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Levothyroxine
is a synthetic form of the thyroid hormone thyroxine (T4). It is the drug of
choice to treat hypothyroidism. It is also the standard medical treatment for goitre, or an enlarged
thyroid.
Levothyroxine
hormone replacement therapy is only available with a doctor’s prescription.
Brand names include; Eutroxsig®, Oroxine®, Synthroid® and Levothroid®. This
thyroid medication can range in strength from 50 to 200 micrograms.
Levothyroxine dosage + side effects
Levothyroxine
is normally first prescribed using a dose at the lower end of the dosing range.
Thyroid function tests
are routinely performed to check that the dose is adequate to meet individual
requirements.
Dose
adjustments are done gradually until the level of thyroid stimulating hormone
(TSH) drops down to the lower end of the standard reference range.
Changes
to the dose are minor to reduce the risk of side effects. Too much
levothyroxine is associated with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation, a
fast and irregular heartbeat. This is a side effect you would expect if your
thyroid became overactive.
When
first starting levothyroxine medication it can take three to four weeks to take
effect. Once stopped, the medication will continue to have effects for one to
three weeks.
The
half-life of a prescribed medication is discussed in relation to how long the
medication will take to clear from the body. In technical terms it refers to
the time it takes for just one half of a given dose to be eliminated from the
body.
The
half-life of levothyroxine is six to seven days. This means it takes at least
six to seven days to clear around one half of this thyroid drug from your system.
Given
that levothyroxine stays in the body for a considerable length of time doctors
are advised to make small adjustments to the dose at three to four week
intervals.
For
pregnant women or women considering having a baby their levothyroxine dose is
closely monitored. The dose is often increased during pregnancy as healthy
thyroid hormone activity is particularly crucial at this time. A maternal
thyroid deficiency during pregnancy can impair healthy development of the
baby’s brain and nervous system.
How effective is levothyroxine?
For
many individuals they fail to experience improvements in their thyroid symptoms
after taking leveothyroxine for months, or even years. They continue to suffer
with the frustrating symptoms of a low thyroid. Looking at the role of the
different thyroid hormones it becomes clearer why a single prescription of
levothyroxine may be inadequate.
The
thyroid normally manufactures and releases two key hormones: thyroxine (T4) and
triiodothyronine (T3). While T4 does have
some effects, it is considered the ‘storage’ thyroid hormone. T4 is converted
to T3 by the body when a greater thyroid response is required. This means T4
needs to be converted through to T3 to be the most effective.
When
conversion of T4 to the more potent T3 takes place it is usual to notice
significant improvements in symptoms. T3 helps stimulate metabolism which has
far reaching effects in the body. This includes sparking energy production, weight loss and firing up brain
activity to improve memory and concentration.
This
scenario also applies to prescribed levothyroxine; the effects are much more
noticeable when the body is able to convert the supplemental T4 to T3.
It
is widely assumed the body will convert levothyroxine, the synthetic form of
T4, to the biologically active T3 when it needs more of this hormone. This
seems to go unquestioned as a medical fact. However for many individuals this
fails to occur.
Do you have a T4 to T3 conversion problem?
There
are two nutrients necessary to support ongoing conversion of T4 to T3. They are
zinc and selenium. Reduced conversion of T4 to T3 occurs when there is a
deficiency of either of these two minerals.
Lowered
conversion of T4 to T3 also occurs in response to dieting, stress, toxicity and
chronic fatigue syndrome.
Many
thyroid health experts advocate the use of T4/T3 medications. Using a
combination of the two key hormones can compensate for the body’s reduced
ability to effectively convert T4 to T3. An example of this is Armour Thyroid
medication. This alternative thyroid medication contains both T4 and T3.
A Naturopathic viewpoint
From
a Naturopathic viewpoint there is a broad range of factors that influence
thyroid health. To see real improvements in thyroid health it is important to
identify and address the underlying root causes. Stress, an unhealthy diet,
specific nutrient deficiencies, chronic illness, food sensitivities and
environmental toxins really take a toll on thyroid health.
A
nutritional product that provides a comprehensive range of nutrients to assist
healthy thyroid hormone activity is recommended. A good quality product
features at the very least iodine, zinc and selenium.
Note: Leveothyroxine
medication is typically advocated for life and requires ongoing monitoring. Do
not discontinue or change your medication without the informed consent of your
prescribing medical practitioner.
Watch
these videos
Author Bio:
Louise O’ Connor,
the author of The Natural Thyroid Diet –The 4-Week Plan to Living Well, Living Vibrantly, who
is a specialist in Thyroid Health. She is a highly regarded Australian
Naturopath and founder of Wellnesswork.
The Natural Thyroid
Diet goes beyond diet advice and offers practical and effective ways to achieve
healthy thyroid levels within just a short period of time. For more details,
Click on
The-Natural-Thyroid-Diet.com
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