When is synthroid used

They may recommend ways to ease your symptoms and determine whether you should keep taking Synthroid. Be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Synthroid. This drug may not be the right treatment for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health.

The conditions and factors to consider include:. Heart conditions. Taking Synthroid may cause heart-related side effects, such as heart palpitations or an increased heart rate. If you already have a heart condition, such as atrial fibrillation , you may be at a higher risk for these side effects.

And taking Synthroid could make your heart condition worse. If you have a heart condition, your doctor may start you on a low dose and monitor you more closely than usual. Adrenal gland problems. Treatment with Synthroid can lower levels of your adrenal hormones, such as cortisol. People with adrenal gland problems, such as adrenal insufficiency , may be at a higher risk for this side effect.

Be sure your doctor is aware of any adrenal gland problems you have before you start taking Synthroid. Synthroid may cause your blood sugar level to rise if you have diabetes and take certain medications for it. This is because Synthroid may cause some diabetes medications to work less well than usual. Your doctor may monitor your blood sugar more closely than usual if you have diabetes and begin taking Synthroid.

Allergic reaction. Talk with your doctor about which other treatments are better choices for you. Problems with blood clotting. Certain medications called blood thinners might work better than usual if used together with Synthroid.

But this can also lead to serious side effects, such as excessive bleeding. Your doctor may monitor you more closely than usual if you take Synthroid with a blood thinner.

They may also lower the dose of your blood thinner. Being an older adult. So your doctor may start you on a low dose and monitor you more closely than usual. Having gone through menopause. Synthroid may cause decreased bone mineral density BMD. They may monitor your BMD throughout your treatment. Your doctor may change your Synthroid dose based on your hormone levels. This helps them choose a Synthroid dose that works best for you. But if you become pregnant during your treatment, your doctor may need to increase your dose of Synthroid.

This is because pregnancy can sometimes increase the need for thyroid hormones. Keep in mind that untreated hypothyroidism can be dangerous during pregnancy. The drug is believed pass into human breast milk. Talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits of treatments for your condition while breastfeeding. Taking the drug exactly as prescribed by your doctor should lower your risk for side effects of Synthroid.

In rare cases, Synthroid can cause serious side effects. You should talk with your doctor if you experience symptoms of:. You should also talk with your doctor if you become pregnant while taking Synthroid. If you become pregnant, your doctor may need to increase your dose of the drug.

They can help answer any questions you have about side effects of taking the drug. Besides talking with your doctor, you can do some research on your own. These articles might help:. Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date.

However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or other healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects.

The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses. Certain foods and supplements may improve or worsen symptoms of hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid. Here, we describe changes to the diet that…. If you have hyperthyroidism, talk with your doctor about appropriate treatment options for your condition.

In some cases, children may need to take Synthroid for certain problems affecting their thyroid. Below, we describe approved uses of Synthroid for children. From birth, some children may not be able to make enough thyroid hormones.

This condition is called congenital hypothyroidism. Usually, for congenital hypothyroidism, a child will take Synthroid for their entire life. Synthroid works by replacing T4, one of the main thyroid hormones. And their body then uses T4 to make T3, which is the other main thyroid hormone.

Children may also acquire develop hypothyroidism during their childhood. This may occur because of changes in their thyroid or pituitary. The pituitary tells the thyroid to make thyroid hormones. In some cases, your doctor may recommend that you take other medications with Synthroid. Below, we describe some supplements that your doctor may recommend. However, before starting any of these supplements, be sure to talk with your doctor. Vitamin D plays a role in how your immune system functions.

And because some thyroid conditions are related to your immune system, people with these conditions may have low vitamin D levels. If you have hypothyroidism, your doctor may order blood tests to check your vitamin D level. And your doctor may recommend that you take a vitamin D supplement if your levels are low.

For some people, increasing vitamin D level may help decrease symptoms of their thyroid condition. It makes you feel sleepy when it gets dark outside. One study showed that melatonin may increase your levels of T4. T4 is one of the main thyroid hormones in your body, which Synthroid is used to replace or add to.

And the study showed that melatonin may also decrease feelings of anxiety and depression. In some cases, your doctor may recommend that you take a melatonin supplement along with Synthroid. But keep in mind that melatonin may affect your thyroid hormone levels. Because of this, your doctor may check your thyroid hormone levels when you first start taking melatonin.

Sometimes hypothyroidism may cause problems with your intestines. This may happen because decreased thyroid function is linked to having too much bacteria in your small intestine. And having large amounts of bacteria in your intestine may result in certain problems, such as diarrhea.

Taking a probiotic may help to decrease harmful bacteria and increase helpful bacteria in your gut. Synthroid is a man-made form of a natural thyroid hormone called T4. Below, we describe how Synthroid works for each of these uses. The main thyroid hormones in your body are T3 and T4.

And your body then uses T4 to make T3. Synthroid helps to bring your thyroid hormone levels back to a normal range. And it also helps reduce your symptoms of hypothyroidism. Synthroid is used to suppress lower TSH levels in people with thyrotropin-dependent well-differentiated thyroid cancer.

TSH stimulates your thyroid to make more thyroid hormones. In addition, TSH is responsible for cell growth in your thyroid gland. This includes growth of both healthy cells and cancerous cells in the gland. The drug usually has its maximum effect in your body about 4 to 6 weeks after you start taking it.

If you have thyroid-related symptoms, you may notice your symptoms are decreasing within 4 to 6 weeks after starting the drug. After 4 to 6 weeks of treatment, your doctor will check blood tests to monitor your thyroid. And your doctor may adjust your dosage of Synthroid if needed based on your lab results. Using more than the recommended dosage of Synthroid can lead to serious side effects. Do not use more Synthroid than your doctor recommends.

Keep in mind that Synthroid is a man-made form of the natural thyroid hormone T4. Because of this, symptoms of Synthroid overdose are also symptoms of hyperthyroidism elevated thyroid hormone levels. You can also call the American Association of Poison Control Centers at or use their online tool. But if your symptoms are severe, call or go to the nearest emergency room right away.

Usually, if your TSH level is high, your Synthroid dose needs to be increased. TSH, which stands for thyroid stimulating hormone, is made when your body needs more thyroid hormones. When you have an elevated TSH level, your dose of Synthroid may need to be increased.

On the other hand, if your TSH level is low, your dose of Synthroid may need to be decreased. During Synthroid treatment, your doctor will order blood tests to check your TSH level.

And for some people, their doctor will also check the levels of their thyroid hormones, T3 and T4. Based on the results of your blood tests, your doctor will adjust your dosage of Synthroid if needed. Withdrawal symptoms may occur when you stop taking a drug that your body is dependent on. With dependence, your body needs the drug in order for you to feel normal. But stopping Synthroid may cause you to have symptoms of the condition you were taking the drug to treat.

This is because your symptoms were relieved when your body was getting thyroid hormone from Synthroid. Yes, Synthroid tablets are gluten-free. In fact, a study was done to determine whether or not Synthroid contained gluten. And the results of the study showed that there was no detectable gluten in the tablets. Because of this, Synthroid is considered to be gluten-free. Synthroid is a man-made form of the natural thyroid hormone called T4. But your thyroid actually makes two main hormones: T3 and T4.

In this case, Synthroid is used to replace your natural T4. Then, your body uses T4 to make T3. Taking Synthroid can help bring your thyroid hormones to healthy levels. And the drug helps to regulate your metabolism all of the chemical reactions in your body. Instead, Synthroid is a man-made form of the natural thyroid hormone called T4. Synthroid replaces or adds to the natural thyroid hormones in your body. Yes, Synthroid may help relieve depression , if the depression is related to hypothyroidism.

Keep in mind that Synthroid is approved to treat hypothyroidism. For some people, depression may be caused by hypothyroidism. Synthroid treats hypothyroidism by increasing your thyroid hormone levels to a normal range. Be sure and talk with your doctor if you feel depressed. They can discuss with you treatment options that may help improve your moods. In fact, hypothyroidism , which Synthroid is used to treat, can actually be dangerous during pregnancy.

Not having enough thyroid hormone in your body, which happens in hypothyroidism, can increase certain risks. These risks include pregnancy loss, high blood pressure during pregnancy , and premature delivery. In some cases, pregnancy may increase your thyroid hormone needs. If needed during your pregnancy, your doctor will increase your dosage of Synthroid.

Some studies have shown that the drug does pass into the breast milk of lactating women. They can discuss with you the risks and benefits of breastfeeding while taking this drug. Your insurance plan may require you to get prior authorization before approving coverage for brand-name Synthroid.

This means that your doctor and insurance company will need to communicate about your prescription before the insurance company will cover the drug. The insurance company will review the request and let you and your doctor know if your plan will cover Synthroid. If you need financial support to pay for Synthroid, or if you need help understanding your insurance coverage, help is available. AbbVie, Inc. For example, the company offers both a copay card and coupons.

Synthroid is available in a generic form called levothyroxine. And generics tend to cost less than brand-name drugs. This is because doses of the different versions of this drug may not be equivalent. To find out how the cost of levothyroxine compares to the cost of Synthroid, visit GoodRx.

Again, the cost you find on GoodRx. They may have a preference for one version or the other. This drug has a boxed warning. A boxed warning alerts doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous. Before taking Synthroid, talk with your doctor about your health history.

Synthroid may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. These include:. When you get Synthroid from the pharmacy, the pharmacist will add an expiration date to the label on the bottle. This date is typically 1 year from the date they dispensed the medication.

The expiration date helps guarantee that the medication is effective during this time. If you have unused medication that has gone past the expiration date, talk to your pharmacist about whether you might still be able to use it.

How long a medication remains good can depend on many factors, including how and where you store the medication. The drug should be kept in a tightly sealed container away from light. Avoid storing this medication in areas where it could get damp or wet, such as in bathrooms.

This helps prevent others, including children and pets, from taking the drug by accident. It also helps keep the drug from harming the environment. This article provides several useful tips on medication disposal. You can also ask your pharmacist for information on how to dispose of your medication. Synthroid is indicated for the treatment of primary, secondary, and tertiary hypothyroidism that is either congenital or acquired.

In addition, the drug is indicated for use in combination with surgery and radioiodine treatment for thyroid stimulating hormone TSH suppression as a treatment for thyrotropin-dependent well-differentiated thyroid cancer. Synthroid is a tablet that is taken orally, typically once daily. It should be taken on an empty stomach, about 30 minutes to 1 hour before breakfast.

It works to treat hypothyroidism by supplementing natural T4 that is not being produced by the body due to issues with the thyroid, pituitary, or hypothalamus. T4 can then be converted inside the body into T3, which is generally responsible for the physical effects of thyroid hormones, including metabolism, temperature regulation, and digestion.

Synthroid may also be used along with surgery and radioiodine therapy for TSH suppression. In this case, the drug is being used to treat thyrotropin-dependent well-differentiated thyroid cancer. Synthroid works by supplementing T4 levels, which lowers physiologic production of TSH. Decreased TSH levels cause decreased tumor growth in thyrotropin-dependent well-differentiated thyroid cancer.

Synthroid is mostly absorbed in the small intestine. A fasting state increases Synthroid absorption, which is why it is recommended that Synthroid be taken an empty stomach. Foods such as soybeans, grapefruit, and those high in fiber may affect the absorption of Synthroid.

Other drugs may also affect absorption of Synthroid. The half-life of Synthroid is about 6 to 7 days, on average. However, the drug lasts longer in the body when taken by people with hypothyroidism. The half-life in people with hypothyroidism is usually between 9 and 10 days.

In comparison, the half-life in people with hyperthyroidism is between 3 and 4 days. Synthroid is degraded mostly in the liver, but it is also degraded in the kidneys and other areas of the body by a process called deiodination.

With deiodination, iodine is removed from the thyroid hormone, causing it to become inactive. Thyroid hormones may also be broken down in the liver by glucuronidation. Synthroid is mostly excreted via the kidneys. Synthroid is contraindicated in people with adrenal insufficiency that is untreated. Synthroid may decrease adrenal hormones, which may cause people with preexisting adrenal insufficiency to go into adrenal crisis.

Always treat adrenal insufficiency prior to starting patients on Synthroid. The drug should be kept away from moisture and light.

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up-to-date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or other healthcare professional before taking any medication.

The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses. In this article, we examine whether there is a link between menopause and an underactive thyroid, and how the two may affect each other.

A person's thyroid levels can affect their cholesterol levels. Learn how thyroid hormones and cholesterol are linked, as well as what treatments are…. Hair loss sometimes occurs if the thyroid gland is not working correctly. An overactive thyroid or an underactive thyroid can both cause hair loss…. Can yoga be beneficial for people with hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism? We look at the evidence and list the best yoga poses for thyroid health. Papillary thyroid cancer is a common and highly treatable type of thyroid cancer.

Learn more here. Synthroid levothyroxine. What is Synthroid? Synthroid generic. Synthroid side effects. Synthroid dosage. Alternatives to Synthroid. Synthroid vs. Armour Thyroid. Synthroid and alcohol. Synthroid interactions. How to take Synthroid. Synthroid uses. Synthroid use with other drugs. How Synthroid works. Synthroid overdose. Common questions about Synthroid. Synthroid and pregnancy.

Synthroid and birth control. Synthroid and breastfeeding. Synthroid cost. The main ingredient in Synthroid, levothyroxine sodium, works in the same way as thyroxine also known as T4 , allowing the body to function normally.

Levothyroxine sodium is a synthetic form of thyroxine. Inactive ingredients in Synthroid improve absorption, preserve the drug, and add color. Synthroid is a prescription drug and can not be bought over the counter. Talk to your healthcare provider to determine if the drug is right for you. Synthroid is used to treat hypothyroidism, a condition where the body produces a low amount of thyroid hormone.

It can also treat and prevent goiters caused by hypothyroidism. A goiter is an enlarged thyroid gland that can occur due to hormone imbalances, iodine deficiency, thyroid surgery, or other underlying conditions.

Do not use Synthroid to treat non-cancerous growths, temporary cases of hypothyroidism, or thyroid enlargement in patients who have normal iodine levels.

Brand-name Synthroid is available as a tablet in 12 different strengths. Talk to your healthcare provider about which dosing option is best for you.

The starting dose may differ as time goes on since thyroid hormone levels will likely change over time. Generic versions of Synthroid come in capsules, oral solutions, and powders for injections. These are the available strengths and forms of Synthroid for adults. Before starting the medication, your physician will test your TSH thyroid-stimulating hormone levels to determine the right dosage.

For Synthroid to be effective, it should be taken at the same time every day, following these steps :. There are no restrictions on who can use Synthroid—adults, children, and the elderly can all take the drug. Children can take the medicine if the tablet is crushed and mixed with one to two teaspoons of water.