How long synthroid

If you're having any heart issues at all, it's important to call your doctor right away. They may or may not be related to your medications but you should get it checked out either way, she says. The thyroid has a big effect on your weight and appetite, making you gain or lose weight rapidly. If you suddenly put on more than a few pounds, it could be a sign your meds aren't working or the dose is too low, Goldfarb says.

Similarly, if you suddenly lose a bunch of weight, it may mean your meds are too high, she adds. Getting drenched in sweat at the gym is the hallmark of a killer workout, but everywhere else? Not so great. Some ladies are just sweatier than others, but if you suddenly see a change in your dampness levels, or have developed night sweats , it might be due to the Synthroid. It's nothing to freak out about, but do bring it up with your doctor at your next appointment, Goldfarb says.

Your menstrual cycle is one of the many things regulated by your thyroid and one of the primary signs of hypothyroidism in women is an irregular period.

Going on Synthroid should actually help you return to a normal cycle, which is a good thing, but may be surprising if you've gotten used to missed or delayed cycles.

If your cycle is still wacky after a few months on the medication, talk to your doctor, Goldfarb says. An upset tummy and diarrhea are two potentially embarrassing but relatively common side effects of Synthroid. Your hormones affect all your body systems, including your gut. This should normalize out as your thyroid levels stabilize, but if you find yourself too nauseous to take your pill or are suffering from chronic diarrhea call your doctor right away, she says.

Hormones and headaches go together like PMS and chocolate, sadly. So anytime you mess with your hormone levels you have the potential for a real headache.

That said, many women find their chronic headaches improve once the Synthroid kicks in. Synthroid may also be used off-label for other conditions. Synthroid is approved to treat hypothyroidism. With this condition, you can have symptoms such as tiredness and weight gain.

You may also have muscle weakness and constipation. Thyroid hormones are very important to your health because they regulate your metabolism all of the chemical reactions in your body. The two main thyroid hormones in your body are called T3 and T4. Synthroid is a man-made form of T4, and it works by replacing T4 in your body.

Your body then uses T4 to make T3. These different types of hypothyroidism have different causes. However, Synthroid works the same way no matter the cause of the condition.

Despite this lack of clinical trials, levothyroxine the active drug in Synthroid is recommended as the primary treatment for hypothyroidism. In , the American Thyroid Association released guidelines showing the best treatments for hypothyroidism. These guidelines state that products that contain levothyroxine should be used as the standard treatment for hypothyroidism. The years of use have shown that levothyroxine reduces symptoms of hypothyroidism in most people.

In addition, levothyroxine treatment has been shown to be safe and without many serious side effects. T4 was first recognized in the human body in , and a man-made form of it called levothyroxine was first made in In , new laws were created by the FDA. Synthroid is approved to suppress decrease levels of thyroid stimulating hormone TSH.

TSH stimulates your thyroid to make thyroid hormones. The two main thyroid hormones in your body are T3 and T4. In addition, TSH is responsible for growth of cells in your thyroid gland, including growth of cancerous cells. By decreasing your TSH level, Synthroid can help decrease the growth of certain types of thyroid cancer. Normally, when your thyroid hormone levels are low, your body makes TSH. This signals your thyroid to make more thyroid hormones. With a lower TSH level, growth of cancer in your thyroid may decrease.

When Synthroid is used for TSH suppression, the drug is meant to be used along with surgery and radioactive iodine treatment. According to the American Thyroid Association , TSH suppression is recommended in some people with high-risk forms of thyroid cancer.

Levothyroxine is the recommended drug to use alongside surgery and radioactive iodine treatment. However, levothyroxine is considered the recommended drug for this use. In addition to the uses listed above, Synthroid may be used off-label for other purposes. And you may wonder if Synthroid is used for certain other conditions. With this condition, you have increased levels of thyroid hormones in your body.

The two main thyroid hormones are T3 and T4. Instead, Synthroid is FDA-approved to treat hypothyroidism , which is the opposite of hyperthyroidism. With hypothyroidism, you have low levels of thyroid hormone. Synthroid is a man-made form of T4. It replaces or adds to your natural thyroid hormones, which helps your body to have the right amount of T4.

Your body then uses the T4 to make T3. This raises your risk of serious side effects, such as tremors, anxiety, and irregular heart rate. 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. For example, the average dosage of Synthroid for treating hypothyroidism is 1. The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. But be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.

Your doctor may adjust your dosage during treatment if needed. One kilogram is equal to about 2. For example, if you weigh 80 kg about lb , your starting Synthroid dosage would be mcg daily.

This is rounded down from about mcg. Your doctor will prescribe the closest available strength of Synthroid tablets. Your doctor may then adjust your dosage based on your thyroid hormone levels, as well as other factors. Synthroid is approved to treat a type of thyroid cancer.

The drug does this by suppressing decreasing levels of thyroid stimulating hormone TSH. Your doctor will adjust your dosage as needed during treatment, depending on your TSH levels.

Synthroid is meant to be used as a long-term treatment. Below is a dosage chart for using Synthroid to treat hypothyroidism in children. For example, the typical Synthroid dosage for a 5-year-old who weighs 25 kg about 55 lb would be mcg to mcg per day.

There is a dosage calculator for Synthroid, which is for use by doctors and other healthcare professionals. A dosage calculator can be helpful because thyroid hormone drugs such as Synthroid require careful monitoring and precise dosages. A dosage calculator helps make sure that the dose your doctor prescribes is safe for you.

If you have questions about how your Synthroid dosage will be calculated, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. This is because if your dosage is lowered, your body may no longer get enough thyroid hormone to help prevent or relieve your symptoms. If you have other questions about Synthroid dose adjustments and side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Synthroid is a synthetic artificial thyroid hormone. Your body also naturally makes thyroid hormones.

For this reason, Synthroid overdose can cause the same symptoms as hyperthyroidism high thyroid hormone levels. Another option is to call the American Association of Poison Control Centers at or use its online tool.

If you have severe symptoms, immediately call or your local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room. If your Synthroid dosage needs to be adjusted, your doctor will likely adjust it in amounts of For people with newly diagnosed hypothyroidism, dosage adjustments will likely happen every 4 to 6 weeks.

This is the amount of time it can take the drug to have its full effects for treating hypothyroidism. Your doctor may continue to adjust your Synthroid dosage until your thyroid hormone levels are in a normal range. Synthroid is approved to treat a type of thyroid cancer in certain situations. They may adjust your Synthroid dosage depending on these levels. Typically, the goal of treatment is for TSH levels to be below 0.