| So you have been diagnosed with thyroid disease and | | | | you are not pushed into hyperthyroidism. L-thyroxine is |
| are faithfully taking your medication. But do you feel | | | | taken once a day and because it has a half life of |
| better? Do you feel worse? About the same? Your | | | | over five days, if you miss a dose by several hours, it |
| doctor will adjust the amount of medication you take | | | | shouldn't cause any problems. This drug is given in low |
| based on the amount of hormone your thyroid | | | | dosages initially and the amount is increased over time |
| produces so the total amount of hormone falls within | | | | until blood tests reveal the thyroid hormones are at the |
| the normal range. | | | | proper level in your body. |
| As you know there are many factors that can | | | | Iron and calcium interfere with the absorption of |
| influence the functioning of your thyroid and change | | | | L-thyroxine so you should not take your multivitamin at |
| the amount of hormone it produces. If you have | | | | the same time of day. Caffeine has also been shown |
| hypothyroidism, you might think that is a good thing and | | | | to interfere with the absorption of L-thyroxine. It is |
| it is except for one small point. | | | | recommended that you allow a few hours between |
| If your thyroid suddenly starts making more hormone | | | | drinking coffee and taking your thyroid medication. |
| while you are receiving supplemental hormones you | | | | Triiodothyronine, or T3 is another thyroid hormone. In |
| may wind up with too much hormone circulating in your | | | | the body, T3 is derived from T4. T3 is a much more |
| system. This will cause a whole different set of | | | | powerful hormone and can cause a dramatic |
| symptoms which may leave you feeling anxious and | | | | response from the thyroid when it is administered as a |
| confused. | | | | medication. The action of T3 is very different than the |
| Adding herbs or supplements to your diet can have | | | | action of T4. T3 has a half life of only a few hours so |
| the same effect. That is why you need to pay close | | | | it disappears quickly from the body. A missed dose of |
| attention to the signals your body sends to you. If you | | | | T3 can have a much more pronounced effect than a |
| begin feeling fatigued or anxious or have new | | | | missed dose of T4. |
| symptoms, you should make an appointment with your | | | | Triiodothyronine is also quite fast acting and if too |
| doctor. He may order a thyroid blood test to see what | | | | much is taken it can cause cardiac complications such |
| your hormone levels are. | | | | as chest pain, high blood pressure, rapid heart rate and |
| Sometimes your symptoms might be caused by the | | | | palpitations. It can also cause sweating and anxiety. T3 |
| medication itself and not necessarily your thyroid. Your | | | | is traditionally used for short intervals like after thyroid |
| doctor may have to change your medication. He will | | | | surgery. It is not used for long term thyroid treatment |
| also take a look at all of your supplements and other | | | | although studies are ongoing to determine if patients |
| prescription medications to see if something you are | | | | feel better when taking a combination of T3 and T4. |
| taking interferes with the absorption of your thyroid | | | | To get the best results from your medication, stick |
| medication. If you find that your symptoms just do not | | | | with the same brand. If your pharmacy changes |
| clear up or they clear up and return repeatedly, you | | | | brands, let your doctor know. It is thought there could |
| should ask your doctor to refer you to an | | | | be enough differences in manufacturing processes for |
| endocrinologist who is more specialized in treating | | | | thyroid medications to vary slightly which may have an |
| thyroid disorders. | | | | effect on the total level in your blood. This means |
| Below are the medications used to treat thyroid | | | | changing brands may cause you to experience |
| disease. | | | | symptoms again even if the dosage is the same. |
| L-thyroxine is the most common medication used to | | | | Take your medication on an empty stomach and at |
| treat hypothyroidism. It is also known as Levothyroxine, | | | | the same time each day so absorption remains |
| T4 or thyroid hormone. This drug is the same | | | | constant. Remember that any additional medications |
| substance as the thyroid hormone normally produced | | | | you take, like antibiotics, might have an effect upon the |
| by your body. For that reason side effects are | | | | absorption of your medication so let the prescribing |
| extremely rare. The trick is to establish the correct | | | | doctor know you take thyroid hormones. |
| dosage so that your hypothyroidism is reversed but | | | | |