What Your Thyroid Hormone Pill DoesThis information is provided by the Thyroid Foundation of America, Inc. (TFA)
Your thyroid gland puts out a hormone called thyroxine (abbreviated T4, to show it contains 4 atoms of iodine) that goes to every cell in your body telling it to work at a slower or faster rate. If it's working right you feel normal, with your usual amount of energy. If your gland puts out too little, you gradually feel dragged-out, chilly, depressed. If it puts out too much, you may get too revved-up, nervous, and jittery, and weak.
Thyroxine
Thyroxin in synthetic form is exactly the same hormone that your thyroid gland makes for you, and works the same way in your body.
Once your doctor's tests show that your own gland is making too little hormone, thyroxine in pill form can bring your thyroid levels back to normal. Your prescription will probably be for one of the following forms of thyroxin: Synthroid, Levoxyl, Levothroid, and Eltroxin (in Canada).
Because it is important for you to have the right amount each day, doctors usually prescribe name brands rather than generics for your thyroid supplement. Even if you change brands, you should check with your doctor first.
Why Do I Have To Take Thyroid Hormone?
l. Your own gland makes too little hormone, for one of the following reasons:
A. Hashimoto's Thyroiditis (a chronic inflammatory condition) may be killing off your thyroid cells
B. After childbirth your thyroid gland may temporarily or permanently fail.
C. Your thyroid gland may have been treated for OVER-production (hyperthyroidism) ,reducing its function below your normal level, so now you need to supplement
D. A surgeon has removed some or all of your thyroid gland2. You need to control the growth or functioning of your thyroid gland, for one of the following reasons:
A. Goiter (in which your whole thyroid gland is enlarged)
B. Nodules (in which small parts of your gland are growing larger)
C. Preventing a recurrence of a thyroid cancer that has been treated or removedOnce I'm Well, Can I Stop The Pills?
NO. You feel well because you are running on the right amount of thyroid hormone for you. Only your thyroid gland -- or a thyroid supplement -- can provide the hormone you need every day.
I Feel OK So Why Does My Doctor Want To See Me?
Usually things change slowly with the thyroid, but they often do change over a lifetime. Your doctor needs to see you regularly to check your thyroid in a general way, looking for an enlarging gland, a changing nodule, or a changing thyroid hormone level -- before you get to feeling really hypothyroid or hyperthyroid.
I've Never Felt Right Even On These Pills
If it's really a thyroid problem, often thyroid hormone treatment can help -- and the blood tests tell you for sure. But not feeling "right" involves all the stresses in your life (medical or not), and your thyroid may not be the problem. On the other hand, if you are having symptoms that you are sure are caused by your thyroid, it is often helpful to get a second opinion from a thyroid specialist or "endocrinologist" -- a doctor that specializes in treating gland disorders.
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