Hormone Therapy for Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism, a condition indicated by not enough production of thyroid hormones by the thyroid glands, is a persistent state and so those who are suffering from it have to endure it in their lifetime. It is however quite manageable as you only have to take specific treatments. Below are a few numerous ways on how hypothyroidism is treated.
The common medication used for managing hypothyroidism is synthetic levothyroxine (T4). Even though the most active thyroid hormones is actually triiodothyronine (T3), the synthetic T4 is the suitable remedy as it is more stable and only requires once a day dosing, while T3 is shorter-acting and therefore necessary to be ingested on a multiple basis. Furthermore, T4 is readily converted to T3 in the bloodstream. Synthetic T4 is preferably consumed in the morning, ten minutes prior to eating. Other prescription drugs containing iron and antacids must be avoided because they can mess with the absorption of T4 by the body.
Older people are often required a dose of 100 to 150 micrograms of synthetic T4 per day. Kids however require a larger dose for their growth and metabolism. Synthetic T4 is not a good idea for affected individuals with an underlying heart problem as it can worsen it.
Besides the regular T4 medication, there are also other remedies that people with hypothyroidism can choose to take. For instance, one can take a combination of both T3 and T4 treatments. Some researchers reported that taking supplemental T3 and the standard T4 can help affected individuals feel better by alleviating them some of the symptoms like brain fog, depression, and fatigue. Another alternative treatment is desiccated thyroid extract made from pork or a combination of pork and beef thyroid glands. This therapy includes both T3 and T4 thyroid hormones, although the downside to it is that it lacked consistency of potency from batch to batch. However, some advocates of this therapy maintain that its more suitable since it is more natural and is successful in relieving symptoms like fatigue and depressed mood.
Individuals who undertake treatment of hypothyroidism ought to be examined regularly to make sure that their thyroid hormones are consistent. This is very important to make sure that the procedure is working for the patient and to make sure as well that what is being given is not too much, as it can lead to symptoms of hyperthyroidism.