Synthroid (Levothyroxine Sodium)
Brand Names: Synthroid, Tirosint, Unithroid, Levothroid, Levoxyl, NovothyroxRelated Medications: Armour Thyroid, Belviq XR, Cytomel, Levothroid, Levoxyl, Tapazole, Thyrolar, Triostat, Unithroid, Westhroid
Synthroid is a popular medication taken by many patients to treat hypothyroidism because it provides more or replaces thyroid hormone. Basically, its low levels may happen when thyroid glands are injured or removed, and this is what affects normal physical and mental activities. For children, the lack of this important hormone often affects their proper development. This medicine is also used to treat other thyroid disorders, but it’s not allowed to take it for weight loss or treat infertility.
Patients need to take Synthroid orally, normally only once a day on their empty stomach or 30 minutes before their breakfast. They also need to drink enough water to avoid stomach ulcers, and their right dosage is always based on such factors as their weight, age, lab test results and so on. Different thyroid replacement treatments are designed for life, and there are certain symptoms that indicate on low thyroid hormone levels, including muscle pain, tiredness, dry skin, constipation, weight gain and others.
Some patients notice hair loss within the first months of this treatment, but this side effect is temporary because the body needs to adjust to the intake of Synthroid. Besides, they should watch for severe effects of having high thyroid hormone levels, such as the following:
The above-mentioned symptoms are quite rare, but patients need to go to the hospital as soon as they notice them. In rare cases they may also have allergic reactions characterized by such signs as itching, rash, dizziness, swelling, difficulty breathing, etc.
Before people start taking Synthroid, they need to inform their physicians about possible allergies and such health conditions as increased thyroid hormones, heart problems, reduced functioning of adrenal glands, diabetes, hypertension and some others. For pregnant and nursing female patients, it’s necessary to discuss possible risks associated with this treatment with their doctors.
There are some medications that shouldn’t be combined with Synthroid because they have a negative impact on thyroid gland hormone levels and change the way this medicine works, thus, resulting in its reduced effectiveness and developing unwanted symptoms. That’s why patients need to keep a list of all the other pharmaceutical products that they are using, such as herbal supplements and prescription pills, and share it with their physicians. For example, some of the most common meds that interact with Synthroid include different blood thinners and MAO inhibitors, so that people need to avoid them when undergoing this treatment.
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