The best time to take thyroid hormone is typically first thing in the morning on an empty stomach.
This is done by keeping the TSH level in the normal range. When thyroid hormone is used to treat hypothyroidism, the goal of treatment is to keep thyroid function within the same range as a person without thyroid problems. Thyroid hormone stays in your system for a long time, it is taken once a day, and this results in very stable levels of thyroid hormone in the bloodstream. Your thyroid function will be monitored by your physician to keep your levels at the goal range. The only safety concerns about taking thyroid hormone are taking too much or too little. It is most commonly prescribed in tablet form but is now also available in gel capsule or liquid forms. Thyroid hormone is available as levothyroxine, which is biologically equivalent to your own thyroid hormone, thyroxine ( T4). The goal of thyroid hormone treatment is to closely replicate normal thyroid functioning. Taking thyroid hormone is different from most medications, because its job is to replace a hormone that is missing. Thyroid hormone is necessary for the health of all the cells in your body. Hypothyroidism is the most common reason for needing thyroid hormone replacement. Other causes of hypothyroidism are: surgical removal, destruction of thyroid gland from radiation treatment, or a nonfunctioning pituitary gland (see Hypothyroidism Brochure). This is called Hypothyroidism and is most commonly caused by an under functioning thyroid gland due to Hashimoto’s disease. Many people have a thyroid gland that cannot make enough thyroid hormone for the body’s needs.
Suppression therapy is used primarily in patients with thyroid cancer to prevent recurrence or progression of their cancer.ĭEFINITION, THERAPY & TREATMENT THYROID HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY