Uses

Why take this medicine?

This medicine is a synthetic hormone used in hormone replacement in they thyroid gland. If you have an under active thyroid, that is to say, if your thyroid gland is not producing enough T₄, this medicine will provide the missing hormone.

What exactly is Hypothyroidism?

Hypothyroidism is the disease of having an under active thyroid gland.  Having an under active thyroid is based purely on chance- it is not genetic nor is it effected by your habitat or living habits.

It is the most common of all thyroid diseases. Nearly 11 million adults and children are affected with this disease, but sadly 2 out of 3 victims don't know they have it.

It begins because the body does not recognize the thyroid as part of the body, so it sends white blood cells to attack the thyroid because it sees it as "an intruder". It is unrecognized by the body's immune system. Because the blood cells are fighting it, trying to destroy it, the thyroid is unable to produce all the hormones necessary.

Since the T₄ hormone is responsible for many body processes such as heart rate, metabolism, digestion, physical growth and mental development, it is necessary to fix this problem as soon as possible. Early detection is key to the treatment of this disease.

How do I know if I have Hypothyroidism?

First, go to your doctor. If your doctor doesn't normally feel for lumps or nodules on your neck, tell them to do so. Unless your neck is very large and you have a goiter, hypothyroidism is hard to detect by feeling alone.

Tell your doctor if you are having severe cases of any of the following:

• fatigue

• decreased heart rate or slow pulse

• severe weight gain

• problems with memory or concentration

• depression

• goiter *(enlarged, swelled neck)

• muscle pain or wekness, dry skin

• constipation

• irregular menstral cycles (women)

• puffy, dry skin

• thin hair

• delayed reflexes

For the most part, hypothyroidism is treatable, but in extreme cases hypothyroidism can lead to a coma and even death if untreated.

This is a picture taken by Laura Johnson ('00) while visiting the Bahamas. Notice the large, swelled neck of the woman. This is an extreme goiter which was probably caused by a thyroid disorder.

Drug Interactions:

• certain chemicals such as aluminum hydoxide, cholestyramine resin, colestipol hydrochloride, ferrous sulfate, sodium polystyrene sulfonate, soybean flour (which is used in baby formula) and sucralfate can limit the chemicals ability to be absorbed into the bloodstream.

• Androgens and related anabolic hormones, asparaginase, clofibrate, estrogens and other estrogen-containing compounds, 5-fluorouracil, furosemide, glucocorticoids, meclofenamic acid, mefenamic acid, methadone, perphenazine, phenylbutazone, phenytoin, salicylates, tamoxifen are chemicals that can prohibit thyroxine from binding to proteins.

• Androgens and related anabolic hormones, complex anions (thiocyanate, perchlorate, pertechnetate), antithyroid drugs, b-adrenergic blocking agents, chloral hydrate, diazepam, dopamine and dopamine agonists, heparin, hepatic enzyme inducers, insulin, iodinated cholestographic agents, iodine- containing compounds,  lithium, somatostatin analogs and sulfonamides are chemicals that can alter TSH levels or alter thyroid actions and duties.