDA maintains that generic levothyroxine is the same as brand name Synthroid. FDA scientists recently collaborated with endocrinologists from Yale and the Mayo Clinic. They concluded that switching from one generic to another is fine (JAMA Internal Medicine, Feb.

Armour Thyroid versus Synthroid

Can Synthroid damage your thyroid?

Synthroid is dosed based on weight, and while that works for most women, sometimes it can overcorrect your thyroid and make it overactive, Goldfarb says. One sign that you've entered into hyperthyroid territory is a racing or irregular heart rate.

Why was levothyroxine taken off the market?

Issues Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Levothyroxine and Liothyronine (Thyroid Tablets, USP) Due to Risk of Adulteration | FDA.

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 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.

What is an alternative to Synthroid?

Armour Thyroid (desiccated thyroid)

It contains both thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), and it can be used to treat the same conditions as those treated by levothyroxine, such as hypothyroidism and thyroid cancer.

What is the safest medication for hypothyroidism?

For most people with hypothyroidism, levothyroxine is the best treatment option. If levothyroxine isn't working or if someone cannot take it, liothyronine would be next in line. Natural thyroid medications — and alternative therapies like iodine — aren't recommended for use.

Why is Synthroid the drug of choice for hypothyroidism?

Synthroid mimics the natural thyroid hormone your body normally produces. It's also one of the most prescribed medications in the U.S. Synthroid works as a thyroid hormone replacement if you have low thyroid hormone levels. It's prescribed in some cases of thyroid disease or thyroid cancer.

What are the long-term side effects of levothyroxine?

The studies proving this are not limited in numbers, they demonstrate an association between long-term levothyroxine therapy and increased risk of heart disease, osteoporosis, and fractures. In addition to this it also increases the economic burden on the patients owing to price surge [5].

What is the best prescription thyroid medication?

The most common treatment is levothyroxine (Levoxyl, Synthroid, Tirosint, Unithroid, Unithroid Direct), a man-made version of the thyroid hormone thyroxine (T4). It acts just like the hormone your thyroid gland normally makes.

Is Synthroid the best?

Synthroid (levothyroxine) is the recommended treatment for hypothyroidism and prescribed by most doctors. The American Thyroid Association along with other international thyroid organizations agree that Synthroid is the most effective treatment option.

Is generic thyroid as good as Synthroid?

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).

Can Synthroid cause heart damage?

Overtreatment may cause detrimental cardiac effects (such as an increase in heart rate, precipitation of angina, or arrhythmias). The elderly and people with pre-existing cardiac disease are most at risk. Synthroid may worsen blood glucose control in people with diabetes.

What vitamins should not be taken with Synthroid?

Due to this risk, you should not take iron or calcium supplements at least 4 hours before or 4 hours after taking Synthroid. This should help prevent iron or calcium from affecting the level of Synthroid in your body. As a result, Synthroid can work to be effective for treating your condition.

Is levothyroxine hard on the 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.

Is levothyroxine a high risk medication?

Levothyroxine may cause serious or life-threatening problems when given in large doses, especially when taken with amphetamines such as amphetamine (Adzenys, Dyanavel XR, Evekeo), dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine), and methamphetamine (Desoxyn).

Do you have to stay on levothyroxine 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.

Can thyroid medication harm you?

Thyroid hormones, including levothyroxine, should not be used for weight loss or to treat obesity. Taking doses that are higher than recommended can lead to serious or even life threatening effects.

Is Synthroid being recalled?

Manufacturing problems have led to the recall of the thyroid-hormone replacement therapy Synthroid for the second time in 6 months. This time, however, the responsibility for the return of more than 28,520 bottles of the drug falls on the shoulders of AbbVie ($ABBV), the new company that resulted from the Jan.

What happens if you stop levothyroxine cold turkey?

by Drugs.com

Stopping this medication may result in a return of symptoms such as: Fatigue. Weight gain. Difficulty tolerating cold.

Does Synthroid cause dementia?

These studies simply show that people who take thyroid medication end up with Alzheimer's disease slightly more frequently than those people who do not take thyroid medication. This connection has led some researchers to believe that thyroid medication is the thing CAUSING dementia in these people.