A friend told Hua Zi that after she suffered from hypothyroidism (hypothyroidism), the doctor asked her to take levothyroxine every day and she could not stop the drug. She asked Hua Zi, is levothyroxine a hormone, and will there be side effects when taking it for a long time?
Hua Zi said that although levothyroxine is a hormone, it is not the same as the hormone we usually call it. When we say hormone abuse, we mean glucocorticoids, which can cause harm to the body when used for a long time. Levothyroxine is not a glucocorticoid, and it is very safe for the human body when used reasonably for a long time.
One, why can’t levothyroxine be stopped
There are two thyroid hormones in the human body, one is tetraiodothyronine (T4) and the other is triiodothyronine (T3). The active one is mainly T3.
Levothyroxine is the most commonly used substitute for thyroid hormone in the human body. In terms of physiological activity and chemical properties, Levothyroxine is exactly the same as the human body’s natural T4 After entering the human body, it will be converted into T3 to play a physiological role.
So when our own thyroid hormone is insufficient, reasonable supplementation of levothyroxine will not cause adverse effects on the body, because levothyroxine is the body’s “self” people”.
There are many causes of hypothyroidism, such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, thyroid tumor, thyroid surgery, radioactive iodine treatment and other diseases. These diseases can cause permanent damage to the thyroid, so most people’s hypothyroidism cannot be reversed, and lifelong replacement therapy is required. Levothyroxine is taken every day and cannot be stopped.
The rational use of levothyroxine can simulate the secretion of thyroid hormones in the human body and will not affect health. In addition, Levothyroxine will not damage liver and kidney function during metabolism, and the safety is very good.
Second, taking levothyroxine should not be too much or too little
Thyroid hormone is responsible for the growth, development and metabolism of the human body, and the role of levothyroxine is to replace the thyroid hormone that is insufficiently secreted by the human body. Be careful when taking it, neither more nor less.
Overdose can cause hyperthyroidism (hyperthyroidism), causing tachycardia, palpitations, flushing of the face, profuse sweating, Headache, insomnia, weight loss and other symptoms, severe cases can lead to malignant arrhythmia.
If you don’t take enough, the symptoms of hypothyroidism will be difficult to relieve, there will be chills and fatigue, slow reaction, low mood, dry skin, etc. Hypothyroidism can also cause elevated blood lipids, bradycardia, and in severe cases, respiratory failure and heart failure.
Three, what to pay attention to when taking levothyroxine
The best time to take levothyroxine is on an empty stomach half an hour before breakfast. The daily dose is taken in one single serving with water. However, modern life is busy. If you can’t leave enough fasting time in the morning, you can also change to take the medicine on an empty stomach before going to bed.
The half-life of levothyroxine is 7 days. After taking the drug regularly every day, the blood concentration will reach a stable “flat value”. If an occasional missed dose occurs, relevant guidelines recommend taking a double dose the next day.
However, some patients experience symptoms of hyperthyroidism when taking a double dose. Therefore, in practical application, if only one day is missed, there is no need to double the dose the next day, and it is good to take the normal amount, which will not affect the treatment. However, If you miss a dose for multiple consecutive days, you need to take double the dose for multiple consecutive days until the missed dose is made up.
To sum up, although levothyroxine is a hormone, it will not cause harm to the human body when used properly. People with hypothyroidism need lifelong replacement therapy and cannot be discontinued. When taking medicine, you need to choose the dosage that suits you according to your condition and under the guidance of your doctor, you can not take more or less. If you have any doubts about the medication, please consult your doctor and pharmacist. I am Huazi, a pharmacist. Welcome to follow me and share more health knowledge.