Information on Thyroid Drugs for Hypothyroidism

If you've been diagnosed with hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid glad, your doctor has probably suggested that you go on thyroid drugs to stimulate your thyroid. Before you commit to a course of treatment, though, you need to get all the information on thyroid drugs you can. You could end up taking these drugs for the rest of your life, so you will want to be able to make an informed decision, right?

What are They?

The first thing you need to know about thyroid drugs is that they are all basically thyroid hormone replacements—they give you the thyroid hormone that your body is not producing on its own so that you can begin to function more normally. It is helpful to get information on thyroid drugs of all kinds so that you know what your treatment options are.

The most common thyroid drug is a synthetic hormone called levothyroxine. This thyroid drug, which is sold under many names including:

Synthroid, Levoxyl, Levothroid and Unithroid, is a synthetic replacement of thyroxine, also known as T4. This is one of the thyroid hormones, which is converted into another hormone, called triiodothyronine or T3, in the body.

If treatment with levothyroxine is not enough, doctors can add a second thyroid drug, liothyronine  (sold as Cytomel) to improve thyroid function. If the body isn't converting enough of the synthetic T4 into T3, supplementation with a synthetic T3 like liothyronine may be helpful.

Liotrix is another of the synthetic thyroid drugs. This one is a combination of T3 and T4, giving you both hormones in one drug. For a natural alternative, your doctor may recommend natural thyroid, which is actually derived from pig thyroid. It contains the full range of thyroid hormones, not just T3 and T4, so it's thought to be the most effective treatment. It's sold under the name Armour thyroid.

How to Take Thyroid Drugs?

Regardless of the drug you are using, a key thing you need to know is how to take it. Thyroid drugs are tricky because many things can slow or impair their absorption, from calcium to estrogen. It is important to talk to your doctor about all the prescriptions and supplements you are taking so you can devise a plan that will give you the maximum benefit.

Doctors often recommend that patients take their thyroid drugs first thing in the morning, on an empty stomach and about an hour before eating.

You should also avoid taking vitamins or consuming anything with added calcium, such as fortified orange juice, within two hours of taking your thyroid drug.

Antacids, estrogen (in hormone replacement therapy and birth control pills), antidepressants, insulin, cholesterol lowering drugs and anticoagulants can all mess with each other and change the effectiveness of each drug, so make sure you tell your doctor everything you're taking before he or she writes a prescription.

If you are considering taking a natural remedy for hypothyroidism, make sure you tell (and work) with your doctor to monitor your dose of prescription medicine since in many occasion this needs to be adjusted - quite often people need a lower dose. Also, make sure you find the most appropriate natural remedy according to your own case. There are many wonderful options but not all are created equal.

"How Long till I Feel Better?"

The main question everyone has when looking for information on thyroid drugs is "how long till I feel better?" Unfortunately, there's no easy answer because drugs affect people differently and you will need more or less depending on the severity of your symptoms. Some people start to feel better after a week or two of treatment, but for some it takes longer. The important thing is to be active in your treatment, and if something isn't working, tell your doctor and try something else.

P.S. We regularly invite experts in the area of hypothyroidism, weight loss and natural healing to our special conference calls, and pick their brains to find out their best-kept secrets. As a subscriber you will receive access to all these calls... don't be left out. Subscribe now.