Levothyroxine is a drug used to treat hypothyroidism, which is a condition that results from underactive thyroid gland. It provides thyroid hormone to the body. The side effects include increased appetite, weight loss, excessive sweating, nervousness, and anxiety.
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What is the recommended amount of Synthyroid that can be increased to get normal TSH level?
Query: Hello doctor,My 24 years old daughter born without a thyroid and treated with Synthroid since birth has a TSH level of 23.980 uIU/mL and T4 Free of 1.57 mg/dl on the current dose of Synthroid 150 mcg. Her weight is 150 lbs and height 5' 4". Her endocrinologist increased her dose to 300 mcg, thinking... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. It is better to increase the dose by 25 mcg, i.e. 175 mcg if she was using 150 mcg till date escalating the dose or thyroid medication will be like 25 to 50 mcg at a time. Not double the dose causes severe sickness. As you mentioned, she was Synthroid (Levothyroxine)... Read Full »
I am pregnant and my TSH value is 3.17. Is this normal?
Query: Hello doctor, I am 9 months pregnant. My TSH value is 3.17; the reference value is 0.30 - 5.5. The pregnancy refers range is 0.30 - 3.00. Is this normal? I am worried about my baby. Please help. Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com.The ideal thyroid stimulating hormone - TSH level in pregnancy should be below 2.5 in the first trimester and below 3 in the second and third trimesters. This level is especially important for the first trimester as, at this period, any low thyroid level might cause fetal ... Read Full »
I discontinued taking Thyrox for hypothyroid. Can I start again?
Query: Hello doctor, I was diagnosed with hypothyroid 1.5 years back. My doctor suggested me to take Thyrox 25 daily. I was using it and feel fine. Around a month back I had pain in my lower abdomen. When I consult a different doctor, it was diagnosed as kidney stone. I told him my thyroid history. He exam... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. I need more information before I recommend what to do. 1. Do you have the reports of your thyroid result that were taken 1.5 years ago? 2. Do you have any symptoms such as weight gain, constipation or fatigue? 3. Does any kind of thyroid problem run in your family? 4... Read Full »
I got some reactions to Nature Throid. Can I take Levothyroxine?
Query: Hi doctor, I was switched to Nature-Throid. Within nine days, I had a severe reaction. It caused panic attacks at night, waking up in sweat and insomnia. Then, my naturopath took me off and said to go back to my Levothyroxine. I take 88 mcg daily and 25 mcg once a week. I just realized that I forgot... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. It is good that you are off nature thyroid. Its responses are unpredictable and reactions are common. Levothyroxine is the best and the safest. It is good that you are back on Levothyroxine. I think you should just continue 88 mcg of Levothyroxine daily in the empty s... Read Full »
Does Levothyroxine have a role in reducing my weight gain?
Query: Hello doctor, I am on Levothyroxine at 100 mg but have been having weight gain despite working out five days a week and eating very well. I am cold all the time, have headaches, dryness, brain fog and joint pain. I got my levels tested and my TSH is normal, even low, and T3 and free T4 are at the ve... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. I just read your query and from what you have mentioned, it appears that you have hypothyroidism. Well, you can increase your dose to 112 Levothyroxine as per your doctor, but mind you Levothyroxine is not actually a weight loss drug. Your symptoms could be improved ... Read Full »
Can I take Synthroid to treat my hypothyroidism?
Query: Hello doctor, I am a 40-year-old female who was recently diagnosed with hypothyroidism. I was prescribed medicine for the same. I have a few concerns. Could you please explain how Synthroid works to regulate thyroid function and what I should expect in terms of symptom relief and not to forget the s... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. I can understand your concern. Synthroid (Levothyroxine sodium) is a thyroid hormone supplement. It is an artificial thyroid hormone. When your body is not producing a sufficient quantity of thyroid hormone, it is known as hypothyroidism. So we have to give from the... Read Full »
I suffer from hyperthyroidism. Will taking Synthroid help?
Query: Hello doctor, I am a 30-year-old woman, and I have been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, and it is so stressful. I cannot seem to find relief from anxiety, rapid heartbeat, and sudden weight loss. I read a few journals online about Synthroid, which is utilized for thyroid issues. However, I am unsur... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. I have read your query, and I can understand your concern. Synthroid is a brand name for Levothyroxine, a synthetic form of the thyroid hormone Thyroxine (T4). It is primarily used to treat hypothyroidism, a condition where the thyroid gland does not produce enough... Read Full »
My thyroid medicine makes me sick. Should it be changed?
Query: Hello doctor, I have been diagnosed hypothyroid. I am currently taking WP Thyroid. I have taken Armour and Nature-thyroid. They all make me sick to my stomach. I tried adding generic T3 and it made my symptoms worse, that is, hair loss, cold hands and feet, weight gain, fatigue, GERD, and constipati... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. I just read your query and from what you have mentioned it appears that you have hypothyroidism. However, you have missed mentioning the thyroid function test results in detail, so as to enable me to suggest an appropriate drug for you. Hope you revert with your thy... Read Full »
Why are my TSH levels fluctuating? Is it due to my periods?
Query: Hi doctor, I had a thyroid test three years back, and my levels were 7.043 U/mL, so I was put on thyroid medication for hypothyroidism. After experiencing some side effects from the Synthroid drug, I discussed alternatives with an endocrinologist. He advised me to stop my medication and retest after... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Levothyroxine is one of the safest medicine with as good as no side effects. Earlier you had subclinical hypothyroidism. But, now it has progressed to overt hypothyroidism. You can still wait for another four weeks and repeat the test if it is more than 10 U/mL, you w... Read Full »
I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism during pregnancy. Please help.
Query: Hello doctor, I am a 30-year-old female who got married five years ago. I got pregnant, and in a routine test, I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism, and my thyroid stimulating hormone was 5 mIU/L. My gynecologist started a tablet of Levothyroxine 50 mcg, but after taking the medication, I felt diarrh... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. I can understand your concern. I just read your query about your hypothyroidism and your pregnancy. Try to increase the dose of Levothyroxine to 75 mcg daily. As your pregnancy progresses, your requirement for thyroxine keeps increasing, so you need to keep repeating... Read Full »
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