Thyroid hormone medication for hypothyroidism
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Thyroid hormone medication for hypothyroidism
Thyroid hormones help regulate the way the body uses energy. You need thyroid hormone replacement when you do not have enough thyroid hormones in your blood (hypothyroidism). Depending on the cause of your hypothyroidism, you may need to take thyroid hormones for the rest of your life.
Thyroid hormones are usually taken by mouth. How much you need depends on your age, your body weight, and whether you are pregnant.
Thyroid hormone replacement is the only way to treat hypothyroidism. For most people, taking a thyroid hormone medication:
- Reduces or eliminates the symptoms of hypothyroidism.
- Allows them to live normal lives.
- Reduces the risk of complications from having too little thyroid hormone in the blood, including a high level of fats and cholesterol in the blood.
People who take thyroid hormones need to have their blood checked regularly to make sure that they are receiving the correct dose of replacement hormone. Children, pregnant women, and older adults may need to have their blood levels checked more often than other people.
For more information about thyroid hormone replacement and hypothyroidism, see the topic Hypothyroidism.
Credits
| Author | Colleen Cronin |
| Author | Christine Wendt, R.D., L.D. |
| Editor | Renée Spengler, RN, BSN |
| Editor | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA |
| Associate Editor | Michele Cronen |
| Associate Editor | Tracy Landauer |
| Associate Editor | Lisa Shaw |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | David C.W. Lau, MD, PhD, FRCPC - Endocrinology & Metabolism |
| Last Updated | December 20, 2005 |
| Last updated: | December 20, 2005 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Christine Wendt, R.D., L.D. |
| Reviewed By: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine, David C.W. Lau, MD, PhD, FRCPC - Endocrinology & Metabolism |
| Editors: | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Lisa Shaw |
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